Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-07-14
THE END AT LAST.
Closing Aryument~ in Tewk.bury Inves-
LEGATION.

| augural which had been sent broadcast, and
| to the universal demand that these charges
| be Investigated.
He then gave figures 10 show that under
| Marshs superinteDdency the alusshouse was
run economically, and read from Mrs. Leon
| a Ts recent report to show that the institu-
ton was in good condition. His excellencv
had called twelve witnesses TO prove that
certain human skins had been tanned. There
| is not a pretence that ANYBODY at Tewksbury
or any officer at Harvard College ever knew
of this tanning. His excellency's own tes-
timonv goes to disprove the claim that the
| remains of bodies dissected were not decently
disposed of.
As to DIR. Dixweifs testimony, II showed
! a condition of things so absurd that il fell of
its own weight Reyeriiug to the charge of
cruelty. Brown asserted that of the ten in
mates who testified upon this point, there is
not one but has a questionable record, and
their evidence could not be relied upon. He
compared the cost of the maintenance of the
inmates at Tewksbury with that of the in
mates of the National Soldiers Home at
Dayton, Ohio, showing the former to be about
one dollar less per week than the latter. He
said he would like the governor TO answer
why the people at Tewksbury should not be
as tenderly cared for at Dayton.
As to the death of foundlings. Brown chal-
lenged contradiction in saying that not an
other institution can be found in America or
Europe where only such foundlings were re-
ceived as it was supposed could not possibly
live. Taking up the expert testimony con-
corning the books of the institution he Sc
verely criticized that of Fairbanks who, he
said, has made forty.fiye mistakes in sixty
statements. There were only 10 persons in
25 years who appeared by the books to be
drawing rations when they were not there to
eat them. The same expert goes to another
subject, the inmates cash. and criticizes "a
cases out of 5000 in the memorandum books,
two Of which are not in Charles Marsh
writing. 1t was remarkable that of these
5000 persons only two came TO the hearing to
offer any complaint
After recess the governor began his final
argument. He asked thai none of his friends
applaud him, saying he would lake plaudits
four months hence. He asserted the truth
of the testimony of Mrs. Lydia Warner OF
yesterday. notwithstanding the SANDER of
that lady by his opponent. The character
and aims of the institution at Tewksburv,
and the inability to procure investigations
under the former authorities then sci
forth. The administration of this institution
for quarter of a century had been wrong
in principle, because it was in charge of one
having officers to the amount of seven. They
became a clique they turned out every one
that made complaint. That principle of ad
mipistration is all wrong. There is another
thing wrong; all the trustees except ladies
were interested in the results or this admin
istration. If Spaulding was not, why has he
remained silent under the charges brought
against him? Nourse's conduct in regard to
the tchickens, as he himself states, shows
how the wind blew. Elliott was interested
in milk contracts and would not let them go
to the lowest bidder. WHY has he not been
here? The administration has been character
lied by despotism to the last degree. The
question is whether Fewksbury is a proper
house of refuge, so conducted and so carried
on that you will sustain it and say in your
report that no further improvements are
wanted upon its management.
Referring to the refusal to turn over the
lists of the dissected dead, the governor said
"Steal the inmates cash if you will, but foi
heavens sake don't steal their bodies and
keep no account of them" If the Marshes
will steal chickens, old dresses and the in.
mates money, what will they do with the
money of the commonwealth! French Joe
who dealt out the stores, a thief, liber-
tine and liar.
The governor then reviewed the testimony
in relation to the number of bodies sent from
Tewksbury for dissection, and maintained il
as true. DIR. Dixwelfs testimony as to the
numbers of infants bodies sent to Harvard,
despite ''every rascal of them (witness fol
the defence) said he never had more than two
in the dead room at one time. II Dixwell'.
testimony is false, let Marsh's books be pro
duced. The governor then produced the
tanned human skins which had been exhib
tied before. In the Satanic press this ha.
! haay, ot,,In -.
Satanic press because Satan is the father OF
lies. These pieces came from several tan.
peries, and it had got to he an industry.
Shoes made of these paupers' skins went OF
the feat of rich aristocrats. In the French
revolution, my lords and my ladies' skin.
were tanned to make shoes and treeches fol
paupers. Let US look out that our turn does
not come. for one side will not stand skin
ming all the time. Harvard record show.
that a tanned negro's skin was in the library
years ago as curiosity, and they have
been at it ever since. 1t is time they were
stopped. Fifty-eight per cent of the pauper:
in the soldiers home are foreign born. They
fought our battles for us while we were al
home on soft cushions and skinning paupers
He then compared Tewksbury with the
Soldiers Home to show he knew what he was
talking about when he said he could run the
former for $4,000 year. Will not shrink
from any investigation of the Soldiers Home
but will let the inmates speak for themselves
81 will not call single officer. but will say
to my old comrades, support your old com
mander, and they would clear cut this State
House so quick it would make your head
swim" But the Tewksbury officisls have
brought a single one of 10000 inmates e.
prove their good treatment, not one but
French Joe, man or woman. sane or insane.
Nobody has ccurte " to say a good word for
the Marshes except when the Marshes are
over them. Wouldn't you be ashamed to BE-
at the head of an institution for a quarter OF
century and have no one say a good word
for your This is convincing evidence. Now
you hear that the Soldiers Home cost dol.
lar more a week than this institution Give
me the charge of these poor men and | will
show you they will be fed. I know how
much it costs. This investigation has at
tracted the attention of everybody from
Maine to Georgia. Every day I see that
some poor house is being investigated. We
have walked up Texas and We are waking
them up everywhere. We have done heap
of good even if all this has been wrong. 1t
has been benefit to the country, and l claim
this benefit for your lahors and mine.
One thing has been done, the Marshes and
French Joe have gone The State board
were responsible men and that's the reason
they wouldn't bear the burden of the trustees
moment: so they put the Marshes out and