Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1895-06-11
MISERABLE EXISTENCE
Is That Led by Togus Home Veterans.
Says J. M. Batchelder.
Deaths Said to Have Resulted
From Assaults.
O.her Allegations Of a Serious Nature In q
Pamphlet lust Issued.

y
AUGUSTA, June 1.-THE management
If tho National Soldiers home ut Togus,
now shelter!ng 1000 Veterans, Is severely
attacked in pamphlets. from which the
following 3 rakon:
'If no takes his chances and walks out
Of camp to visit friend, without pass,
when he comes back no Is arrested by tho
police, locked up In the guardhouse, and
the next morning Is given 80 or, 60 days
punishment at labor without pay. Pen.
sion day comes roundl1uring his term OF
punishment and he signs slip for $l2.
This slip goes to the governor OF tire home
for his approval He draws his pen
through the $l2 and substitutes 3D."
Regarding the food served to tho SOL
diers, the pamphlet says: "Beef Is kept
until IL Is moldy, and then cleaned up
an d sent to the home. The corned beef is
simply boiled fresh beef; the hash Ia
nauseous and sour, it Is unfit to eat; soup
Is made Of refuse meat; the choicest
steaks go to the officers and are sold to
citizen employees; for f1ve meals, COM
mencing Tuesday morning, Nov. 13, 1894,
no butter was served ON the tables In the
main dining hall; the Keeley institute
there Is swindle."
The author of the circular also says that
in February, 1894, one-armed, one-legged
and legless veterans were frequently de-
tailed to do duty as walters, and II they
were unable to perform the work they
were compelled to pay $50 for a substi
tute for the week detailed.
John NJ. Batchelder Of this city who
says that no was an inmate Of the home
for dozen years, admits having circu.
lated the pamphlet, and declares that all
the allegations made In the pamphlet can
be proven. He said in relation to the
charges:
General Breckinridge, inspector gen.
eral of the National Soldiers home, was
at Togus last October, and l told him OF
these things, and he promised to bring the
matter before the board Of managers, but
he has not as yet. The old fellows at the
home do not dare to do anything while
they are there" Batchelder also claimed
that the following events alleged in the
pamphlet to have occurred at the home
are true:
"July A. 1890, Charles d. Fish, a mem
Der of the home, went into the beer hall
and had an alteration with the man in
charge. Fish was knocked down, and, in
falling, his head struck the floor heavily.
He was rendered unconscious, and re-
manned so until death, which occurred
three days later. No inquiry or investiga-
ton Of his death was held, and when the
headstone was prepared for his grave, 1t
was ordered placed at the head Of another
mans grave. 1t was known that an ex.
animation would have shown that his
skull was fractured. - dyAH .iA
"Sept. %, 1889, John Connolly was
locked up on the charge of being drunk
and disorderly; was kept in confinement
for over 20 days and dropped dead on being
released; no inquiry or Investigation was
held. LA wfrt- arn lE,
''Sept. 20, 1891, John Fitzgibbons was
knocked down and killed within the linn
its of the home grounds, and there was no
investigation"
Luther stephenson, governor OF the
home, was lieutenant colonel of the
Thirty Massachusetts regiment Of
volunteers, ant@ewas breveted brigadier
general at the close of the war.
A reporter drove out to Togus yesterday
and called upon General Stephenson.
When asked regarding the circular, he
said: II have had enough Of such scurril-
Gus stuff called to my attention in the last
IL years. OOun CuCiOcI was
honorably discharged from this home. 1t
is all old matter, which has been satisfac-
torily explained to the board Of managers.
AS far as any charges are concerned, this
circular Is but the product of irresponsible
persons.
IF this thing was done by responsible
people I would give them all the fight
they could ask for ut once, but these men
are not worth the trouble. Beyond this
have nothing to say" ..t. .....f
Officers extended the courtesies Of the
home to the reporter. On every hand
were groups Of veterans and all appeared
content with their lot, and what few the
reporter saw privately were very out
spoken In praise of the treatment they re.