Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-04-10

Commissioner Wheatley is pursuing in pri-
vate an investigation of allegations made
against the management of the Washington
asylum. Mr.. McGuigan, late engineer of the
asylum, who preferred the charges, has been
expecting letter from the Commissioners for
some days, according to the announcement
made by the Commissioners through the news
papers, but when a STAR reporter saw him
to-day he said that he had not heard in
any way from the Commissioners Mr. Nc
Guigan said he was ready to furnish
list of witnesses whose testimony would
he believed, support all the charges he had
made. If taken in a proper manner. He was
surprised that the Commissioners had not con-
sldered 1t necessary up to this time to call for
this evidence. Mr.. McGuigan thought that
there was not much chance of getting unbiased
testimony from either inmates or employes of
the asylum while the intendant and matron.
against whom the charges were made, were left
IN control OF the institution so that the wit
nesses upon leaving the Commissioners Office
return 10 the asylum, where they are subject to
the favor or displeasure of those in authority.
All he asked was for fair chance and an in
vestlgation conducted in fair manner. in
which case, he believed, he could Justify HIM
self before the public in bringing the charges
that he had made.
MR.. WHEATLEY TAKING TESTIMONY.
MIR. Wheatley yesterday afternoon had before
him MIR. Gosnell, the cooper, and Charles Pryor
the driver for Mr.. Kuhn, who have bought
the barrels from the Washington asylum Their
statements were, the Commissioners said sub
stantlally what they were represented as saying
IN IHE STAR. Mr.. Wheatley said this morning
that he had not yet examined into the state of
Mr.. Stoutenburgh's accounts. Mr.. Stouten-
burgh, he said, claimed that he could ex-
PLAIN the matter DIR. Chew, who was until
a few months ago. visiting physician to the asy-
Ium. was at the District buildings this morning
at the same time lntendant Stoutenburgh was
there. After conversing with Commissioner
Webb and Mr.. Stoutenburgh he was turned
over to Mr.. Wheatley, who took a statement
from him relating principally, it is said to the
charge against the matron Mr.. Wheatley said
to a STAR reporter that he did not permit Mr.
Stoutenburgh to be present when he was exam
lining witnesses, and he would not take Mr. Stout
enburgh's statement until the last.
Ihere are other materials sold from the
Washington asylum besides barrels, but Com
missioner Wheatley's inquiry, so far as STAR
reporter could learn. has extended only to bar
rels. Vegetables and refuse material, like
bones, have been sold. There is small item
on the collectors books of vegetables sold in
1856. 1t Is probable, if thorough inyestiga-
tion is made, that the intendant's accounts will
be thoroughly Overhauled in respect to all
these matters.
WHY IT Is sECREr
The mode adopted by the Commissioners in
making this investigation is the subject of con-
siderable comment unfavorable to the Commits
sioners. The fact that the Commissioners
themselves are under something of n cloud
makes public talk about the effort to keep the
asylum investigation secret all the more pointed
and personal.
Statements and complaints concerning the
management OF the asylum, il appears, have
been sent to the Commissioners before, but
they were not given to the public and were
quietly suppressed. Mr.. McGuigan's charges.
however, fell into the hands of the newspaper
reporters and received such publicity that the
Commissioners were obliged to pay some at
tention to them.
WHAT INMATES SAY.
Inmates of the almshouse, with whom STAR
reporter has talked, generally complain of the
management of the institution and make state
ments corroborative of the charges made by
MIR. McGuigan! alleging neglect of the institu-
tion and conduct on the matrons part that
might not be considered highly commendable.
Several inmates of the almshouse have appeared
at the District buildings, voluntarily, to speak
to the Commissioners about the matter but
MIR. Wheatley has declined to take their testi-
mony. He told STAR reporter that he did not
think their testimony was credible unless
strongly corroborated by that of others.