The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1889-08-01
[ StatesNilia Landmark ]

The plain people of North Carolina
who know none of the parties to this
msavory business and whose Judgment
therefore is not warped by prejudices
or preferences. will have their own
opinion of this verdict upon the evil
dence. The superintendent of an
insane asylum is an autocrat. 1t is
necessary to the proper discipline of
such an institution that he should have
absolute authority over the officers.
employees and inmates. But it is still
more necessary to the proper discharge
of the duties of his office that he should
be man fit to be trusted with such
power. When unimpeached witnesses
swear as did some of the witnesses
against DR.. Grissom. and when three
out of eight directors votin" believe the
testimony of these witnesses as against
that of DIR. GrissOm. the public NAV
well ask. lis this man fit for the place
he holds:" When the question is raised
and any considerable number of people
find good reason to answer it in the
negative. it is time for the removal of
the man concerning whom it is asked.
charged against him but he has adj
mitted enough to bring him under sus-
Picion-nay. more he has convicted
himself of conduct improper and unbe-
coming. to say the very least. Then
has he public confidence to the same
extent as before: If not. then the
usefulness of the institution over which
he presides is by SO much impaired.
Does it stand as well as it did before
this investigation was begun: Put it
to yourself thus: Suppose your daughter
becomes insane: would you feel her
safe if committed to the Raleigh Asy-
lum: Suppose your daughter, sane.
vigorous and in search of employment,
should be offered a position as attend
ant. matrOn or hOuse-keeper in that III
stitution: would you be willing for her
to accept: This is the tombstone to
apply i'll this case.
Raleigh Evening CALL
The trial as conducted by the Board
was something of Il farce. They un-
dertOok to conduct it under technical
rules of law: but when it came to de-
: cisiOns. these rules were utterly TO-
nOred. They sat both as Judge and
jury. AS Judge. they frequently heard
decisions as to whether certain things
should be admitted as evidence or not
and one of the plainest features Of the
trial was that the admission or the re-
lection of such evidence was governed
more by the curiosity of the majority
of the Board. than from any motive of
fairness or technical consistency. They
permitted themselves to be led clear
away from the matter at issue time
and again, and tolerated long discus
sions by counsel on matters totally
Irrelevant to the business they met to
transact. \ review of the full evil
dence will show some of the most
glaring and painful Inconsistencies pos
sible. AS a jury. instead of abiding
, by the technical rules of law. and ar
irving at Il unanimous verdict. they de-
cided and closed the case by a ma jority
vote. Never was town
more daZed or astOundcd at anything
than was Raleigh by this verdict. We
mention Raleigh because we know the
feeling here. We do not presume to
speak for other sections or towns. be-
3 cause we have no knowledge as to how
: they received the verdict: but We
believe the establishment cannot be
much less than in this city. The Cal
, now lays aside all personal considera
tions and declares. as a glaring fact
that the people Of Raleigh look upon
the verdict of the Board as disgrace
and an outrage. We do not sit il
: judgment as to whether the public is
, right or not in this opinion, but we an
) nOunce it because it is the truth.
| Winston Daily.l
I While we believe that the board OF
t directors Of the Insane Asylum have
1 done what they conceived to be theil
, duty. vet it is fact that their actor
, did not nor can not restore public con
! tidence in DR.. GrissOm. Without il
: has a superintendent in whom the pub
lie have confidence to manage its affairs
it will fall far short of accomplishing:
e that good for which its founders labor ed
! [Smithfield Herald.l
= This shows DR.. Grissom up in a yer
bad light. No man should be allowed
to occupy the position that DR.. Girls
som does whose character is not abOv
n reproach If he has any respect fo
the feelings Of the people Of Mort
IL carolina, or cares for the future pros
e perity of the Institution, he will resigl
e at once. as he must know that his pres
u ence at the Asylum is doing untol
c damage to that Institution every da,
IL he remains there.
[Oxford Public LEDGER
y, The Public Ledger is Of the opinion
> and it believes it voices the sentiment
h Of majority of its readers, that d.
% Grissom ought to resign. The peopl
- of North Carolina have always ha
- great confidence in DR.. Grissom, an
~ many still believe him innocent OF a
- - the charges preferred. but we think
~ majority of the people of North Carol
:, IA have had their confidence shaken i
-. him. and no man should hold the hig
: office OF Superintendent of the Insal
Asylum that has not the unboundt
confidence of the people. The InsaI
! DAsylum above every other State CHART
II should be in clean. abe hands with
l.. suspicion resting on any OF It's officer
" DR.. Grissom has Seen the Asylum r
, of his enemies: DR.. Rogers and NJ
I Thompson have both stepped dow
~ and out. and now to satisfy the who
ln. In ~.