Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-07-13
At TOGUS.
Annual Meeting Of the Board Of
Managers.
Grave Charges Preferred Against
General Stephenson.
A Star Chamber Session Of a Portion Of
the Board.
Reporters are Arbitrarily Refused Ad-
mission to the Hearing.
Some Chance that a Committee Of In
vestigation May be Appointed.

grave charges against the Governor were to
be preferred before the Board Of Managers
of the National Home at Togus, attracted
very general attention, and in order 20 obtain
a full report of the proceedings, a Journal
reporter visited Togus yesterday, in company
with correspondent of the Portland Press.
As the scribes came in sight of the Home it
became evident that the matter was the great
subject of discussion among the veterans.
Little groups scattered here and there were
evidently indulging in considerable talk
concerning the affair, and also regarding the
Board of Managers, who were the guests of
Gen. Stephenson and for whose special ben
eft the Togus band was discoursing some
beautiful music.
The Board of Managers who were suppos-
ed fc be knitting their brows over
The Serious Charges
brought against the Governor of the Home
were nowhere to be seen. The officer of the
day when asked as to their wherea.
bouts, professed profound ignorance concern
ms ehSsS uistihSu anu VI
rected the scribes to the Sergeant Major
That officer was at once visited, and after
waiting in an ante-room for few moments
the seribes were granted an interview. The
Major appeared and bruskly demanded the
nature of their business. This the reporters
failed to state, but asked after the Board of
Managers. They were informed that those
worthless had finished their labors that fore
noon. The Major knew nothing of a hear
ing and was evidently impressed with be-
lief that there would be none. He was not
long in discovering that he was entertaining
newspaper men and moment later, as Gen
eral Stephenson was passing through the
room, in full uniform, he was called into
private apartment by the Major, and whis-
pered conversation ensued What the SUBJ
stance of it was it would of course be diff
cult to tell with absolute certainty, but from
what subsequently transpired, there can be
no doubt but what the Major informed the
General that newspaper men were present
and that the General very promptly ordered
him
Bottle en-"
One thing is certain the investigating COM
mittee which does anything like justice at
the Togus Home, will be obliged as pre-
liminary measure, to cut many yards of red
tape.
In dismissing the scribes the Major in
formed them that there was nothing for them
to get. He knew of no afternoon hearing,
and had they been there in the forenoon they
would not have been admitted to the presence
of the Board of Managers, as they were con-
cerned wholly with the ''private affairs of the
Home" 1t is well to remark here that there
appears to be good deal of privacy" about
the management of Uncle Sans affairs at
Togus, and that very general impression is
going abroad that considerable less of it would
conduce to the best interests of the institu-
ton.
Why should this Home-whch is paid for
by the people, and in whose good manage
ment and the welfare of whose honored in
mates all should feel just pride-be con-
Quoted with all the secrecy which might
properly characterize the proceedings of a
masonic lodge?
When the board of managers arrived in
this city Wednesday afternoon they were
met at the depot by Attorneys Goddard and
Potter and were informed that grave charges
were to be preferred against General Stephen
enson. They expressed willingness to hear
them and stated that they would be in readi-
ness to listen to them between the hours of
twelve and one at Togus. Promptly at that
time Messrs. Potter and Goddard, with writ
ten charges, and accompanied by
Complainants and Witnesses,
were on the ground, but no Board of Man
ayers were in waiting for them. They were
enjoying the bountiful hospitality of the
generals mansion, and appeared decidedly
loath to leave it; besides, the band was just
at that time rendering some of its best music
and the Togus band is certainly worth 60
ing good ways to hear. The counsel grew
anxious. 1t began to look exceedingly dubi-
Gus as to whether or, not the visiting board
would condescend to give them hearing
Finally, the Sergeant-Major kindly took the
charges in a large envelope and carried them
to
The Generals House
where they were placed in the hands of q
member of the Board of Managers. mo-
ment later Col. Leonard A. Harris and Gen.
NJ. T. Mcmahon made their appearance.
Home and the Sergeant Major escorted the
attorneys to their presence. The reporters
were about to follox hnt the Mainr mt his