The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-05-31

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Thorough Investigation Most of the
Charges Are Not sustained-Digest of the
Report.
The report OF the state board of chart
ties of its Investigation of the home for
feeble-minded children WAS submitted to
the governor yesterday. The committee
examined the afiidaYits of Sarah 0estry
L. @. Monroe, William Blake, John Boley
and Charles Talmage. and the written
statements of e. L. Weber, Miss Belle
Carroll, J. II. Leonard and Curtis Wick
ard. Besides this evidence forty-fve wit
nesses were examined. OF the actions of
John q. Blake the report says:
On April Mr.. Blake made n confession to
c. L. Weber of unbeeoming conduct toward
one or more inmates OF the institution. A few
minutes later he made similar confession 10
James Ii. Leonard. These confessions were re-
ported TO the chairman of the board of trustees
within an hour after they were made. The
committee Is satisfied that the trustees had no
knowledge or suspicion of Blake's wrong-dOing
until April L. and that his dismissal was accom-
plIshed as soon as possible. NO blame rests
upon the trustees IN the MISTER OF his downfall
and dismissal. The committee finds that James
III. Leonard had known for more than three
months previous of Blake's act. and that he
aid not impart that knowledge to any one ex-
cept Blake. The report says that
Mr.. Leonard realized that Blake must
90 speedily and that he made strenuous efforts
to get him away quietly, hoping to avert the
disgrace and scandal TO the institution and
state which has occurred. His plans were laid
10 be put in operation on the nsxt day follow
ing the one that Blake made his confession,
and II that confession had not been made they
would probably have been successfully carried
out. The committee is convinced that Mr..
Leonard acted with good intentions. IL he
could have been successful il might have been
better. both for the institution and the sEate.
that demOrRlizng scandal might have been
averted and the offender removed. Mr.. Leon
ard took precautions against any further
wrong-dOing. Ii Is thought that he acted for
the best and with pure motives. His error
was one of judgment. not an Intentional wrong
act, and he is not deserving OF censure.
The charges OF Encouragement of q
business nature are taken up one at time,
and in most cases are shown TO be wholly
groundless. In some instances provisions
were purchased at higher price than the
lowest bid. The committee did not think
that this was due to any desire TO show
favoritism IN such purchases. but that
better quality than that offered by the
lower bidders was purchased.
There were a few cases OF small eXpendi-
lures not exactly authorized by law, but
for which the committee thinks no repri-
mand is due the management. On the
whole the report shows the business man.
agement of the institution to be above re-
proach.
More Serious Charges.
The more serious charges were those
made against the character and conduct
of several of the employees of the institu-
ton. These charges were thoroughly in
vestigated, each one being taken up separ-
ately. and every witness who had any
testimony TO offer was examined on each
charge specifically. In this manner the
committee was enabled to accomp lish its
work in a more intelligent manner than
in the old way of having each witness
testify on all charges at one hearing. In
regard to these personal charges the re-
port says:
We heard a great deal of so-called testimony
upon this subject, especially with regard TO
Mrs. Orr. Many OF the state ments were merely
hearsay. There was little direct testimony of
improper conduct. but much strong testimony
on the other side, especially in the case of Mrs.
Orr. Mrs. Orr's friendly and sooiable bearing
to the gentlemen of the institution, and also to
gentlemen guests, has given rise to some in-
situations which, magnihed and distorted by
gossips. have taken at last the shape of serious
not sustained We do not believe her 70 have
been seriously indisereet, and we found much
reason to believe that Mrs. Orr is exceed
ingly competent mstron and q very faithful
servant OF the state. We found no evidence
against the character OF Dr. SweiFngen, but
much to his credit. and of the opinion that
he is a competent and faithful physician. There
is no truth IN the gossip concerning Mr.. Leon
ard, Mr.. Ialmage and Miss Simms. We found
no reason to believe there was any serious i'm
hfanr fHafr httf nd 70
make US believe them to be competent and
faithful servants OF the state.
A bout the only charge that was even par
TALLY sustained was the charge that there
was TOO much and too severe corporal pun
ishment. OF this charge the report says:
We find that there nave been few instances
of severe chastisement, but they were In grave
and difficult cases in which severe measures
were necessary for discipline, we'll as for the
good of those punished. We are of the opin-
ion that the charges or cruelty are not sus-
tanned. and the charge of excessive severity is
gross an exaggeTation as to be, In faot, UNI
true. We are of the opinion, however. that
other methods may be found which may be
substituted, at least in many instances, so that
the use of the paddle or strap may be less FREE
QuenL
The charges that inmates of the reform
school for boys were Improperly trans
ferred 10 the institution and that bright
children were admitted were found to be
wholly groundless. there being no bright
children at the home and no trustworthy
evidence showing that any had ever been
admitted or kept there. OF the former
charge the report says:
We found no to believe that there
was anything wrong in these transfers. They
were made at first with the advice of the attor-
ney-general. and that the taken is
therefore, legal one. With regard to al but
two or three of them. they are proper inmates
of the institution. We are By no means GER
tain that the others are there improperly. We
are of the opinion that there is DO foundation
for the charges made in this respect
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