The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-02-25

lions, for / see you are entirely faithful
a ahen tha r. ma MAS sought only
from the disloyal and disaffected. / do not
believe any Of my employes or ofncers
devoted to me and have perfect faith in
them. In the city. where DIR. White spent
by all who had grievance against myself,
and if he knew OF any one unfriendiy to
buTnmefs e' made his isN life burden to him
He sought business men to know ~ the
steward did not purchase WHISKY ana nave
to mercantile houses where l had dealings
and asked or demanded that he be allowed
to inspect my private accounts. He threat
ened gentleman If he did not allow him
to make this inspection he would get an or
der from the General Assembly to have him
answer for contempt. i have heard Of aucn
actions this by the police. officers Of the
public surety in Paris. and the same things
have been done by the officers of the Third
Section in Russia, but this Is the lirst time
nave ever be heard Oh nsns n a9 BEING hons
orable, Just, and giving an opponent or an
enemy. fair play. This action was an as, as
been much severe criticism of the Doctor
among his own political friends -.
am a Roman Catholic and was soldier
in the confederate army; to both of these
say much in reply to them. make no
distinction in favor of any religion In my
n WAS sosa friends Of mne
two weeks after the last election, that poll
ticians had my scalp In view and these
not publicly. This has been talked OF
great deal in Evansville since the cleo
had passed away Nearly thirty years ago
1 came to Indiana, young boy, compar-
atyey without friends ana =, without VT ,a money
was a good friend to me. carne to. In
diana to better my condition. not to fight
% the tint interests $ Of my nSY1 adopted state
here. / have made very many good friends
and | am proud to number hundreds OF
iican friends have been good ones-never
falling me In time of trouble. / do not
think , any one OF common sense I'VE, wants me
ashamed of having been confederate sol
der. The men who criticise me most would.
ciseIy as De did. Such an objection as this
is too puerile to notice further. ! told the
chairman of it. that I was willing to trust
my case TO It's justice. have an abid-
ing faith in the American quality OF fair
play and believe since the committee left
the hospital, If any one member was feel
ing unkindly and prejudiced towards me.
that thoughtful consideration of the con-
ditions under which this attack has been
made upon me and a review of the state
cate me. The Hon. Mr. Boyd treated me
IN very generous. friendly manner and
and lasting impression.
Now, come to the history of the part
hosnitai took IN the investiration OF Of the the
charges against me. 1t is disagreeable
thing to do. but. justice to myself requires
me to handle the matter without gloves.
from April. 1896 to May. 1893. He was
member of the board which appointed me.
He was the bane of my life; he embar-
raised my administration of affairs in every
way; he never complimented anything that
was done; he was always having griev-
ance he was rude and abusive to employees
and made all Of us unhappy. He eff, formed ned
pot house fellows" and the ''peanutters,"
and inscribed on his banner Down with
his tribe" He tried in every way to nag
and worry me into resigning. when he
as superintendent. All of this was common
talk throughout the city and the .coun-
an aspirant for the place, but, feeling his
chances We're not good, he then secured
Assembly. He testified that he did not
know whether / was graduate OF a med
zeal college or not, said that was i'm
gave me bad character generally. Now,
all these. faults. he charges me with were
observable by him when he was trustee
He never called my attention to ANYTHING
T! of this kind and asked for correction
members of the board suggested my
| removal or that | should be cautioned.
In testifying to these things he stutifies
and ,recreant to the. trust reposed in him
| by the State by not calling for correc-
| ical degree and should not have voted for
me If he did not believe me to be COM
edoa degree from the f1e nay Med
| zeal College, of Philadelphia, one of the
| Oldest and best colleges in the United States.
| l am also graduate from the literary
| department of the University of Missouri,
| and have had two additional degrees con-
ferred upon me by that university. This
ton socially and is always looking. for a
| chance to benefit himself financially. He
l society
| He had his name presented for member
ship and when the ballot was counted he
was blackballed, very much to his morti-
| fication. ! do not belong to this society
and of course do not know what happened.
members who voted against him said that
| they did it because he had acted unfairly
official relation to me and had acted I'M
generously to brother knight of Pythias
was not desirable members of an ASSOC
citation like this society. He holds this
against n, me, Every S. one who has talked 70
Wertz has been the instigator. of them.
Members Of the committees told me this.
bring him I'm. He being prominent In It,
| feel that 1t is proper to show the motives
4 with this article communications signed by
several Of the best people Of this city, es-
| truth of these charges and declare their
| confidence in me-
! In further contradiction of the charge
say that I know the names of every one
of the four hundred and forty patients
on the register. their residence approx
mate their date Of admission, tell their
mental and physical condition. peculiari-
ties. delusions, habits. prospects of recovery
| In each case, and this without consulting
| the official register. the clinical records
| and county books. A drunken superinten-
| dent could not do this.
| Thus, L have made plain and as brief
| a statement as i could under the crcum-
| stances. My reputation is all that have
| and IL that is taken from me / am left
| deprived of that which makes life bear
| able and pleasant ] trust that all who Judge
me. will dvest themselves of all prejudice
| and pTeconceived opinions and give my
| statement fair considera lion. i have been
| in the service of the State i'm it's benevo-
| lcnt institutions for sixteen years and, with
| out arrogance. l may fairly claim some
| credit for the work ! have done for God
| unfortunates the helpless, irresponsible in
sane--the most unhappy of all the children
of man. A. j. THOMAS
Medical Superintendent Southern Indiana
| Hospital for Insane.
| Evansville, Ind, Feb. %.
| Friends Testimony.