Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-01-28
THE WORK HASBEGUN
Committee Commences 10 InYeStisate
Deal, Dumb, and Blind Institution.
RANDoLrMs SERIOUS CHARGES.
lie Alleges immortality, Giving
Names and Circumsfanccs-Oth
Letters substantatiyc-Tro I'm
Getting an Interpreter.

/ stitutiOn, at Staunton, was commenced
/ yesterday by the special joint legislative
committee charged with the duty. and
while no witnesses were examined. Mr..
Randoph's charges were read, as were
a score or more letters from eX-pupis,
which, in many instances. are largely
/ substantiative Of the Norfolk mute's ale
/ cations.
/ 1t mad been intended by the committee
! to 20 at once into the examination OF
/ witnesses. but as almost all the witnesses
/ are deaf mutes, considerable trouble was
! experienced at the outset, there being no
one available as an Interpreter.
Mr.. Randolph was on hand promptly
at 10 o'clock. the hour for the committee
| to meet. as were also Captain Doyle, prin-
/ cipal Of the institution; MIR. Guilford
/ Euritt. one Of the teachers; Mr. Samuel
/ Forrer president: Mr.. r. j. Crowder, and
! Mi. j. H. Lindsay, Of the Board OF VISIT
/ ors.
The committee met behind closed doors
and conferred with these gentlemen as
/ TO securing an interpreter. and the doors
were not opened until noon, when the
/ committee rose until O'Clock. Mr.. Ran
I lOlpn was drhfu u iAbiNsopi i@NAANN
/ would be satisfactory to him as an in
terpretor lie replied In the negative,
and Mr. G. W. 5. Turner. Of Alexandra,
| a member OF the Board Of Visitors, was
suggested. Sir. Randolph thought he
would be a good man. and a telegram was
thcrcupon sent him requesting him to
/ come at once.
/ MIR. BLAND REPRESENTED RAN
DOLPH.
When the committee reassembled Tor
| he afternoon session Mr.. Randolph was
seated next TO Senator Stubs, and the
gentlemen connected with the institution
sat nearby. Mr. Charles 7. Bland, whom
Mr.. Randolph first wrote. arose and
stated that he had been asked TO repre-
! sent Mr.. Randolph, and he desired per-
mission from the committee 10 appear
Tor him. Senator Stubs thought, as a
member Of the House, Mr.. Bland would
place himself in rather an equIvocal posi-
ton 20 appear as counsel and then as
Judge on the same case. Mr.. Harrison
and Mr. Hathaway concurred In thl5
view. Mr.. Bland explained that he dian
care TO represent Randolph as counsel,
but simply as d friend. lie was permitted
20 do 80.
The committee had not heard from Mr..
Turner. and IL was finally agreed that
they should proceed as tar as possible
without an interpreter, and the written
charges as submitted by Randolph
through Mr. Bland, last week, were taken
u5
AIR Randolph was asked IL he desired
TO be a witness In the case. lie replied
first in the negative, and, finally, when
he understood the question, replied at
frmatively. He was then sworn by the
secretary, Mr.. Ben. j. owen, Jr., after
which he was handed the letter that ne
wrote Mr.. Bland. specifying the charges
he had previously referred TO. lie &C.
clared thar the letter had been written
by him, and that il contained the charges
he desired to prefer
THE LETTER.
The letter was then read. In the out
Get Mr. Randolph says: Il enclose you |
a list OF charges against the manage
mcnt OF the Deaf Dumb. and Blind IN
stitute at Stauntcn. all OF which charges !
/ can substantate with witnesses. / give /
a list OF names OF female pupils VINO /
have been ruined, and the names OF the /
teachers intimate with them. ] realize /
the terrible notorety the publication OF I
their names would bring their former I
pupils. and ask you TO use your discre- /
ton in this matter. / consider / am only 7
doing my duty in stating what l know of 1
the corruption existing during my term /
as a pupil at the institute, and ask Il |
this state OF affairs could have possibly ]
existed under the proper management?
when | attended the institute. from .
1879 10 1851 Captain Doyle was principal /
his assistants being Messrs. Guiltord Eu- |
rift. Frank Yates, Loring Turner, Henry /
A. Bear William Berkeley. Thomas /
Williams and Miss Fannie Shackleford." /
The charges are given at considerable 4
length and IN great detail Captain /
Doyle. the principal IS charged with /
not being faithful and attentive 10 his I
duties. and with being addicted 10 the /
use Of liquor; Mr.. Euritt. with ne /
electng his duties as teacher by absenting /
himself from the schOol-room 10 .
smoke. and Mr.. Williams. with slap
ping the pupils when they forgot their
lessons and failed 10 write correctly the
words given them. Against Messrs.
Yates. and Bear especially the former
grave charges OF immortality are made,
and names and circumstances are given
WENT IN THE Girls ROOM.
The letter continues:
Male teachers have gone in the re-
male pupils stUdying-room nearly every
night, and rarely In the rooms OF the
male pupils.
whenever tho Board OF Visitors made
the date at the coming Of commence
10 sec how the pupils were getting along.
the teachers would work harder and
encourage scholars TO work hard, 50
as 10 make a satisfactory show.
think YOU will agree with me that the
standard Of education at the university
as shown In the letters | mail with this
Is hardly creditable 10 a State institu-
ton. / send enclosed several letters
from other eN-pupils. and can furnish
nsmes of others who testify as to the
immortality that has existed I'm the in
stitute | send these charges for you
10 use as you see NJ. though ] realize
the unpleasant situation that I must
place innocent people in, and would If n
were possible avoid dragging any names
into the discussion"
THE OTHER LETTERS.
Accompanying Randolph's letter we're
a number OF letters from classmates Of
his which are largely substantiative OF his
charges Among the writer's were Mrs.
Emma Murden. Of No. lci Kelly avenue;
Miss Kate Painter, of Washington; Miss
Annie Riggs. of Guilford. Va; Mrs John
l.. Randolph. Mr. and Mrs. r. l.. Fen
tress. Of Norfolk; Mr.. J. Dunlop Baker.
of New Orleans and Mr.. f.. Il. Laurens,
of Augusta, Ga.
Mrs. Murden and Miss Painter tell OF
inmoralitles which came under their OBJ
scrvstions. and Miss Riggs prefers
direct charge against Mr. Yates. Mrs.
Randolph makes a less serious allegation
against that instructor, and Mr.. and
Mrs Fentress deal in generalities Mr.
Baker speaks Of treatment given his wife,
now dead while n pupil at the institu-
ton, and Mr.. Laurens alleges immortality
as existing at the institution, but makes
no specific charges.
WITNESSES TO BE EXAMINED TO-
DAY