The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-02-13
DAMAGING TESTIMONY.
Some Pointed Swearing by the Witnesses
Before the Knightstown Committee.

Last night the legislative committee now in
vestigating the alleged maladministration of az
fairs at the Knightstown Soldiers Orphans
Home did some servieeable work. The tesi-
mony was more to the point than atpreviously
introduced and was damaging to both White
and Goar, who, If last nights evidence is sus-
tanned, have been guilty of gross immoraities. Ii
also shows that the discipline OF tho institution
has been VIGOROUSLY bad.
The first witness called was John A. Green,
an attorney of Indianapolis who was soon dis
missed, to be recalled at some future date The
next witness was Philip A. Wright, who acted
for Somc time as an ovcrseer OF the feeble
minded children in the institution Wright
testified that one day he suddenly orened
tho door of DR.. Whites Office and
saw Nellie Leighton, ono Of the inmates and at
tcrward teacher of the Home, sitting in his Ian.
At another time young Wright, whose suspicious
led him to prowl around and investigate, says ho
saw DR.. White and Nellie Leighton in private
apartment Of the dormitory, about 10 o'clock at
questionable attitude The witness said, also,
that no had seen DIR. White oftentimeS
enter tho private room OF Miss Brandt
at a late hour of the night, when all the inmates
anu LeuCEerS were supposed TO DC III DeU IN
response to question from one of the attor-
ncys, Wright testified that DR.. White had en-
deavored, yesterday, to dissuade him from Civ
ing any testimony damaging to his personal
running his reputation and the happiness
of his home, and insinuating that
there would be position preferred his
brother, John M. Wright, who was dismissed
from thel institution some time since. Dr.
White" said the witness" brought up the feeble
minded girls at the Home in such q way that
their morals were placed in peril The Doctor
was in the habit of fondling and caressing to an
extent rather unconventional"
John M Wright, brother OF the proceeding
witness, said that he saw Morgan, a teacher in
the Home. strip Ed Bowler naked, throw him
down. and mercelsssly cowhide the boy almost
to death John claims that DR.. White dis
charged him because he was outspoken
against this brutal punishment. The wit
ness said he saw Nelly Lelghton once
on DR. Whites knee, and on another occasion he
saw Dr. White lay his head III Miss Lerghton's
lap, while she combed his hair. The Doctor Oft
en- locked himself up in room with The females
OF tho institution. There has been no harmony
of late i'll the Home, and further, DR.. White did
not command the respect OF the teachers and
pupils.
The next witness was John s. Hedges, an at
torney and politician of New Castle, who has an
Office adjoining Goar's newspaper Office. Last
June, Hedges saw Goar, who is trustee OF the
Home. take a strange girl, aged about sixteen,
up INTO Ills Onlce Suspicion leu IleugeS 10 oHter
his own apartment and look through
the key-hole into Goar's Office where
he saw them hold sexual intercourse.
Hedges said that he ascertained through his law
partner, Mr. Chamberlain. who is close friend
of Goar, and who inquired of Mrs Goar for the
name of the lady that accompanied her husband,
that this young girl was an inmate of the
Soldiers Orphans Home ut Knights
town. The witness further said that
Goar's reputation was very unsavory.
Hedges stated that Goar had implorcd him not
to give publicity to the gross ilnnIortalities Of
which he knew him guilty, as the reports would
be widely copied by the press in Tie surround
lag counties.
The committee convcnes seliE 81 o'clock
this evening and will hear further testimony.