The Indianapolis journal., 1888-10-06
THE INSANE ASYLUM ROTTBNNEss


No denial is made of DR.. Kyte's charges
againss the trustees of the Insane Hospital,
and the only explanation attempted is lie on
its face. No new developments or proof can add
anything to the strength of the conviction in
the minds of all honest men that the present
management of the hospital is scandalously
corrupt, and the statement of DR.. Kyle is
only valuable as cumulative proof of the
fact. Nothing can add to the infamy of q
management which already stands convicted
of the most heartless and inhuman practices
ever proved against the managers of any SIM
liar institution but it must add to the indig-
nation of every honest man to know that the
rascally corruptionists inside of the institu-
tion and their no less rascally accomplices
outside are still plundering and prostituting
1t as boldly as they were before the first dis
closures were made, over two years ago.
DE-. Kyte's affidavit shows, first, that the
trustees loaned John E. Sullivan 81, 900 out
of the hospital contingent fund, DR.. Harrison
remarking at the time that 1.-THE boys are
pretty badly pressed now. and Sullivan has
been good friend to the hospital" that Sui
livan had the use of this money nearly two
months without interest, and was loath to re-
turn it then; and that the transaction was
accomplished by overdrafts on the contingent
fund. DR.. Kyte's statement shows. secondly,
that the trustees appropriated and paid $40
out Of the hospital funds to their lawyers
for defending them in the legislative
investigation last year, in which it
was proved that they had been fur
nishing diseased pork and maggoty butter to
the States insane by contract with favored
members of the ring, of which John E. Sulli-
van, the borrower of the 81 900. was an d is a
leading member. Each of these transactions
constitutes a separate case of malfeasance in
Office and misappropriation of funds.
No man ever committed fraud or crime
that he was not able to offer some defense of
it. Or. Harrison admits the truth of DR..
Kyte's charges, and justifes the acts. He
says, Certainly we think that nothing was
done that was illegal or improper" Then he
tries to show that the loan to Sullivan was
merely an advance on current account, and
the payment Of the attorneys fees was justi-
fed by law. This defense shows DR.. Harri-
sons lack of moral sense as much as the
original acts. A public official and trustee Of
benevolent institution who could thus mis-
appropriate its funds could hardly be expected
to possess much power of discrimination be-
tween what is honest and what is not; but DR..
HaIrisons defense of the transaction shows
how thoroughly corrupt he is. He says, in
effect, "Yes, we did il, and what are you 60
ing to do about isf'
This is the position these rascals have occu-
pied for years past. While they and their acs
completes, including the Suliivans, the Coys
and their like. have been battening on the in
sane hospital, plundering the people and pros
| tituting one Of their noblest charities, feeding
| the inmates on decayed meat and wormy but
| ter, and dividing among themselves the profits
| of their inhumanity, they have been able to
snap their fingers at an outraged people and
to meet all charges with "The public be
| damned"
| TURN THE RASCAI.S OUT