The state chronicle., 1889-08-23
STATEMENT FROM DIR. GKISSOM. {.
NORTH CAROLINA INSANE ASYLUM,
RALEIGH \ G. AuO 20 1899


The facts in the editorial of Webster's
Weekly, in reference to the remarks of DR..
Fuller to me, after the close of the late
investigation. are substantially true, the
card of Dr. Fuller in the News a d OBJ
server of this date, to the contrary not
withstanding.
Although unable to give the precise
language used by him on the occasion re-
ferred 10, the substance has been correctly
stated BY Mr.. Webster In justice to DR..
Fuller, 1t should be said that his card pro
ceeds from an error of the head and not
Of the heart His character has always
been above reprOach. and he has served
many years of usefulness in this lnstitu
ton TO the State and to humanity. But
under these circumstances it should be
known that ne has been for a long period
a sufferer from grave physical disease
As a result, he was completely disabled,
and performed no duty for eleven months
out Of the past year.
Il pOn its recurrence this summer its
effect in impairment Of mental power, and
especially Of the memory, grew more and
more noticeable up to the date Of his pres
ent retirement from duty by disability on
July 22d last, since which period the in
stitutOn has been under my medical care
alone. This mental impairment was OBJ
served by many of the attendants and
others brought N official contact 1t is
evidenced by official papers on file, which
! he signed at random, with other names
| than his own, and by his inability to keep,
as heretofore, the customary office re
cords Of thirty years experience; 10 say
| nothing of whatever further facts attest a
melancholy conclusion.
1t Is a matter of great regret to me,
! that such conjunction of circumstances
/ l.. 4 l. t,D
state these facts
EUGESE GRIssoM.
Writing this card is the basest act of in
gratitude of which DR. GRIs>OM could have
been guilty. Thirty-three years ago DR.
FRANK T, FULLER, young and ambitious,
with a magnificent physique and splendid
ability and talent, became an Assistant
Physician at the \. {. Insane Asy ylum.
Day and night, at the neglect OF his
health. at the sacrifice Of ambition and
everything most men hold dear, be has
ministered to the needs of the unfortu-
nate insane Of the State. He has cared
for them tenderly-their condition and
betterInent has been so uppeImost with
him, and his love for them has been so
great that it has crowded out all other
loves from his life. He has spent his life
in this noblest of works. He has literally
given himself that they might be helped
and restored If ever there was a noble,
true, unselfish philanthropist in North
Carolina, that man is DIR. FRANK T. FUL-
LER. He is the quietest of noble gentle
men. His long life of constant devotion
to the insane has made him shrink from
the public. For more than two years he
has not been in good health, though he
has faithfully performed his duties at the
asylum except when away on leave of alb
sence. If he is in bad health, as he says,
unremitting devotion to the insane brought
it on If he is not able to perform his
duties now, as he says, it is because he
overtaXed his powers, especially during
the recent trial in June and July when he
was obliged to do most of the work.
During that trial DIR. FULLER was sick.
He has been quite i'll since We regretted
then and regret now that the Board did
not require his deposition or adjourn un-
til he could give in his evidence. His re
serve, his long connection with the asy-
lum which he loves as a youth loves his
sweetheart, coupled with his illness,
made him shrink from saying any
thing at any time that would injure
its reputation. But DIR. GRIssOM did not
want him to 90 on the stand, and DR.
FULLER's card shows why. If DR.. Girls
som had any gratitude he would be thank
full for DIR. FULLER's silence. 1t was a
kindness to him that he had not spoken
years ago. He ought to have spoken, and
that Is the only fault we find with him
What is the return for this kind silence
DIR. FULLER is misrepresented by DR.
GRIssoM in Websters Weekly. When he
replies to this misrepresentation in dig
nifed and manly way in which he merely
defends himself, what then2 Why, DR.
GRISSOM writes to the world tha,
he is insane. 1t it were the truth
DIR. GRIssOM ought to have shielded
the afflicted man, who never injured
him but has been his main-stay by
doing the best part of the work at the Asy
lum, by at least throwing the veil of silence
over his affiiction. But it is denied by
those who know him best. They say thai
his mind is clear and that it is base mis-
rapreSent atiOn t0 Saak to 1naEo if annao,