The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-02-06
TOLD THE TRUTH
MRS. ORR FLATLY CONTRADICTs
SENATOR BOYD.
Reports That Mrs. Orr and MIR. Paxton
Were Discharged by MIR. johnson
Denied by Him.

Before the committee left for Richmond
yesterday morning Senator White received
a letter tfom Fort Wayne, stating that Mrs.
Orr, matron of the school for the feeble
minded, and b~ook-keeper Paxton, WHIT had
given evidence before the committee on ben
evolent institutions concerning the feeble
minded school. had been discharged by SUI
perintendent Johnson. Information has al
ready reached the city to the effect that
the employees of the Fort Wayne institution
feel greatly aggrieved at the action of Ser
ator Boyd because of the disclosures that
the latter male. The grievance of the en-
ployes is that they were pledged that
nothing concerning their statements reflect
ing on the management of Johnson should
be published until the formal report of the
committee was made to the Legislature,
and that then the identity of the persons
giving the testimony should be concealed.
1t is in evidence that the members OF the
committee agreed to keep the damaging dis
cle sures secret until the made its
report, and the charge is that Senator Boyd,
after enjoining the others to secrecy, at the
first opportunity told all there was to tell.
The effect on the employees, who furnished
the information, Is 20 expose them to what
ever Walls of wrath Superintendent Johnson
may choose to uncork-
Committees In richmond
The Senate and House committees on be-
h(N0iSh
from Richmond, where they VENT to visit the
Eastern hospital for the insane. Members
Of the committee speak favorably of Super
iL tendent Smiths management of the insti-
tction, end they are kindly disposed toward
the request for an appropriation for addi-
tional facilities and recommendations. The
amount asked is 500, 900, but !. is doubtful
if the committee viii recommend an appro-
priE ton of that amount.
The most serious objection that the COM
fff ho IN the ms ma anon or n
mond institution is that up to the time or
the recent election it was almost unanimous
Superintendent Smith appears to have
awakened to the idea that possibly it
would be better to abolish the political test,
and a few Republicans have been given en-
ployment.
what MIR. Says.
The Journals Fort Wayne correspondent
sends the following in regard to this matter:
To-day, superintendent Johnson, of the
State Home for Feeble Minded, submitted to
an interview in regard to the charges
against him by Senator Boyd and the legis-
lative committee on benevolent institutions.
He offers explanation for the charges of
cruelty and feeding inmates worm-eaten
food, but makes no excuses or explanations
of the charges of nepotism or partisan ad-
ministration of the affairs of his office. He
says he will court an investigation and FUR
nish proof of his innocence of fragrant
abuses of his office. The charges of cruelty,
he admits in part, and in regard to his as
sault on Jack Frost. an inmate, makes a
partial confession, but says the report ex-
aggerates and distorts the facts.
Mr.. Johnson says Mr.. Paxton, the stenog-
rapher who gave some of the testimony
against him, resigned voluntarily Sunday
and he went to Chicago. He was not dis
missed, nor was there cause for dismissal
now more than there would have. been a
year ago. Mrs. Orr makes the. following
statement:
II never said that Mr.. Johnson had
slapped and kicked Nellie May. / Lever
saw a child in this institution cruelty
treated by Mr.. Johnson or any one else.
nor did / ever say to any one that Mr..
Johnson shook his fist in my face and
called me a damned liar. He never did it,
and I never said it. AS TO the vermin in
cereals and fruits, I did say to the com
mittee that we had received food of that
kind, but l added that 1T was impossible to
prevent such imposition at all times, es-
pecially during the fall"
Mr.. e. A. K. Hackett, of this city, and
DR.. A. H. Shaffer, of Huntington, trustees
of the institution, and superintendent John
son will go to indianapolis Wednesday
morning.