The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1883-04-28
4 pOORHOUsE SERMON.
IPeck'S SUM-

IPecks SUM-
There is another hot box in an east
ern almshousc. BY the looks of things
an almshouse in some of those eastern
towns is used more for the benefit of
the person who happens to be in charge
than 1t is for the unfortunate inmates.
1t now comes to light, at least it is so
charged, that the superintendent of All
almshouse in Il Massachusetts town is
about to be hauled over the Goals for
selling the bodies of persons who have
dled III that institution to the medical
colleges. Well, this is the last hair
brush that breaks the camel's back,
The superintendent of poor house
arrested for wholesale dealing In the
dead bodies Of the unfortunate inmates!
1t Is not very surprising that once In
while bold, bad men obtain positions
of trust and confidence, and on the re-
presentation of friends who think they
are all right, or through some political
chicanery of other bad men, obtain
such positions as caring for tho unfor-
tunate poor Of the country. 1t is not
surprising that from the vast number
OF these officials, there should OCCASION
ally be one who heartlessly traffics in
the goods and provisions furnished the
poor people under his care, and by
| Withholding portion Of their board
and ratment be enabled to sell 1t, and
eventuallp become rich.
The case of the superintendent of the
Philadelphia poor house, who plunder-
cd the institution, and went through
everything that was salcable, even to
the roof that covered tho building, is
still fresh in the memory of all, but to
all appearances the worst case is vet to
come, being no less than Developments
in case wherein it is alleged that tho
superintendent even sold tho bodies of
the unfortunate poor, under his caro-,
rs soon as liic was extinct, and perhaps
i'll many cases, even before that time.
II is said that Governor Butler is after
tho man rcd hot, and 1t is to be hoped
that il he is proven guilty, the laws of
Massachusetts will make an example of
him, that the poor superintendent Of
tho country can look upon with awe,
and tho people view with n good deal
OF satisfaction.
1t would seem from reports constant
~ coming in, that tho poor houses,
jails, orphan nsylnms, and, in fact,
many OF all kinds of charitable and
penal institutions of tho country, were
in the hands of n set of regular cold
bloodcd sharks and heartless ghouls
who wouid steal the death robe from
| the remains OF their own mothers, and
it is about time some Investigations
were made by men who investigate IN
dead earnest when they go about 1t.
They should be commissioned to 70
through tho charitable and penal in
situations OF the country like Il tramp
through n boiled dinner and every man
who Is found in charge who Is ugly, or
mean to ono of tho inmates, or strikes
one of them should be snatched bald
headed by an accomplished and
thorough snatchcr. Such institutions
in the land, many of them at least,
seem to be in tho hands of men who
think that because person is poor or
sick, and obliged to be cared for by the
state or municipality they should bo
treated as dogs.
A wall Is coming up now from the
prisons of many states Of tho cast that
the prisoners arc maltrcatcd, starved
and abused worse than the lowest ami
nal ever was. There may be instan-
ces wherein harsh treatment may be
deemed proper in caring for hardened
criminals but it hardly seems to be tho
right thing TO treat even these worse
than dumb brutes are ever treated.
There is no doubt but that in many
such public institutions there are in-
human cruclties perpetratcd by brutal
overscers, upcrintendents, or heart
less attendants, ana il is time the mat
ter was looked up. The governor of
Massachusetts can have his name on u
monument Of fame bigger than II
mountain if he only follows this case
up, and If the parties arc guilty, sec
that they have Il dose OF justice dealt
ont 10 them that they will remember.
Eli Pcrkfns--Who next TO Tom
ochil!rcc is undoubtedly tho greatest
liar in the tnion--rcccnily received u
severe thrashing from the landlord of
Il New York village inn. lie hal foc-
turcd in tho place and called for his
bill which hc disputed, with tho result
mentioned.
1T seems that Eli is not always so
fortunate as he was in San Antonio,
Texas, some years ago. lie with his
wife happened there whilst tho ladies
Of the Episcopal church were holding
a fair to raise money for tho church.
Perkins magnanimously proposed TO
give a lecture, the DrOcccls of which