The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1883-03-01
The Poison Cases at the Asylum

The Poison Cases at the Asylum.
We publish to-day all the facts VIII ich
have been, up to the time of going to press,
last night, developed in regard to the sad
and pa inful occurrences at the Western Luz
matte Asylum. While there is nothing
defininite in the details given as to how
the poison was placed in the medicine,
which caused the death of six of the pa
tients, it is safe to assume that it was the
work of one of the insane subjects in the
Institution, or some malicious person, who
adopted this method to crafty feeling
of revenge for some imaginary offense.-
We can hardly think it possible that the
latter theory will prove correct, for we can
conceive OF no one so fiendish, and so lost
to all the sensibilities OF humanity, as to
perpetrate such horrible crime. One
thing Is very clear. no blame can attach to
the accomplished young physician who is in
charge OF the dispensary, nor to any other
of the corps of physicians whose duty it is
to administer the affairs of the Asylum.
In this respect the Institution has never
been in charge of more crcumspect. con-
scientious and efficient of1cers-gentlemen
who devote their entire time to the i'm
portant trusts confided to them, who are
singularly free from all other engagements
which would interfere with the careful
and jealous discharge of their obligations
to the ositions they hold.
1t is not our purpose to speculate on the
evidence adduced before the jury OF in
quest or to base any positive theory upon
the facts as developed. 1t may not, howev-
er, be amiss to call attention to the fact, that
the testimony offered in the results of the
| medicine taken, justifies the conclusion that
the poison was placed in the mugs after
they had passed from the dispensary and
been placed in the chest specially appro
priated to that purpose. by order of the
present superintendent as an improvement
on the table, which, from the earliest his
tory of the Institution, had been used for
the medicine mugs or glasses.
In matter OF such grave importance, in
yolving interests so touching and painful,
| it is always safe to reach conclusions slowly
and cautiously, and especially so pending
searching judicial investigation. Yet, not
withstanding the peculiar nature Of this case,
the profound mystery which rounds it, and
the solemn and impressive incidents con-
nected with it, there are those who have
( jumped at the conclusion that it is the result
of the change in the management of the in
stitution-charging directly that had such
change not been made, the tragic Oc
currences would not have taken place and that
the "Readjusters" are responsible for them !
One paper, the Alexandria Gazette, says IA
CHASTITY and revolving example of the bale
full effects of Mahonism has just been afforded
at the insane asylum at Staunton," and
charges the murder OF five lunatics' upon
the gross :incompetency or more blaniable
negligence" of the officers of the institution.
1t is not necessary to comment on such bru-
tai and fiendish utterances and depraved
partizanism. 1t is sufficient to say that there
is no fact or circumstance to justify chal-
lenge of the competency or the care of the
| 4
that If there is any one who has access to
the Inst tuition who is moved by the same
malignant partizan spirit which enters into
the paragraph from which we have quoted,
that person would be entirely competent for
the fendish work of poisoning the medicine
prepared for the insane patients at the Asy-
lum
Malicious insinuations have come from
other partizan sources nearer home, but just
men of all party predictions are as free
to denounce and condemn such malignant
and cowardlY differences as are those who
know the officers of the institution and are
in political sympathy with them. But the
instance to which we refer illustrates how
far party insanity will carry some men, as
the spirit which moves a few who are inca
pable OF approaching the sensibilities of a
gentleman and are willing to subordinate the
most sacred relations of life and that which
true men hold dearest, to the behests of party
and for party advantage We confess to a
feeling of comm isseration, rather than of an
ger, tor such evidences of abbreviated man
hood-such base impulses and sentiments and
would not have referred to them, were it not
to assure the public that they have justifi-
cation no where else than in diseased and de-
PRAYED lmaginatlons. confined to very few,
exerting no influence where their true char
acters are known.
1t is gratifying to know that DR.. Hamil-
| ton is constantly in receipt of letters and
| kilograms from persons having friends in the
asylum, expressing their sympathy and Civ
ing assurances of mistaken confidence in the
care and administration of the officers in
| charge