Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1883-09-16
A " Register" Correspondent ln-
vestigatss the Late Charges
cniy to Find Them Worse
Than Stated.
vermin Plainly Seen In the Beds
/ Disgusting Filth.--Birth Of
Children Who Is to Blame.
Special 10 The Register.

ment and ill.treatment OF the inmates
and the public found it something to tall
about. The County Commissioners ap
pointed an investigating committee, anC
finally ii was wired by the Associated
Press as
| "Another Tewksbury,"
and the matter suddenly became national
About this time your correspondent visited
the institution, and that the public may
know Just how much truth there is in al
that has been said, and what can be seen
| by trip over the hills" TO the Mar
shall county poor house, we will endeavor
10 relate:
First, that Marshall county ranks
| fourth in point OF taxable wealth and pop
| ulation in the state. The people are intel,
| ligent and progressive in many respects,
but the Old fogy element still Ringers
around and eXeTts strong influence.
You find many OF this class in
days ride and they like like
graDdiathers and great Frandfathers used to
do, and they expect nothing better of the
present generation. II you imagine that
we intend TO cast the blame of having Q
blasted poor hoase" upon this species Of
the genus homo, perhaps yon will not be far
mistaken. Any how, laid away back on the
hills that surround MOundsyille, can be
found that institution. Those who located
It must have been ashamed Of it, or they
would have chosen more accessible and
cheerful place.
&c IN Log Cabin,
and would bear fair comparison to the
tough cabin OF the srontiersman. Ii is
about ljx30, has two rooms, two doors,
LHO windows a chimney, and porch in
ront, which gives ii more modern ap.
=, arance. IL could hardly be taken for
Noshs Ark, foy it was only built about
hrty Years ago, but ever since its con-
srrncuon the county has used it for the
purpose it is nov put to. To the lett OF
this attractive structure stands the Keeper s
house PLAIN, unassUmlng onestory
building with five rooms. The keeper bas
a wife and number of children, and for
his services as keeper, he receives from the
county the munificent sum OF SljOi think
Of it, dear reader, and fair share OF
all he can raise off of eighty acres Of
poor ground, which he tills with the aid OF
pauper labor. The county furnishes the
food and clothing for the inmates, and
after looking at the spparel OF some of the
paEpers, we tremble at the wanton extrava'
gance in sIending the poor tax payers s
bard earned ducats. Instead OF finding
the premises thronged with fdmishing
horde of terror-strichen creatures, crowded
degree of servitude, we foun bat seven in
mates; the balance OF the twenty-four had
been discharged or were visiting their rich
relations. Five of this number were as
crazy as q June bug" or CraZier; the re
naming two we're an old aud feeble wo
man and q blind son OF the Emera'd Isle.
We had seen all this before We made
known the real object Of our visit, but
when We stated Just what we came for, the
W m
our wishes 50 far as he was able. When
We casually remarked that We had heard
that the poor house was pretty hard
place, he surprised us by replying: 1T
Isa Hard Place
and no mistgke about it," The admis-
sion was 50 unexpected that our
manner must have evidenced our
astenIshment but when he CheerfulIy
agreed TO show us the mysteries OF the
entire premises, our surprise was unbound
ed and We begin TO think we had made
mistake and was talking TO "ue Of the fee.
bic minded" inmates, and ~ asked him II
his name was Riggs, to which he reptile in
the affirmative, " hen we felt better satisfied
and proceeded with our Investigations.
Nav while the gentleman evidenced psr-
iect willingness TO show us the sights, he
sort Of acted toward us as # we were 9th.
GERS armed with the law and resdy 70 pop
down on him without moments notice
with a writ Of eieCtmeDt, or quo warrantO
We first visited one OF the two rooms Of
he in Urinary. 1t contained two beds, and
n one of these TeCliNed an old lady by the
name Of Carlow. This old lady a. One
time oco upied a position of a!iiQence and
. ase, Her husband was in good circum
stances; but after his death her trouO Oes be-
ur. Her daughter marrying, she made
tr husband the custodian OF ner property
I'd he in his prOflig.cy
soon Ssaandered It.
The daughter dying left her with9u' sin.
gle friend or kindred that she cJIii turn
10 for favors, and the poor house has ever
since been her home; but DOW lt is re.
ported by the death OF a sister VINO lived in
a distant town in PennsylVaiia, she will
receive q fortune. But it coraes too late
disease has been fast feastiug on her frail
constitution and death will soon claim
her She was lying on a straw tick when
we looked la upon her, and was covered
with q tattsFed comfort. both were filthy
snd dirty in the eXtrene. The bedstead
was old and riCkety and vermin could be
plainly seen crawling about. But one
chair without back vas in the room. A
poor thing for her to rest her old and ach-
ing bones in when she was able 10 occupy
il An IDIOT woman was her room m ate and
| assisted in administering to her wants. What
| a contrast ber condition now to that she
formerly heidi The remaining room was
also furnish ed with two beds N like coadi-
| ton, but were without single chair. This
room was occupied by the men. We we're
next shown what he blind 1ishmsp &yled
"the lock up" which was to the left OF the
Keepers house. 1t was simply yen, in
| which two idiots were con ined. We never
want to Io,k upon snotAer such sight.
| One of the idiots, boy, EaS covered with
| filth and vermin. The side OF his head was
raw with sn zgly sore, On which the htss
we're gathered in numbsrs, aud his fsee
gss sneared with eGerement We coald
| stand the scene no longer.
Ikwas toe. Horrible
10 contemplate, to zee . human being in
| such Q disgusting condition, 90 We retreat
ed. After reaching open air and breathing
more frsely, We had the following conTer
| sation With the keeper:
M Riggs, vould you please tell Us how
| long you bsvs been keeper Of The poor ~
! "Oertainly, sir. About 10 years, II
/ rtcoliect correctly.
What was the greatest number OF in
mtes at one time In the poor house
II think about a, with an :aVeEsge c
nssrly l3."
Were they oil housed in those tw
rooms called the irfrmsry"
No, not all. The incest OF them l KEEP
in that room over there" pointing to
I room in bis house.
1T is true, as reported. that the inmate
mingled together
REGARDLESS Of Sex :"
"No. not since have been keeper; bu
! have heard 1t said that they dill when ia
| othpr man kept the house"
"What nther mspr
why, Kyle, believe, was his name
do You know for certain whether ther
ever did exist such o state Of Affairs as ia:
mentioned ,,
Mo. not for certain. only heard It
will you please tell me how many chi
dren have been born here whose mothsi
were paupeTs, since you have been keel
err
well, as near a. can recollect, / thin
eight is ite number"
"wtre snyo: those children go'tsn Viii
hsror
/. hf,eT some hesitsaev nH rsDlied ~ ss
tps; Two, I beiisys. bas reaiy I daa