The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-04-19
TWEKESBURY AFFAIRS.
THE HORRIBLE AIMS HOUSE PEST.
Batter and the Committee Chairman Get Isto .
Wransl,-POlItlesa and PutrId Aaltasabcs-Ths
Coal AIusrl' nsstinE-S,at.msat ofIhsir
Demand, = The Coming ConrsstiOn.


BosroS, Mass, April ls.-At thu
Tewkesbury examination Mary E Bowen
formerly an inmate. said she could not ea
the food furnished, but lived upon that
with the money iurnished her. She enevei
saw any Of the Marsh family while there
Thirty or more women were bathed in the
same waters many patients having bad
skin diseases and many infested with
vermin. When there was time carbolit
acid was poured on the heads oi
such patients. Vermin was al
over the place, rats being so abundant
that patients would call for help. One con
sumptive patient was unable to cali for
help and her feet were badly bitten. This
happened every night until she died
Closets and everything were filthy, but
when visitors were expected things were
cleaned. One woman who died was large
and her body was crowded into box by
men standing on It. She had on the same
bonnet worn when alive. Another patient
occupied a bed on which this woman died
that night, no change OF clothing being
made. An old insane woman was beaten
with sticks and tied with ropes. Witness
had come on from New York to give her
testimony and Brown asked several ques,
tions, which Governor Butler said were
not pertinG6L Brown retorted that the
character OF the witnesses 30 far were tit
subjects for criticism and he proposed
in this. case to know the witness entire
story. .tlA.y. lg .
The Governor said he did not pro.
pose to sit still and allow his witnesses to
be maligned. He asked the committee
not to allow 1t. Some OF their daughters
might by chance come TO this hell upon
earth. Loud applause from the spectators
followed, and the Governor said that be-
cause the witness was fallen woman her
character should not be the issue In the
case. She should answer all pertinent
questions, but not those which sought 10
drag her down.
Brown said lis Excellency WINGED, as
he never had before called the Governors
attention to the case. He, the Governor,
questioned the witness in regard to her
character in the most unheard Of way. The
question as to proceeding with the cross
examination was decided by the Commit.
tee in thesffirmative by a vote OF FIVE to four
Miss Bowen refused to give the name by
which she was known in New York, aud
the counsel demanded It to inquire into
her character for veracity. In the course
OF the controversy the Governor said this
investigation would interest the entire
country, where there were institutions like
Tewkesbury, and ought to go before 1t.
Already It had aroused examinations In
other States. He had never had political
aims in connection with It. The only
questions to be decided were law, propriety
and humanity, but the opposing counsel
took that narrow view Of It, OF which he
IVES capable. The chairman said the Gov.
ernor's remark, and another to 4vote
would hand this committee down as an.
other commission was handed down to the
country by its s to Z vote, was
highly improper, and hoped no more
political illusions would be made by any
OF the counsel. The Governor said he had
as little respect for the Chairman's opinion
as the latter. had for his, and he had no
respect orthe Chairman's decisions, Being
asked II Miss Bowen would be present TO.
morrow, Governor Butler said that il she
was not here the testimony could be
stricken from the record.