Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-04-23
THE ASYLUM INQUIRY.
The Commissioners Exonerate the In.
tendant from the Charges.
STILL THEY THINK THE MEAT SHOULD BE INSPECTED
MORE THOROUGHLY AND AN ACCOUNT SHOULD BE
RENDERED OF OLD MATERIALS soLD-THE rEsrI-
MoNY OF EMPLOYEES.


RENDERED OF OLD MATERIALS soLp-THE rEsrI-
MoNY OF EMPLOYEES.
The investigation which Mr.. wheatley has
been conducting for some days behind closed
doors of charges made against the manage
ment of the Washington asylum has come to
an end in an order Of the Commissioners APP
proving Mr.. Wheatley's conclusions generally.
that the charges have not been sustained by
the testimony of the employees whom he ex-
| amined- The only reform so far resulting from
this inquiry is an instruction to the intendant
to cause more particular and thorough inspec-
| ton to be made of the meat furnished to the
inmates of the asylum and workhouse, and an
order that hereafter the order of the Commits
sioners respecting the sale of old property shall
be strictly enforced The report of the inves-
tlgatlon made by Mr.. Wheatley to his colleagues,
Mr.Webb and Major Raymond, is az follows:
Mr.. wHEATLEY's REPORT.
Pursuant to instructions Of the board have
carefully investigated the charges presented
against the management of the Washington
| asylum by J. j. Michigan, formerly engineer
| of that institution.
The charges are follows:
First. That the old material belonging to the
District is sold and no account rendered of the
| money received.
Second. That the matron of the institution is
| VIGOROUSLY addicted to drink and negligent
OF duty, having on many occasions appeared in
the poor-house in state of intoxication.
Third: That the inmates of the poor-house
are neglected and the wards they occupy al
lowed to become filthy by reason of the mat
tentlon of the intepdant and matron.
Fourth. That women confined in the female
work-house have been cruelty and brutally
treated by male keeper with the knowledge of
the intendant.
Fifth. That the food furnished to the inmates
OF the workhouse and the poorhouse and to the
patients In the hospital is often of unwholesome
character and scanty in quantity, while the best
of the products of the farm and the dairy and
the choicest supplies purchased for the institu-
ton are appropriated to the use of the intend
ant and OF favored officers.
Sixth. That materials belonging to the insti-
tuition have been sent away to relatives of or
persons favored by the intendant and matron.
McGuigan stated that he believed the testi-
mony of the inmates of the poorhouse and of
| the employees of the institution would sustain
the charges.
The employees, with few exceptions, were
examined. The exceptions were:
DIR. Howard. the visiting physician who has
only served few months, and possessed very
| limited, If any, information on the subject.
The matron and her son and Overseer Stout
enburgh, for obvious reasons.
After careful consideration of the testi-
mony given my conclusions are as follows:
First charge. The intendant admits that old
material, such as empty barrels and bones,
have from time to time been sold. and the pro-
ceeds, not exceeding $50 per year, have been
dlSbursed by him for the benefit of the inmates
OF the workhouSe, with a view to encourage in
dustry, and also that portion of such funds
has been used for the purchase of such extra
delicacies and attentions for inmates of the
poor-house and hospital wards as the appro-
prlatlon failed to provide. Also that this was
done by and with the consent of Commissioner
webb and the predecessors of the present
board.
1t is to be regretted, however, that no ac-
count of such receipts and disbursements has
been kept by the intendant.
As to the second charge: This charge is not
sustained by the testimony. On the contrary
there Is an abundance of testimony to the eff
feet that the matrOn has at all times been as
slduous in her attention to the various duties
devolvlng upon her, and on no occasion does
1t appear from the testimony that she has been
other than an efficient industrious and pains
taking official. There is however, some testi-
mony appearing to sustain the charge. which is
counterbalanced by affidavit of physician,
showing that, owing to physical causes, the
matron has been constrained at times to use
opiates by his direction.
AS to the third charge: The testimony does
not sustain the charge. 1t is in evidence that
at one time an incompetent overseer was in
charge of the main building, but that the
wards became filthy by reason of neglect, due
to the inattention Of the intendant or matron,
does not appear.
As to the fourth charge: This charge is I'M
sustained by the testimony.
As to the fifth charge: There is considerable
conflict Of testimony in regard to the food fur
nished to the various wards of this institution.
The principal objection, however, appears to
be in regard to the quality of the meat, and it
is quite possible that a more rigid inspection
ont no Of fh. actn Il
supervision by the intendant would be produc-
tive Of Improvement.
The mass of testimony controverts the idea
that there Is any deficiency III the quantity of
food served in the various departments. This
charge is not substantiated by the evidence.
AS to the sixth charge: There is no testimony
to sustain the charge.
With regard to the character of McGugan
the discharged employe who made the charges
the testimony is conclusive as to his unrelia-
Dility want of veracity. and evident malice
At my instance the auditor of the District
made an examination of the books kept by the
intendants of the asylum and reports that the
accounts are kept in a systematic manner
showing in detail the business transacted at the
institution.
These books consist of record of admission
to aims house, record of commitment to work
house, weekly report book, employees record
record of interments in cemetery, record of
acquisitions for supplies, record of bills paid
under appropriations, showing at any given
date amount expended and balance remaining
to credit of appropriation.
This examination of records taken in con-
nection with other facts as to general good
management appearing from the testimony,
confirms me in the belief that Mr.. Stouten-
burgh has discharged his duties as intendant
with ability.
have deemed it unadvisable to take the tes-
timony of inmates of the poor house, or of the
inmates confined IN the work house, deeming
such testimony comparatively valueless i'll such
an inquiry.
THE COMMISSIONERS APPROVAL.
After considering the report an order was
issued, signed by Mr.. Webb and Major Ray
mond as follows:
Commissioner Wheatley, to whom was re-
ferred the charges preferred by McGuigan
against the ntendant and matron of the Wash
ington asylum for investigation, having made
report thereof, after due consideration by the
board, 1t is ordered that the charges be dis
missed, and that the intendant be instructed to
cause a more particular and thorough inspec-
ton to be made of the meat furnished to the
inmates of the asylum and workhouse. and that
hereafter the order of the board with regard
to the sale of property be strictly enforced.''
TESTIMONY FOR THE INTENpANr
The testimony taken covers about ninety
typewriter pages. and is mainly from employees
under Intendant Stoutenburgh. There is
long list Of employees who testified in behalf of
Mr.. ana Mrs. StOutenburgh. II. C. Addison,
who was employed as an overseer testified that
he had never seen the matron intoxicated or
under the influence of opiates and had aIva 70