Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1889-05-03

e. j. ARMSTEAD, Clerk.
In addressing this note to the Board, through
its chairman, we thought they, as the sworn
guardians of the Asylum's good name and
welfare, would ask us for our reasons, take
charge of the evidence we were prepared to
give them, conduct the investigation for them
selves and in their own way. Judge then of
our surprise when we were handed a resOlu-
ton from the Board requiring us to prefer
charges and specifications in twenty-four
hours, and to furnish Dr.. Conrad one copy
and the Board the other.
Whilst this was not the position we wanted
to assume, as it came in the shape of an order
of the Board, we did not feel authorized to
resist it, and complied with the order as best
we could in the time given us. Our charges
were seven in number, and drawn up with
view to support the general charge of unfit
ness contained in our joint note to the
Board.
The Board assembled on the 10TH About
one hour before the time set for trial, word
was sent us that Dr.. Conrad had counsel and
the same privilege would be granted us if we
desired it. We sent word back that it had
not been our intention to employ counsel we
did not desire to do so now, deeming the
Board competent to act in this matter. but if
Dr.. Conrad had counsel, no one of us wish
ing to act the part OF public prosecutor by
conducting the case, we would have counsel
also. The examination of the evidence to
support the first charge, which was as follows:
In that in his moral trea tment of his patients
he has shown a marked lack Judgment, tact,
closed about o'clock P NJ After sumner
DR.. COnrad'S counsel examined one witness
in rebuttal The evidence of this witness was
rather damaging to him than otherwise. His
counsel then rose and asked that the Board
adjourn to meet the next morning: that his
client was not we'll, and that he Thought time
would be gained by an adjournment. The
next morning his counsel reported DR.. Conrad
too sick to appear The Board adjourned
until . o'clock P. NJ. His counsel reported
him still sick, and so Frustrated mentally
and physically as to be unable to entertain
even a written communication from the
Board or the prosecutors in the case. This
representation of counsel was supported by
similar assertion from his kinsman and friend
Mr.. E. IL. Boyd, member of the Board, who
said he had just come from the Doctors house
The Board adjourned to meet on the 10Th. Yet
We have evidence that at O clock, OF two hours
after, Dr. Conrad was walking in his front
yard and at 6 o'clock he was q mile away
from home, witnessing base ball match.
The Board resumed the investigation Oh the
10th. DR.. Conrad appeared and reported his
counsel sick, but expressed his willingness to
go on without counsel. In answer to enquiry
if he could not get counsel he said he had
spoken to some five or six, but none of them
would come. At this point Col. j. K. Ed
mundson of the Board moved, that inasmuch
as DR.. Conrad did not now have counsel, that
we be required to dismiss ours. This was
seconded by Mr.. Boyd. 1t was objected to by
the prosecutors; that they had employed their
counsel for the case; had put him in posses