Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1889-05-03

sion of the facts; turned the management OF
the case over to him: that we had opposed
having counsel at first; were forced into it,
and now to be forced out of it, would be I'M
just to us; but if it was to be done, we wanted
it to be made a matter of record. The Board
then insisted that DR.. Conrad procure
counsel which he did. They then proceeded
to investigate the seventh charge, which is as
follows:
In that by going into private rooms to examine
the persons OF female patients and an attendant,
without witnesses, and without the knowledge
of the physician in charge of the ward, thus neg
Letting to take even the ordinary precautions 10
protect his reputation and theirs, he has shown
himself destitute of the prudence and dlscfetlon
asylum; and has given rise to, and has perpetual
ted SO many and scandalous rumors and suspic-
ions that we consider that we would be derelict
in our duty to you, to the Asylum, and to our
selves if we continued to ignore them.
The evidence to sustain this charge was
overwhelming, as evidenced by the vote OF
seven to two, to sustain it. The members OF
the Board voting to sustain this charge were
Moffatt. McAlIister, Trout, Beckham, Rosser
Coleman, and Todd. Noes-Edmundson and
Boyd.
On the other hand, the following resolution
was unanimously passed:
"That this Board in failing to re-elect j. w
Blackburn, Steward of this Asylum, does moi
in any way intend to reflect upon his personal
OF official character OF conduct"
The vote for the candidates to fill the Office
of Steward, was as follows For Capt. HarmaI
-Rosser Coleman, Todd, Boyd, and Edmund
son. For myself-Moffett McAllister, Trout
and Beckham. The votewas recorded as cast
1t was claimed by some members OF
the Board who voted against me, tina
| had taken too active part in the prose
cutiOn of Dr.. g.. that my position in the Asy
lum did not call upon me to take that stand
But believe the public will sustain me whe1
| claim that it is the duty of every one con
nected with the Asylum, to, report any mis-
treatment of the patients, and much more 81
the duty of one holding an elective OF reSp0n
sible position in it.
lam informed that distinguished gentleman
on the Board who voted against me, said tina
he thought l had neglected the commissar.
department to prosecute this case. His onl.
opportunity of judging OF the commIssary de
served him, and if a mans action are allowed
to speak against his words, they were rathe
| complimentary than otherwise to the commits
sary But even if this had been true in poin
/ of fact, which it was not, did he expect me
after preferring charges against man, SOME
of them of serious character, instead O
| standing by them until they were proved, t.
run away from them and allow myself to b.
branded as vilifier of another mans char
acter. And did he expect me, merely because
| | was not a medical officer, to say nothing
when l believed the patients were being
| outraged.
Any adverse criticism which l may have
made on the Board in the above article, is no
intended to include every individual in tn,
Board, for be it understood to their credit
that there were gentlemen on that Board Wh(
from first to last took the stand that they Wer'
the representatives OF the ASylumS interests
and not the special friends, defenders, OF pro
secutors of any person. -
j. w. BLACKBURN.