The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-05-04
TEwKsBURY ALMsHoUsE.H VI
Suspicious Alterations in the
Books OF tho Institution.
Buffers Proposition Rejected by the
Legislature.
More Interesting Developments in
the Controversy.

BosToN May 3.--The House Of Representa-
tives this forenoon voted $4,000 to Tewks'
bury almshouse, which is the same appropria-
tion as In the vetoed charity bill. One amend.
ment to make it $4,000 as the Governor re-
commended was rejected by vote OF 80 TO l50
Nine Republicans voted OF were paired for the
reduction. One Democrat voted against II.
Otherwise II was a strict party vote.
Dr. q. s. Martin testified at the Tewksbury
examination today that he was a student at
the Harvard Medical School from 1871 to 1874.
No babies were ever dsseoted there aud
no infants bodies were ever brought IN but
once. No dogs or cats were ever dissected,
consequently their remains were never mingled
with those of human beings as claimed In pre-
vious testimony. About $40 was paid for
bodies He knew nothing of the disposition OF
the remains alter dissection.
Lorenzo S. Fairbanks testified that he had
examined the books in which Charles ID.
Marsh had recorded the money OF patients, aud
there are 81 erasures and alterations AZ Of
which were of figures IN the mnney esfutun
THESE books cover from 1868, but Tor the frst
10 years Of the present management no books
can be found.
and read that an inmate named Allen had
died in 1877, leaving SAG On the money book
Aliens assets appeared as one dollar aud the
book showed an erasnre as II changed from
S45. Another book showed that one dollar
was paid to tho State. Jane McGrath took
S922, and the book show ed that an erasure
had been made in a most suspicious mann or
Elizabeth Berry was credited with VA In the
history book, but on the money book the fig
ure had been altered 10 /.
Fairbanks testified that ia number OF en-
tries in the money book relating 10 assets OF
other patients erasures had been made most
skillfuliy so as to make the amounts less than
originally entered,
Adjourned
n. n A..
as Marsh, superintendent OF the Tewksbury
almshouse, did not file any bond for the faith
full discharge OF his duties when elected last
July. This adds new complication to the
Tewksbury discussion and the question is
raised whether or not there is any legal super
intendeni of the aImshouse or any legal assist
ants appointed under him.
The executive committee of the board Of
health, lunacy and charity met this afternoon
and decided on accodnt of the fact that the
bond of Capt. Thomas Marsh, superintendent
OF the Tewksbury almshouse not have been
filed as required by the statute TO consider the
position vacant. They will not remove him
as he does not legally hold any position, bat at
the next meeting OF the board Saturday will
appoint superintendent
II is reported and given for what it Is worth
that the Governor intends removing the
whole board of health, charities and correction
before Tuesday next.
Another phase In the Tewksbury almshouse
matter will be made public in the morning.
Recently state board of health, lunacy and
chari y wrote to the Governor explaining
why they he'd applied to the attorney general
for his opinion regarding their authority TO
sumo the duties OF trustees Of Tewksbury
almshouse; setting forth that this ard previous
boards had received valuable assistance from
the attorney generals office, and had derived
thereirom much benefit in the performance
Of their duties. The Governor submits letter
from the attorney generals Office which shows
this statement to have no foundation in fact
aud after quoting the statements verbatim
says: Nov gentlemen Of the board all this Is
simply not true / do you justice to believe,
however, that you knew nothing about 1t but
trusted to your secretary (meaning f.. B. San
bOru) who, rs / am informed, has heretofore
runA your board and now appears SO TO do.
The fact is your board never has received
au opinion from the Attorney General or
his assistant on any question of law relating TO
the duties of tue board, but on the contrary
your board and its predecessors have over and
over again requested such opinions and often
been informed duritg the last ten years that
you could not have such opinions and these
letters should be on the files Of your office aud
actuaTy OF your board The Governor submits
q letter from the Attorney General giving
substantially this above facts
Gov, Butler, IN an interview tonight, stated
that some days ago he discovered that Capt
Marsh had no bond filed and that is why he
said last week that he would allow no more
State money to be spent by the Marsh family.
The Governor had no interest in what the
State board might do but had a very decided
opinion ss to what he should do about il when
over the proper time came.