The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1889-08-01
qbe Raleigh Insane Asylum.
SUPERINTENDENT GRISSOM AND
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS DIS
CTSSED PRO AND CON.

Tho Press and People Speak ont on
the Subject of the Recent Investiga-
4ion and the Decision of the Board.
No person in North Carolina more
heartily dcplOres the fact that there
WA. ever any cause for the recent in
vcstioatiOn into the conduct of DIR.
Eunene GrissOm than this writer. 1t
WA, very sad thing and we felt the
gravity of it. DIR. GrissOm has been
Ion" at the head of the Insane Asylum
at Raleigh. and was thoroughly hon
orcd and respected. He is man of
distinguished ability and no member of
his profession in North Carolina has
reflected higher credit upon the State
abroad. He is man who has stood
HIGH among his friends. in society and
IN his profession; is an old man now,
and withal a man of family. and it is a
sad thing to have such accusations
brought against him. We did not be-
Icvc the charges and sincerely hoped
Dr. GrissOm would be able to success
fully meet and refute every single one.
This he has not done as satisfactorily
as we. had desired. Still. we do not
believe him guilty of all the charges
preferred against him. However, there
is still left a doubt. u suspicion. about
some things. and for the good Of the
State and the great charity at the head
Of which he has presided for the past
81 years, the GOLD LEAF thinks DR..
GrissOm ought to tender his resigna-
ton without delaying the matter until
he may be forced to do so. Our SYM
pathies are with him. hut our better
Judgment is with what we consider the
best interest of the people Of North
Carolina.
That our readers may see for them
selves what is the sentiment of the
press of the State with regard to the
matter, we publish the following from
such of our exchanges rs we found upon
our return from the meeting Of the
Press Association. We have not clip
ped with view to finding anything
prejudicial to DIR. GrissOm, nor have
we omitted anything favorable to him.
We have taken the papers as we found
them and give our readers the benefit
of such comments on the subject as we
think they feel an interest in and have
right to know about Read and
Judge for yourself Of the merits of the
case:
Winston Sentinel.
We fully endorse the verdict of the
majority of the directors with regard to
the two first named charges. [Cru-
city and incorporation of supplies
belonging to the institution As to
the charge of immortality, we are not
SO ready To- agree with the five gentle
men who acquitted him of that
charge. But a bare majority OF the
Board thought otherwise. or at least
they had reasonable doubt about the
matter, and according to the law, The
defendant WAS entitled to the benefit
of it. But although DIR. GriSsom In:
been exonerated by the Board, Z
cloud, which may never be removed
has been cast about his hitherto good
name. And we regret it. We dc
most sincerely regret it, from the bot,
tom of our hearts, for superintendent
Grissom must go.
Lexington Dispatch.l
Assuming that the decision of The
Board is justified by the evidence, the
Dispatch is of the opinion that the
State of North Carolina cannot afforC
to retain DR.. GrisSom as the superin
tendent of the asylum unless it wer,
shown that the grave charges recent,
preferred against him were utterly un
founded, and that the prosecution wa
i malicious conspiracy. The lnstitu
tons OF the State must be above sus
picion. Public confidence in tn
management of the asylum has beer
shaken 1t will not be restored unit
all the parties to the recent nvestiga
ton resign or are turned out.
Fayetteville Observer
Recognizing DIR. Grissom's know
and acknowledged ability: his stand
ing in the honored profession {
which he was distinguished mem
Der; his reputation as an intelleCtus
giant man whose authority wa
considered standard for this latitud.
we firmly and resoiutely resolved nc
to form an opinion until the evidenc
was all in--not until a thorough il
restigation had been made of til
charges. This has been done, an
from the standpoint that we ha.
viewed the evidence DIR. Grissom
suilty--not of all the charges again
him, for those relative to the turke,
and asparagus only served to weake
the prosecution in our judgment. II
misfortune is one seriously to be re
gretted by the whole State. Fl
nearly quarter OF century ID
GrlssOm has filled his position wit