Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1894-08-30

sltlon. He was . populist politician
Of some note having been . demo-
crat and joining the movement In lite
early stages. He Ia . man Of very
large physique, strong and robust
and powerful in constitution, but Of
sluggish brain power, and regarded
by physicians as only ordinary In
his profession. He 10 excessively
profane In his conversation and
addicted to the use OF liquor, was,and
We understand still is, incorporate
In bis habits. All Of these facts
were within the reach OF the board
which appointed him aud while
these things might not disqualify
him Tor the ordinary avocations Of
life, yet 1t certainly makes him
most unworthy to fill Q position
Of such high trust ana responsible
ity as that involved In the care Of
these poor, helpless, idiotic chill
dren.
Butshe board either overlooked
the matter Of bis hablts, or knowing
them. thought such traits did dis
qualify him for their purposes. He
was appointed, and Immediately az
ter his appointment, began to dis
charge the trained nurses In charge
Of the inmates, msuy Of whom had
been liz charge Of classes In the
institution from Ito inception, were
thoroughly qualified and familiar,
not only with the personal peculiar.
tiles Of the children, but with the
most improved methods Of caring
for their health, comfort, and NOR
ais. These teachers were women
and therefore not politicians, and
could not have been removed for
political reasons. But they were re.
moved and others without exper-
fence In such work put In their
places. This was the frat official
evidence Of the incompetency Of DR..
Pitcher.
Soon rumors hogan to float about
relative to his treatment Of some Of
the female inmates. Several young
girls ranging In ages from seveteen
to twsnty-one made complaint to
their teachers and female employees
Of the institution that DR.. Pitcher
had taken them into his room and
there taken liberties with their per.
sons. These runners became 90 prev.
alent that the COURIER felt 1t nee
essary to obtain statements Of the
parties to whom these girls com.
planned. Such statements were tax
IN and the whole matter was print
ed In the COURIER about eight
months ago. In this publication,
Mrs Murray, a populist woman, who
had been employed by DR.. Pitcher
In some capacity about the institu-
ton, testified that two Of the girls,
one by the name OF Alice and an
other by the name Of Nora, came to
her crying and informed her that
DR.. Pitcher had taken them in
TO his private office, and locked
the door and then taken liberties
with their persons. These stories
were further substantlatsd by Miss
johnson, who was a teacher In the
school, and to whom these two girls
made similar complaints. DR.. Pllch-
or claimed that the stories told by
Alice and Nora were untrue and
Il at these imbecile girls were likely
to tell any story which they might
think Of, whether founded on truth
or not but the fact remains that at
no time before In the history Of this
institution-(of which these girls
had been inmates for many years.
had any Of them made like com.
plant against the superintendent or
anyone connected with the manage
ment II they possessed this dlspo-
sitlon unier DR.. Pitcher they GER
tainly possessed 1t under former
superlntendents, hence DR.. Pitchers
defense falls to the ground.
We have been informed by o
member Of the State Board Of Charl-
ties who made q partial investiga-
ton Of these charges that the Board
found that DR.. Pitcher had made
what he called ian examination" Of
the girls; that bis statement was
that the former superintendent was
not above suspicion, and that on