The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-03-24
SOME DAMAGING CHARGES
The Acknowledgement Begins Proceed
ings to DepoSe Trustee Harrison.
He Is Charged with Various 0ffenses. Includ-
ing ScandaI0us Conduct at the Insane Hos
pital and Theft-Bits of Court News.


amended complaint in his quo warranto suit for
the removal of Thomas III. Harrison Philip
Gapen and B. a. Burrel the members of the
benevolent board. The complaint covers over
fifty pages of type-writing. and makes twenty
four distinct allegations constituting cause for
the removal of the defendants. While Prssi-
dent Harrison is made TO figure as the defendant
in the most serious charges. Gapen and Burrell
are involved in nearly all the paragraphs. Some
of the charges were made in the original COM
plant, but they have been set forth more fully
in this one. Some very serious charges are
made against President Harrison, he being
charged, among other things. with theft and
scandalous conduct toward the female employees
of the hospital The principal charges made sns
First-That Harrison has in every year since
March, 1888, president of the board OF trusssi
ees of the various benevolent boards. and as
third member of each, unlawfully received and
extorted $1,000 salary. when he was emitted
TO but $780, that he has thus unla wfully received
s. 800 of the States money: that be drew $40
uniawfuly as a member OF the provisional hos
pital board; that he confederated with B. Ell.
Burrell. the remaining member of the board to
corruptly allow Philip NJ Gapen, trustee. the
sum OF 5000 as salary. although Gapen spent
nearly ali his time in Arkansas, had neglected
his duties and not entitled TO any OF tn Q
4Second-That Harrison. conspiring with the
lawfully usurped the rights OF the u
perintendent of the Insane Asylum to
appoint subordinate officers, and physi-
cians prescribing the number of the same
and causing to be dismissed many fit and meris
torious suboriiuates, for no other reason than
that they did not belong 10 the party of which
the trustees were members; that he caused to-
be substituted members of the party irraspect-
i've of merit. and for the purpose of retaining
the political support of members of the Legisla7
ture, whom he had requested to send ip nomin-
n dTahN 1ncf md
careless, and brutal attendants. physicians and
others. were appointed To positions IN the Insane
Hosptal; that no test of the ability or skill of
the appoiDtees were required, and that there
was no system, plan, or rules. and that. as
consequence. many corrupt and brutal attend
ants were appointed who abused the insane, and
who stole large quantities of clothing and other
property belonging to the State These things.
the complaint alleges, were all done with the
full knowledge and consent of all the members
of the board. -
Third--That by reason of the political ap-
pointment of incompetent, ignorant and care
less persons many insane persons were injured,
and some killed. namely: Caroline Lane, Mrs
Stewart, Albert McConahey, and that q lar ge
number of insane persons, averaging ten or
more per month. were csrelessly an negligent
~ allowed to escape; that many of those whoes-
capped wandered about this aud other counties,
and that some OF them persisted because no eff
fort to return them to the hospital was made.
Fourth-That the trustees during their entire
term of Office organized and maintained at,the
Insane Hospital political clubs: that in the
pagn of 1886 these clubs visited political gather
ines at Martinsville. Shelbyvills, and other
towns. and that during their absence, sometimes
extending two days. the inmates
were left without sufficient carr,
and suffered much from inattention; that
j. s. Hall, David D. Kyle. Mr.. Talbot. Bryce
funds from the enpIoyes for political purposes.
and that the attendants were requested, and
did, contribute a fund to defray the expense
of the defense of Sim Coy, charged with con-
spring TO altar tally-sheets
Fitth-That physicians and attendants were
appointed who failed to give proper medical at
patients TO be leased, whipped. scalded. kicked.
abused and tormented aud that the school
established for the benefit of the patients was
caused to be abolished
Sixth-That boilers for the steam heating ap-
paratus. purchased at great expense. were not
of standard quality. and that thew were COM
mtted to Incompetent persons. That by reason
of these things the State has been put to the ex-
pense of several hundred dollars for repairs, ETC.
Seventh-That j. S. Hall, an incompetent
person, was appointed storekeeper; that he
an institution, but was simply given his posi-
ton for the purpose of paying political debt;
that as such storekeeper he willfuly issued to
the patients unfit supplies.
Eighth-That Thomas S. Galbraith, man
not qualified by experience or education for the
position, was appointed superintendent.
Ninth-That rancid. maggoty butter, oleo-
margarine and butter, tainted and diseased
meat wormy fruit. bad flour and other unWhole-
some food, insuficently cooked, were sup
piled to patients; that John e. Sui
Ivan, butter and egg dealer, a personal and
political friend of the defendants, and person
of political influence, was permitted to furnish
provisions to the asylum for many months
without being required TO contest with other
dealers who desired to and would have furnished
provisions at a lower price; that instead of
creamery butter. provided in the contract.
Sullivan furnished butterine, or country butter.
obtaining maggots and other vermin. and all
with the knowledge of all the trustees: that such
supplies were accepted and divers sums of money
paid the defendants, including $3.50,
and other sums, and in consideration of political
service rendered by Sullivan retaining Harri-
son as president of the board.
Tenth-That Thomas FL. Harrison publicly
conducted himself in an unmanly
~ using profane and obscene language
around the hospital, and by ouarreling with
of unbscominR and improper familiarity Ia pub
lie with a large number of females employed at
the hospital; and that on one or more occasions
he entered and was found in the sleeping apart
ments OF female attendants during late hours at
night, and that by such conduct he brou ght
great scandal upon the hospital and set an evil
to the officers and employees.
Seventh-That Harrison. while trustee, pur-
chased and appropriated to his use twenty
jars of Queen olives. twenty cases Of sardines
and other supplies of the value of 800, and that
the State paid for these supplies; that the trlIs
tees allowed G. S. Wesner claim of $500 out of
the States money for services in defending them
against charges preferred before the last Leeis-
lature. and that they had more right to APP
propriate the money than private citizen.
Twelfth-That Indebtedness was constantly
contrary to law; that no record Of
moneys received for offal and other things was
kept; that che annual report recently made did
not show the correct condition of the institu-
tuition; that on Oct. 81 1886 it was stated that
there was a balance on hand of $13, 243 81 in the
main tenance fund. when, in fact, the hospital
was indebted to the State In the sum of Sc I2D
which should have been CHARGED against the
balance and that other important facts were
omitted from the report for the purpose of de-
serving the people
The other paragraphs of the amended com
plant only a repetition OF charges made in
The original complaint The Attorney-generAI
s DESTROYS of speedy hearing of the case and
{ is probable that it will be called for the next
term of court. W. d. Foulke has been en-
oloyed TO assist the Attorney-g general ia repre-
;enting the State, and Herod & Herod have been
retained by the defendants.
Divorce Cases Before the Courts.