National Republican., 1883-04-21
A rALKER FROM rEwKsBunY.
A Resident OF tho nIasssehusetts Village
Thinks Gov. Iien Is Making Big Sem
antIon Of Very Small Matter.

A Resident or tho Massachusetts village
thinks GOV. ben Is Making Big SEM
sation Of a Very Small Matter.
Mr.. Benjamin Spauldihg, a prominent resi-
dent Of Tewksbury, Mass, registered at tho
Riggs house yesterday, and shortly afterward
was compelled TO run the gauntlet of re-
portcrs. An intelligent and courteous gem
tleman, his intelligence showed him IL was
vain TO resist, and his courtesy insured his
interlocutors polite treatment.
"whero is Tewksbury, Mr.. spaulding2"
asked The REPUBLICAN, reporter.
"About twenty miles northwesterly from
Boston and within about FIVE miles of LOWELL"
was tho reply.
"what is the size Of the famous almshouse
there2"
ats average number of inmates Is proba-
bly, thousand and upward. A hospital is
connected with the institution"
"What do the people Of Tewksbury think
about the investigation
"When it commenced they were disposed
to believe that Gov. Butler was honest in his
motives, and commendable in his efforts to
unearth great iniquity. AS the investiga-
tiou progressed they have about changed
their opinion, and think the whole affair is
rather deliberate attempt to swell Butler
boom than an honest endeavor to expose
rascality. / am not at all unfriondly TO
Butler-in fact up TO last fall was disposed to
favor him warmly-but cannot help shar-
| ing in the general impression OF the people
of Tewksbury relating 10 tho almshouse in
vestigation. Tho investigation has certainly
seemed to be in some other vein than the
moro elicitng of the truth. And / think
/ tho oc tha nj orpnarolly cnnAfnO
10 this same conclusion"
"What kind Of people are the Marshes, the
superintendent and his family"
Respectable people. The old man has
| been superintendent for many years, and in
that one fact think lies the chief foundation
of the investigation"
"Please explain"
"The old man has become "set" in his
ways, and superintends tho affairs Of the in
stitution just as he did twenty years ago.
But in the meantime IL has grown so greatly
that what was proper system of government
o generation ago Is necessarily not sufficient
now to meet the requirements Of the changed
condition."
"What is your opinion of the changer"
1t Is probable that there are some irregu-
larities about the institution, arising chiefly
from the facts havo just mentioned. But
the charges as a whole, l think, are grossly
| exaggerated. They cannot be sustained. The
evidence upon an analysis shows discrepancies
and variation that vitiato most Of II. And
then the accused have not yet been heard.
My opinions in this matter are generally
shared by the people of Tewksbury."
How about the horrible story Of pickling
away dead bodies for the dissecting roomY
"a word of explanation will place that in
proper light. This dead body picking busi-
ness is q horrible one at BEST and Its nero
statement unless explained is calculated to
awake disgust and detestation. The course
adopted by Gen. Butler in this respect has
alienated many people from him and done a
great deal to change the drift of public opin-
Ion. BY the laws of Massachusetts the dead
bodies of paupers, after being kept q GER
tain time to allow Of reclamation by
friends, can be delivered to medical colleges
for dissecting purposes. This is gratui-
tous offering on the part of the state TO
the cause Of medical science. Now every one
knows that in our climate in summer II takes
but short time to render body unfit for
the dissecting room. To obviate this the
medical department of Harvard used to send
preservative agents to the almshouse. The
mere statement of this fact awakes loathing
and disgust, but II bodies are to be used,
there is no reason why they should not be
kept iu usable condition. There ID no proof
that bodies were sold, or that Irregularities
occurred in the treatment Of the inmates" ,
"Did and persons in Tewksbury suspect
that there had been any irregularities or inn
|
the investigations"
"None. At least no mention was made Of
such suspicious If suspicious had been
formed, it is very probable they would have
been uttered in New England country vii
, lage."
"who appoints the superintendent of the
almshouseY"
"The state board Of charities"
"And you think Gov Butler is pursuing
this investigation for selfish purposesY"
al do; and so do many persons In Massa-
chusetts who last year were his warm friends.
The whole affair is magnified outside Of Mas.
sachusetts. Tho people Of that state, while
very prompt to condemn and punish injustice
to the poor, and especially breach Of trust
} in the case where helpless persons are en-
trusted to the management Of one man, are
yet solicitous that 1t shall bo shown that in
justice has boen done before the punishment
Is applied, and Gov. Buffers methods Of in
vestigation arc seen to be 80 unfair that per-
haps the people will insist upon the very best
| kind of evidence before they will deem the
superintendent guilty Of the terrible charges
brought against him."
|