Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1896-10-30

We find IN the Burlington News the toll
lowing in relation To the insane asylum
scandal
whether the charges against him are true
or false Dr. Giddings should he removed sum
mariIy aud pcrpvtually from the position OF
superintendent OF the State insane asylum"
Now such an expression as that seems
at first view to be unnecessary to notice.
Its uncharity, injustice and uniairness is
so self evident. What an idea! Charges
are made against a man of cruelty to
unconscious patients. A man, whose hui
manity and kindness has been prominent
so far as outward indications show, is
asked to be condemned, banished from
his position before he is tried. He is
asked to be sent as n criminal, branded
out into the world without having an
opportunity of a word in denial or even
in mitigation of his offence. Is it posi-
BILE that such an outrageous demand
should be made by the press with n proper
motive behind it? On the other hand it
is surprising even that such a glaringly
unjust demand should be made openly,
induced by an improper motive. In an
intelligent age like this condemnation
and punishment without trial is looked
upon with public and private abhor-
renee. If he is guilty let it be ascertained
in just, intelligent, fairminded manner
as the laws provide. But the unreason-
ableness of this asking increases as it
goes on. He should I've removed now, 1t
is said; not necessarily on account OF
the charges brought against him but be-
cause of incompetency. Does anybody
see particle of humanity or fairness in
removing the doctor at this time, i'll the
face of these charges, thus making his
removal referable to them and by conse-
quence fixing the crime upon him in the
eyes of the community!
We are constrained to say that this
extraordinary demand that DR.. Giddings
be sacrificed must come from some pecu-
liar feeling in regard to him, and we
Judge this simply and only by the nature
and tone of the demand, and by the ex
traordinary assertion that the trustees,
under whom the doctor has held his po-
sition, have been not very well known in
the State. For quite number of years
last past they have been such men as
Judge Hobson of this place, Hon. Geo.
w. Wing of Montpelier, the late Hon,
Nm. H. Hunt Of St. Adams, and DR.. w.
N. Plat of Shoreham. They are all men
who have been for years prominently be
fore the people of Vermont. Mayor Wing
living in Montpelier, near to the asylum,
one of the widest known men in the State,
has taken great interest in and vigilantly
watched the institution; the late Hon.
Vim. H. Hunt was in the senate in 1894,
from Franklin county and was so widely
and favorably known i'll the State and
the people had such confidence in him
that in response to his recommendations
the peoples representatives voted an APP
preparation of $50, 900 for the institu-
ton; saying nothing about Judge Hob.
son, except that he has been for years
an enterprising, intelligent and widely
known man, we come to DIR. Platt, a
man who has been eminent in his profes
sion for years, and is among the most
widely known and favorably considered
in the State. II the individuals above
named are not the ones intended as being
little known i'll the State then is Gov
Page, who was chairman of the board
when DR., Giddings was appointed, anc
Gov. Woodbury., who took such interes,
in and so often visited the institution
during his administration, among tn,
number so summarily consigned to oh
security?
We are greatly at loss to conjecture
what motive, what mental condition
should possess anybody to ask terrible
condemnation of hitherto esteemed
man without trial. and the wholesale de
nunciation of number of the most vide
1y known and respectable gentlemen il
the State for incompetency and obscurity
OF course we agree with our esteemed
contemporary not in saying that h
should first be punished, summary ant
perpetualy," and then that there SHOULD
be a thorough trial, but that there should
be first a fair, impartial and most thor
ough trial, then after the respondent i
found guilty he should be punished as h
deserves, and not till then.