Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1889-04-26
The State Charities.
ANNUAL ELECTION OF OFFICERS OF TILE

ANNUAL ELECTION OF OFFICERS OF TILE
w. L. ASYLUM.
The Board of Directors of the W. l..
Asylum after several days spent in hearing
evidence on both sides OF the seven charges
preferred against DE-. D. b. Con-
rad, the Superintendent, by the Assistant
physicians, Steward and Clerk, decided that
the gravest Of them were sustained-the
vote being Ayes-Messrs. Beckham, Cole
man, McAllister, Moffett, Rosser, Todd
and Trout, 7; N oes-NIessrs. Edmondson
and Boyd, ?. Dr.. Benjamin Blackford OF
Lynchburg, was then elected Superinten-
dent.
All the other officers were reelected eX-
cept MI. j. w. Blackburn, the Steward.
Capt. Lewis Hartman was put up for the
place and was elected by the following vote:
For Capt. Harman-Messrs. Boyd, Cole
man, Edmondson, Rosser and Todd, 3.
For Nh. Blaclzburn-Messrs. Beckham,
McAllister, Moffett and Trout, 4.
The Board unanimously directed the fol-
lowing resolution to be entered on the re-
cord:
s"That the Board in failing to re-elect MI
J. w. Blackburn as the Steward of the Asy-
lum does not in any way reflect upon his per-
Sonal OF official character or conduct.
Mr.. Blackburn has served about four
years as Steward of the Asylum, and has
been one Of the very best officers that has
filled that position in the history of the in
stitution. Capt. Hartman is well known to
our readers as man Of fine business capa-
city, a good farmer and q popular citizen
Of the highest personal character. The &C
ton of the Board in failing to re-elect MI.
Blackburn under the circumstances is gen
orally and adversely criticized, and the CHI
ticism is only modified by the fact that
so excellent an officer was chosen as his
successor.
OF the new Superintendent, Dr.. Black
ford, who has arrived and entered On his
duties, the Lynchburg Virginian speaks in
the highest terms personally, and of his
qualifications professionally, it says:
For the peculiar duties to which he is called
he is, too, not without valuable experience.
He was for three years an assistant at the
Blockly Hospital and Insane Asylum OF Phlia-
Uelpnld, where lie gained ulllCil llllOlIldulolI
which will now be timely. But during the
war his experience was greatly enlarged. lie
organized and directed some of the largest
hospitals Of the Confederacy, and his manage
ment of them received repeated commenda-
tons. lie does we'll whatever he undertakes,
bringing patient toll and tiTeless application
to the discharge Of duty Last year he was
President OF the State Medical Society Of Vir
ginia, showing the esteem in which he is held
| by the profession of the State, and his vale
dictory address was highly complimented in
many quarters.
The Lynchburg News also speaks in the
highest terms of the new appointee, and
adds:
This is great honor, conferred in a most
pleasing and iattering way. Dr.. Blackford
has not actively sought the place. Some
weeks ago it became known that the late in
cumbent would not be chosen for another
term and thereupon Dr. Blackford allowed
his friends to present his name to the Board.
The old officers at all the other Insane
Asylums of the State were reelected, eX-
cept in Williamsburg. There, Dr.. Leonard
Henley, I'd Assistant, was defeated by Dr..
James H. Garlick, Sd Assistant, and the
position of Sd Assistant was abolished.