The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1883-1893, 1889-08-02

EDITORS EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS
UPON THE VERDICT isEtD ED.
Some Oppose Dr. Gri>som, Some Cpholi
Him. Some Have No Opinion, Rut
Nearly All Say Resign.
Last week We published extracts from
several newspapers on the GRISsOM inyes-
tigatlon. The people of North Carolina
fronl one end to the other are deeply in
terested in everything that is written on
this subject. The best index of public
opinion and of right is the editorials of the
editors of the State. Most of them are
against him. We give the gist of their
views.
The conflict of testimony was decided III
DR.. GrisSom favor. We have carefully
read the testimony and the argument of
counsel and cannot come to any other cOu
clusion than that the Board has acted right
in the acquittal of Or. Grissom Carthage
Blade
The evidence IN DR.. Grissom's case has
been concluded and it is now being argued.
We hope that justice will be meted out to
both parties and We believe further that a
general removal Of the officials in the aSy
lum would be the proper step at this
juncture. Surely there is something
wrong. g.-kernersvIlle News.
Nearly every paper in the State is out
spoken in denouncing the verdict of the
Board, and we do not see how the Super
intendent, if he has an atom Of sell lfrespect
left, can longer retain his position. In
our opinion the only course open TO him
now Is for him 10 Immediately resign his
position. Nothing less will satisfy the
people of the State. Wadesboro lntelli
gencer.
Dr. Jas NJ Caldwell, assistant physi-
elan in the insane asylum, Columbia, :
G., assures us that il is not customary in
that institution for the Superintendent
and physicians to kiss lady visitors, at
teudants and patients; nor do they find
il necessary TO stand on the patients,
heads place their feet on their necks or
choke them, III order to bring about the
best results IN restoring persons 10 their
mind -traStonla Gazette.
The editors of the State are generally
free TO express an opinion a to the Girls
som invest CATION. and, 50 Tar as We can
see there IS large majority i'll favor Of
his resignation. We think the act 81 res
lSnation, and the repression Of ali vim
dictlveneSs against the large number who
differed from the verdict Of the majority
would help the cause of DIR. Gr!ssOm,
While his steady and persistent refusal TO
resign may beget a strength Of opposition
which will force a resignation. Greens
boro Workman.
The New Berne Journal charges that
no conspiracy on the part Of the prosecu-
tors, and although majority Of the Dl-
rectors have acquitted Dr. Grissom Off
cially, he does not stand cleared in the
minds of the majority of the people, Gf
we may Judge from the expressions of
opiu:ons) of the charge Of immortality.
Mr. Thompson and Dr., IL gers having
resigned the next proceeding in this case
should be the resi- gnation of DR.. Grissom.
Winston Sentinel.
The Board tried this case as a jury
They required specific charges TO be made
as Il bill of indictment. Had this been a
jury trial no decision could have been rem
dered upon the vote of the jury as it stood.
1t would not have amounted to an acquit
tai, but would have been a mistlial and
he would have been held for new trial
We do not mean to cast any reflections
upon the integrity or honesty of purpose
of those five members of the Board who
voted against conviction. We only say
that they, in our opinion and IN the opin
lon Of a large MAJ Jorlty of the people, took
very peculiar view of the testimony.
We now think the interests of the Asylum
demand his resignation. .-Durham TObac
CO Plant.
1t is difficult to arrive at positive know
ledge, and therefore the CALL cannot posi-
lively say whether or not Dr. Grissom is
guilty or innocent; but the evidence ad
duced in the trial proved him guilty; and
on that evidence the Board acted and ac-
quilted him. These are facts that re-
quire no proof or elaboration.
The GALL offers no comment on the sig
niicance of the designations Of the at
taches of the asylum, which Immediately
followed the decision of the Board. They
are amply suggestive to intelligent and
unpreiudiced minds To other minds
argument and explanation would be
wasted. Raleigh Daily Call.
The Call writes a long editorial under
the head of IAN Astounding Verdict. "
We wish that we could produce it in full
For man to be bereft Of reason, to be
robbed of that power that permits him in
teiligently to commune with his God, and
then to place him in an institution design
ed especially for his care and comfort and
there to be neglected or lltreated, is to
say the least barbaric.
While We believe that the Board of D-
rectors of the Insane Asylum have done
what they conceived to be their duty, vet
it is a fact that their action did not nor
cannot restore public confidence in Dr..
Grissom. Without it has superintendent
in whom the public have confidence to
manage its affairs, it will fall far short of
accomplishing that good for which its
founders labored.-Twin City Daily.
Col. Fuller and Elk Gov. Jarvis labored
in prosy, mechanical. illogical sort of
way to make the world believe that the
necessary thing to do to make an insane
person act rational is to chain him, throw
water i'll his face, or kick and stamp him
in the face, as DR.. Grissom does the poor
creatures under his charge. But it will
be very difficult to make sensible people
believe in such stupid and inhumane treat
xxyh.