Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1884-01-18

local
LEGISLATIVE ENVESTEGA-
TION OF THE W. L.
ASYLUM.
NO NEW CLUE TO THE POISONING.
THE MANAGEMENT OF THE
W. l.. ASYLUM.
POLITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS AT THE
ASYLUM.
The committee appointed by the Legis-
lature TO investigate the poisoning affair
and ether matters at the w. L. Asylum
arrived Eere on Monday last and com.
menced its duties that night in the Super
visors' room at the Court House. The
Senator were E. E. Meredith, of Prince
William. ]. j. Mcdonald, of n orthumber-
land, and IL. S. Trout, of Roanoke, and
Delegates DR.. J. Nj. Lawson, of Isle of
Wight, DR. +. B. Tabb, of Norfolk coun-
ty, DR.. j. T. Wilkins, of Northampto on
IL. Parker, of Norfolk city, and Jno. N.
Opie, of Augusta. Capt. Opie was elected
Chairman. Monday night the Committee
heard all the evidence taken at the cor
oner's inquest, which was read by the
committees clerk, Mr.. John NJ. Kinney.
On Tuesday the general investigation
commenced. Mr. Meade F. White, as
counsel for the Asylum authorities, exa-
mined the witnesses, and the examination
of thu N by the committee was conducted
chiefly by Chairman Opie, and Eessrs.
Meredith and Lawson. (D5mocrats], and
Senator Mcdonald, (Cualltionist The
committee concluded It's labors about One
O'Clock Wednesday night, by holding
conference at the Virginia Hotel, at which
the pledge Of secrecy imposed on the mem.
bers of the press was removed by the
committee, and we this morning give a
summary of the evidence given. We add
no comment as the committee will prob
ably make its own report to the legislature
on Monday next:
r. P. Bell, Commonwealth 8 Attorney
of Staunlon, testified that Oh Dec. 19th
he saw the report of DR.. Hamilton, tue
superintendent, and on the following day
wrote to the Pinkerton Agency the follow
ing letter:
Dec. Goth, 1883.
r. J. LINDEN, ESQ,
Superintendent, de-, Pankerton National
Detective Agency, Philadelphia, Pa.
DEAR SIR:-In the recent report of the
Superintendent of the Western Lunatic
Asylum, for the fiscal year ending Sci t.
Both ult., he enters at some length into
the facts connected with the recent pols
oring case at the Asylum. He states
inter aha that detective was employed w
him from your Agency, and was engaged
for some months in investigating the mat
ter and that yen made a report of results
in writing, concluding as follows: And
the conclusion arrived at x is that
the poisoning Was evidently of
design and has been perpetrated by par
ties outside of the institution, whom it
is unnecessary and would also be- Judi
clous to undertake to name at this time"
These facts have just been brought to
my attention and DIS that investigation
was made on behalf Of, and at the expense
of the State, | deem it proper to ask for
a more complete report of the results than
above stated.
[ enclose certificates of my Official posi-
ton and as any further lnvestig alton must
he made through my agency in the courts,
am tue proper person to receive the in
formation. Your prompt attention will
much oblige, Yours truly.
RICHARD 2. BELL.
Com mon Wealth's Attorney.
To this he received no reply, and again
wrote to the Agency for an answer. To
this be received the following answer:
PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 20.
R.P. BELL, ESQ,
CONFERENCE.-The Attorney.
DEAR SIR:-Your letter Of Dec. Goth.
arrived IN due time and [ sent 1t to our
General Superintendent for his action.
He has been very busy indeed, having
been absent from the Office for the past
three weeks, aud hence has had no oppor-
4uRity of replying to your letter. | am
satisfied he will do SO as soon as he gets
AN opportunity.
Yours truly,
r. J. LINDEN, Supt.
Since that answer, Mr.. Bell said, he
had received nothing from the Agency
when he wrote to the Agency he at the
same time wrote to DR.. Hamilton for e
full copy of the Detectives report alluded
to in annual report. DR.. FL. promptly re-
piled that has annual report contained all
of the Detectives report, except few
wotds which were unimportant.
DIR. R. s. HAMILTON, eUPERINTEN
DENT
sworn, Said he knew. positively nothing
more Of the poisoning than was contained
in the testimony gwen by him at the in
quest, which the committee had heard
read. He had some reason to believe that
the Detective knew more of 1t than was
contained in his (Dr. H.'s) testimony. 1.-THE
report of tie detective written to DR..
Hamilton was read as follows;]
PHIL'A, Sept. lst, 1883.
Oh. e. S. Hamilton, Sxp't Westsyn Luna-
tie Asylum, Stau1ton, Virgluia}
DEAR SrR:-Learning from Mr.. Parkins
tSsaG you desire our conclusions in regard
to the inyesti sation which was made at
Che Western Lunatie Asylum, would state
chat. in accordance with your request. we
selected a frss-eiass detecJiye to pake the
investigation vic was furnished 9th
every Facility by yourself, while at the
ASYLUM. to get any information that
gould be obtained.
The conclusion arrived at from reading
Ahe reports Of the detective and personal
interviews. is that tie poisoning resulted
froga no carelessness or lack of precaution
on the part Of any of the faculty, but was
evidently the work of design and has been
perpetrated by parties outside of the In
stiturisn, whom it is unnecessary ana
would also lie fniudieiCns Go name at this
ti9ae. Yours truly,
r. J. LiEDEN, Eapt.