The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-06-27
TEWKSBURY ALMSHOUSE.
Ex-supcrintendent Marsh Cross Examined
by Gov. Rutier.

Ex-superintendent Marsh Cross-E e xainined
by Gov. Butler.
BOSTON, June 26-At the Tewksbury hear
ing to-day the Governor began the cross exam
ination of Mr.. Marsh, late Superintendent of
Tewksbury. Marsh made brief state
ment of his life and business career previ-
ous to 1858 when he was appointed by Gov.
Banks, superint endent at Tewksbury. At that
time his family consisted of his wife and four
son s, his father and four daughters. Witness
has been obliged to support his relatives. His
sons and grandsons have been att Exeter al d
Harvard College, cannot say they didn't have
their washing sent from Exeter and Harvard
to the Almshouse but does not believe they
did. He did not compose the annual reports.
His practice he'd been to write the substance
of what he wanted and have his son Charles OF
some other person put it in shape. The doc
tors record would not show admis-
sions of delrum tremens cases, simply the
number of deaths from that cause He had
furnished good, wholesome and sufficient food
to the inmates Sas far as his means would
allow, but in no year has there been all the
means for food that should have been proyid-
ed. He was quite sure he had not Gin one re-
port said there was not sufficient food usually
The legislature had cut down the almshouse
estimates He has bought coal for some Off
Gers OF the institution at the same place at
which he had bought coal for the State Never
paid for coal bought on private account with
money belonging to the State. He had never
occu utau UUultS suippeu 10 Harvard out at
times has know of their being sent he
had first required bond from Harvard. He
thought in 1868. There had been bond ear
lier that in 1858 for 800. That OF 1868 was
for $500. Under these all bodies that have
gone to Harvard had been shipped. That of
the College of Physicians and Surgeons was
given in December 1881, that of the medical
department of Boston University in 1874. Did
r-2ot know any bodies went TO either of these
institutions prior to his appointment some 10
years ago by the trustees. His son, Thomas j !,
Jr., had been me gerss-fcr~ shipment OF
bodies for scientific purposes His son has
made no report of what he has done in this
way. He never called upon him for any ac-
counts. He knew Manning was carrying them
away.
He had never made any effort nor asked any
one else to see that the requirements of these
bonds should be fulfilled, but he had no means
of knowing. He knew no money had been
received for bodies for he had always forbid
den it and he does not think his orders had
been disobeyed. He pointed to the law and
told his son TO keep inside of it. He had had
many offers OF money for bodies He supposed
his son had some compensation for assisting in
getting bodies away. He thought that all
the time that his son did not get anything
more than what was paid for transportation.
HIS son had once told him that he was doing
disagreeable work for nothing. Some bodies
had been brought back from Harvard because
of their being claimed by friends. Could not
say how many such cases there have been. Ad.
journed till Friday