Hopkinsville Kentuckian., 1890-02-21
A SALTY ASSAULT.
DIR. COOK PREFERS GRAVE
CHARGES AGAINST THE
WESTERN ASYLUM,
And Takes a Whack at Several
Private Citizens.
The Document Given in Detail.

th0 1pAtiNCtN w 1tha's
DR.. E. r. Cook preferred series oi
damaging charges against the man
agement Of the Asylum at this place
a few days since, in the following let
ter, which we produce in full;
HoPKINsvILLE, Feb. 13.-TO the
Honorable Committee on Charitable
Institutions: Now that your COM
mittee has come and gone and allowed
to see no one outside of a chosen few
who are interested, in order that the
best showing of the management and
the usual additional expense Of bar
rel of whisky, new carpets, ETC., might
be made, herewith enclose a letter
from an attendant four and half
years employed there, whom never
saw and did not know, setting forth
certain facts which may somewhat
enlighten your committee. This has
ever been the custom with committees
of the Legislature, never being al
lowed to see outside parties, who are
presumed to know many things that
said committee are in total ignorance
OF. / know from experience,
having been one OF the Commission
ers from the opening of the asylum
until few years since, that there is
allowed by the State too much per
capita for the maintainancc Of the pa
tients, for have reports to show that
$40 is ample to pay all salaries and
for the care of the patients.
1t ought not to be more than SIPS or
$3.50 per year. There are too many
or favorites there,
getting pay for doing nothing. DIR.
Rodman had new office, that OF Su-
pervisor, created to fit the case of his
son, who with his wife, is being fed at
the expense of the State-one with q
salary of 81 900 for the son, and $500
for his wife's salary. In addi-
lion to this, they have a matron, Mrs.
Peck, and then the Office of receiver,
while the asylum has Superinten-
lent, two assistant, physicians and
steward. The asylum has no more
use for a receiver or supervisor than a
be esvl,m has a carnenter tbe wear
.ound with one or two subs under
him. The carpenter gets 50 per day,
md his subs $3.50 each, whether they
10 any work or not; also a painter the
'ear round at SEQ per day, and ii
soso ;s n ba,sa 10 bu;Id ~ which
horo ara monv outside hands are CON
rao,a5 w;th ~ do tbe work
1r IN Rodman had some wars since
n 10 mnnav annronr;aied hv tba
,sa,a ,aLan }rom tba Rank Of Hon
'S" ';nsv;,le % and mt 4 in Tr;ca's Rank
: hnnlo, I shop Of wb;ch bo ;s LARGE
,ocLhnldar and have l;ttle doubt 6e
,as made thousands ont of the States
S aanan % !, ia;ng drawn ouartsrIv in
Tr;ce is President Of the
sanI aud NOT long since WAS Chair.
mn 81 ths Roard If Asvlum Commits
;oners while his son was treasurer of
ha ASYLUM and DIR. Rodman a large
tockbolder in said bank. DR.. Rod
nan built his castle in Hopkinsyille
r;tb tbe asvlum's CARPENTER. and / am
old furnished II with the States
oonav and After occupvino said house
or a wear or two. made out an account
ar rant Of tbe same against the board
mt Mr. Insnector Miller raised rum
ms and wanted 10 know IL he wanted
be earth and told him he would never
az tha rent of his own house from the
tate
"Yo,r committee should inquire into
his DR. Rodman. who. although no
niger SUPERINTENDENT. seems still to
ave a finger in the ME. and still visits
ha ;nstit,ition as Il he were Superin-
sndent looking doubly after his sons
,tArests whom he would have to sup
ara n n was not done by the State.
aJnst Let vour COMMITTEES 90 to the.
.uditor's office and get two or three
onies of that large : sheet, the paw
III and Won will have a glance at
hat 1oes with the States money.
~ wonld have been glad to have
"a, vonr comm;ttee. and think I could
ave nnened their ewes about many
bings which their attention has never
aep called To. The enclosed letter
neaks for itself. use II as you please.
nd Il Won want additional informa.
ion 7 will he clad 10 impart Il to Won.
Sr, Rodman had the position of Su-
for twenty-five wears,
nada n fortune out of Il and by the
Of the unheard of office of
will soon do the same for
is SON. The office ought to be abol-
sbed also that of Receiver, and If the
tber officers can not attend to those
Iuties. turn them out and put some-
,ody else in who can. They are now
Snendine 5000 for an electric light
mo- plant. all from having too much
ne money to use legitimately.
81 wrote n minority report some
cars apo when they had accumulated
surplus of $4,000, and my report
nd he surplus-ali that they did not
,ide-put back in the State Treasury,
md they have had no use for me since.
)ld man A. L. Shotwell was sent here,
o be supported by Governor Black
,urn. they being old chums. A new
,liice. that of Receiver, was created for
i'm and they gave him $500 per wear