Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-01-22
THE BOARD DEMANDS THE PROOF.
Resolutions Insisting That the
Charges Must BE Established.

Resolutions Insisting That the
Charges Must BE Established.
The following special telegram was re-
ceived by the Dispatch last night from
its Staunton correspondent:
THE authorities of the Deaf, Dumb.
and Blind Institution awaited with
eager interest the formulation OF the
charges OF immoral conduct at the insti-.
tuition. Though the charges In general
terms were made Saturday before a COM
mlttee OF the Legislature. the specific
misconduct has not yet been alleged. and
nobody here has any idea who the al
legged offender is, or what is the offence
During the past quarter Of a century but
one investigation Of the conduct Of the
institution has been made, and then. after
months OF patient research and in
quiry. the person accused was hon-
orably acquitted by the unanimous vote
of the Board of Visitors. The fact that
serious charges, as yet vague and inde-
finite, have been made now for three
or four days, and heralded all over the
State is regarded as cruel, not only
TO the institutions management, but as
much so 10 the institutions pupils. past
and present
This matter came up to-day before the
Board of Visitors in their regular meet
ing. OF the nine members six were
present-President Samuel Forror, OF
Augusta; Thomas j. Crowder, OF Staun-
ton: j. Lindsay. OF Charlottesville;
s. II. Miller, of Lynchburg; w. d.
Quisenbury. NJ. D., of Caroline and r.
w. Watkins of Halifax-the absent
members being Hon George A. Mush-
bach of Alexandria; Hon. b. l.. Winston.
of Hanover, and c. w. S. Turner. OF
Front Poyal
Mr.. I.andolph's charges were COM
plete surprise to every member Of the
board, and not until they saw the mat
ter in the newspaper had they ever heard
of such allegations. The board adjourned
this evening TO meet again as soon as
the charges can be found out The visit
ors will also be on hand to meet the
legislative committee.
CALL FOR THE PROOF.
The following resolutions offered by Mr..
j. H. Lindsay. editor Of the Charlottes-
willie Progress. were unanimously adopted:
Whereas certain injurious charges of a
vague and indefinite character have been
made against the management of the In
stitution for the Education of the Deaf,
Dumb and Blind at Staunton, Va, by
J. l.. Randolph and others, and, whereas.
we believe such charges 10 be utterly
groundless and without the slightest
foundation in fact. and cruelty Injurious
TO the interest Of this institution, and
whereas. we believe that grave mistake
has been made in giving such wide pub
licity to charges that are general and
indefinite in their character, and that
never have been presented 10 this
board, or any way come to the know
ledge of the board: therefore. be il
Resolved, That we, the Board OF Di-
rectors of the Institution for the Educa-
tion of the Deaf, Dumb and the Blind.
demand of Mr.. J. L. Randolph and any
others having charges TO make against
the management OF this institution or its
officers and teachers TO present such
charges in specific form 10 this board and
We pledge ourselves TO make thorough in
vestigation of the same. and ascertain
and make public the real facts of the
case.
Resolved. further, That the president
OF the board be directed 10 communicate
at once with Mr.. Randolph and others,
and use every effort to obtain all the facts
upon which such charges are based, and
to present the same TO this board at
the earliest possible moment
VIII Not Talk Further.
The following special from Norfolk, was
received late last night:
Randolph refuses 10 say anything
worthy OF publication. lie claims to have
abundant proof OF his charges against
the Deaf Dumb. and Blind Institution. at
Staunton. which he has had for several
years. He will not give out any definite
cases of wrong conduct"