The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1889-08-01
Rockingham Spirit of the South

ihochihShaM spirit Of the South.
SO. as we predicted, the eminent
Doctor. who henceforthw will doubtless be
known as the Knight of Osculatory
Sympathy has escaped conviction BY
! the highest kind of squeeze. But the
people. sitting in Judgment as a jury
over and above all the public servants
OF the State, as near as we come at it.
are Of the opinion that DIR. Grissom is
at least guilty of immortality and should
lose no time in retiring from the posi-
ton he holds, and which. for SO many
years he SO worthily filled.
| baskerville Citizen.l
/ Those who know him best know that
! DIR. Grissom stands exonerated. But
those who know the public sentiment
must feel that the efficiency of the in
stitution must be impaired BY his fur
/ ther connection with it. AcQuittal
carries with it personal vindication.
but it does not carry with il the resto-
ration of that equilibrium in the public
mind which will restore to its old chan
mel that easy confidence in DIR. Girls
som the public once had. The sug-
gestiop of his retirement is very pain
full to us; for there is no gentleman in
North Carolina we more admire and
trust than DIR. Grissom. But the po-
sition he holds depends for its value
and usefulness on unbounded and
unanimous public confidence: and 1t is
evident now that unanimity is with
drawn.
Wilmington Star
We do not question the integrity of
any member of the Board of Directors
of the Insane Asylum; but we are
nevertheless surprised at the acquittal
of DR.. GrlssOm on all the charges pre-
terred. He was acquitted OH the
charges of gross immortality by vote
of five to three, and on the charges of
cruelty to patients and misappOpria-
ton of public supplies by vote of six
to two. This is the verdict of the
Board of Directors but the verdict of
that other Jury of his peers" the in
telligent people of North Carolina,
will. in our opinion. be: Guilty in
manner and form as charged in the in
dictment. DR.. Grissom ought to re-
sign; and the osculary demonstration
of sympathy" should be forever ban
ished from our charitable institutions.
Five to three, within one vote of q tie,
does not place DR.. GrissOm where he
ought to be, above suspicion, if he eX-
poets to remain in the position he now
holds. For the good of the Insane
Asylum, for the good of the State, for
his own good, we repeat, DIR. GrissOm
should follow the example of DIR.
Rogers.
Hickory Press and Carolinian.]
Taking the whole testimony there
was left Il more reasonable doubt of
guilt and the Board of Directors by a
vote of five to three gave the accused
the benefit of the doubt in an acquittal.
But the public are not satisfied. We
believe the Directors decided properly
on the testimony they had, but there is
a very general belief that DIR. Fuller,
first assistant superintendent, could
have cleared the case of all doubt.
WHY was he not examined?
DR.. Grissom has been acquitted, but it
would be better for the great charity
he has so long served, and perhaps for
himself. if he would resign his place.
Burlington News.
The trial of DIR. Grissom is over and
he stands acquitted of every charge, so
far as the Board of Directors. judge
and Jury in the case are concerned. but
it is far from the opinion OF the great
mass of people in North Carolina. 1t
is hard to criticise jury who have
better chance to gather all the bearings
than outsiders. but we do not believe
the people of this State accept the YER
diet as lust and right. Just as sure as
the sun shines on us to-day there is
something rotten somewhere about that
institution. and will out yat. DIR. Girls
som had better resign at once.
Salisbury Herald.
The evidence against DIR. Grissom
was not to our mind fully convincing,
and as much of this evidence seemed to
be tainted with envy and personal ami
mostly on the part Of one of the prose-
cutors. the board had a right to ques-
ton its sincerity, and this fact prob
ABLY did much towards influencing a
verdict in his favor, thereby vindicating
him. but thousands Of our people think
is powerful. and however many friends
d DR.. Grissom may have all over the
State who would regret to see him re-
tire from the place, yet if he was the
J, grandest, purest and best man on earth
l and his retention as superintendent
jeOpardized the institution or to any
great extent drew from it the support
and sympathy of any class of our peo-
B., pie. he must not remain there. 1t is
5 easy enough for him or his friends to
!. say that he has been indicated, and
e therefore there is no good reason for
d his resigning, but that powerful lever
d public sentiment-which builds up or
IL tears down institutions as well as men.
a must be regarded. especially if that
! sentiment has been concentrated and
n crvstalized from honest convictions.
h We svmpathize with DR.. GrissOm, but
e he ought to resign. The great work oil
d this noble institution must not be les
&C sened nor retarded for any one man.
Y nor any one hundred men. nor for any
o class of men.
>, Statesville News.
The trial Of DIR. Grissom, after hard
y and careful work of four weeks resulted
10 in a verdict of acquittal. 1t is to be
regretted that the verdict OF ''nO,