The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-06-08
The Principal Reason Being that He Would
Not Convert the Institution into an
Asylum for Democratic Workers.
DIR. William B. Fletcher, of this City,
Appointed to Fill the Vacancy.
The Change in Management to Take Place
TO-Day-The Circumstances and Pro-
ceedIngs of the Meeting Yesterday.

ately threw out the card which they have been
shutting under cover for several weeks and
unnecessarily trying to conceal from the public.
Although IL has been expected, there was sur
prise yesterday afternoon when it was
nounced that the official connection of DIR. ]. G.
Rogers with the Insane Hospital had been
severed. The Journal announced two weeks
ago that the superintendent would be deposed AT
the June meeting of the trustees, and foreshad-
owed exactly the action which was taken yes
terday, although DR., Harrison, the president of
the board, has repeatedly and emphaticaly de-
MED that there was any such intention. How
ever, the demeanOr of the board has, to say the
least, been perplexing, and to say that is to
speak charitaby of 1t. Although the removal
of DR.. Rogers was determined upon at least four
weeks ago, the trustees have, with
masquerade of smiles, been giving
assurances that they had no such Intentions.
They have faltered in their purpose, and at last,
with reckless desperation, have dared to do the
worst
YESTERDAYS MEETING.
The trustees resumed their sessions at the In
sane Hospital, yesterday morning, and for all
that the appearances of such speciOus trio
would indicate, were well satisfied not to dis
turb "well enough" for one day at least. In
company with DR.. Rogers, they walked about
the grounds during the morning, and inspected
sites which he had selected for the
location of certain improvements. They never
seemed SO well pleased with the admirable
management of the superintendent, and the con-
versation throughout was the most agreeable.
His suggestions were given the most respectful
attent ton, his advice was asked upon many mat
tiers, and In their social and official relations for
the day they we're very amiable quartet. The
afternoon promised to pass quite as pleasantly.
The board turned their attention to the ex-
penses of the institution and the necessary pur-
chases for it's maintenance. Dr. Rogers went
about his regular duties, and at 3 O'Clock could
have been found doing the honOrs as superln-
tendent OF the hospital to several members of the
last Legislature who had called However, the
erratic board. which had behaved with such
charming amability during the morning, had
revealed only the silver lining to the cloud.
About O'Clock the superintendent received
word that he was wanted at the room where the
trustees were in session, and he responded TO the
call with prOmptness, thinking, doubtless that
he was only to be consulted upon some trivial
matter.
DR. RoGERs's RESIGNATION DEMANDED.
When he entered the room DR.. Harrison handed
him the following written request:
"HosPITAL FOR THE INSANE,
indianapolis, Ind, June z, 1888.
ITO DR., Joseph g. Rogers, superintendent:
whereas, The board Of trustees belle We that
harmonious action and good government cannot
prevail in the Hospital for the Insane under the
present management, we respectfully ask your
resignation as superintendent of said institution.
"THOMAs H HARRISON,
"P. Nj. GAPEN,
ar. H. TARLTON"
After reading the document DR.. Rogers
looked up and, with perfect composure, in
CURED: why cannot good government prevail
in the hospital under my management" DR..
Harrison's eyes were set IN poetic rapture upon
some particular spot IN the ceiling. Mr. Gapen
was apparently Oblivious to all the world. DR..
TartOn was searching for something among a
ia and a
were too much engrossed with the affairs de-
mandng their attention TO find time to make
any reply.
From what time do you want the resigna-
ton to datef" asked DR.. Rogers.
well, we had not thought about that" re-
"wel, I viii ii K the time" DIR. Rogers said,
"and IL shall be from this moment"
Before retiring from the room Dr. Rogers
made a few remarks, very much after the style
of the speech of Catalina TO the Roman Senate,
which was received by the trustees with some
manifest atiOns of restessness. Having given
utterance To some of the thoughts of the moment,
and paid appropriate tribute TO his discounted
hearers, DR.. Rogers announced that he was quite
ready 10 drag his decapitated body from their
presence, and Withdrew.
The board Immediately appointed DR.. W. B.
Fletcher, Democratic State Senator for Marion
county, to fill The vacancy. and he will take
charge OF the institution this morning, bat will
make no changes at present.
WHAT DIR. HARRISON SAYS.
The first information that the relations of DR..
been severed was obtained by a Journal re-
porter from Dr. Harrison, last evening, about 6
o'clock, and gave to the matter a cast which
makes no advantageous show in view of the
facts which were subsequently learned. When
asked what the board bad done during the after
noon, DR.. Harrison replied: "Wen, DR.. Rogers
has resigned"
"Was the resignation made at the resquest of
the board9" asked the reporter.
"Oh. no; 1t came voluntarily. Everything was
very pleasant and agreeable"
"But DIR. Rogers resigned simply because he
realized that harmonious relations could not be
contnuedf" questioned the reporter.
eyes, that's the way IL came about. We talked
the matter over very PLEASANTLY"
"And can obtain copy OF the resignationP
was asked.
"Weii. no think not. In fact, know that
you cannot"
INTERVIEW WITH DIR. ROGERS.
A Journal reporter called at the Insane Hos
pital last night and interviewed DR.. Rogers IN
regard to the change which had been made.
When asked If his resignation had been volun
tary DR.. Rogers replied that it was not, but that
1t had been made upon the written request of
the trustees. In speaking OF the causes which
led TO the demand for his resignation, DR.. Rogers
said
Walker and a few enemies of the hospital man
agement, who conceived the idea of the Brown
bill as means OF working their
into power. never IN statutory
| legislation, was there anything more Infamous
than the political barterng to get the cOntrOll-
ing power of the State institutions. The de-
mand for my resignation is made for the reason
that failed to discharge Captain Stansbefry, or
consent to the removal of DR.. Brown, and be-
cause 1 refused to receive as an assistant man
who WAS discharged In 1875, from the City
Hospital by Drs Todd and Parvin, two of the
trustees, for having intercourse with one OF the
female patients DIR. Brown, after the death or
DR.. Walker was the only assistant that had
who knew the patients and was thoroughly
familiar with everything about the hOsp-
tal His services were simply iDdis-
| pensable aud / determined not to
part with hun, as a duty 10 the patients I'M
der treatment, while held the tru sc of superln-
tendent OF the institution. There is no phys-
clan, care not what his qualifications are,
who could have filed his place. Captain Strains
berfyH fRerviceR. for tho best interests of