The San Francisco call., 1898-07-27
aGNEWS ASYLUM BOARD TOLLS
 WITH KALSOMINE AND BRUSH

witness replied that he had not heard of a report from any other person, ana added that the accused always had the reputation of being lady and gen. tleman, respectively. in every regard. In response to Director Hale, Dr. Sponogle said that after he had been told of the affair by Mrs. Williams, MT Hale had given him instructions to have the nightwatches keep sharp lookout for a repetition of the occur renee. He had done so. but nothing further had been reported to him. He had then investigated the matter close ly, but had been unable to obtain any evidence from any other source.
 Director Hale corroborated the latter part of pr. Sponogle's testimony. Un- der cross examination by MT. Williams, who was allowed to appear as cour- tesy Dr. SpOnogle stated he did not remember that Mrs. Williams had told him she had informed Nightwatchman Kerns of the early morning meeting with Tourtillott.
 Did she ever tell you'' continued Williams, that she had seen MT. Tour tillott and Mrs. Madigan together in the laundry? I think before we get through we will be able to show that this Is a fact"
 The witness replied in the negative.
 Didn't she say that she did not want it to go any further, as she did not want to make any trouble for MT. l Gould, who was a friend of hers?' asked Williams.
 To this Dr. Sponogle made an evasive reply, which caused Williams to re- mark:
 Tt seems that this institution has | been terrified to such an extent that every one has to guard his tongue. and the truth is not so important to them as their bread and butter"
 Dr. Sponogle further testified that he had reported the matter to the chair man of the Management Committee, MT. Gould, but had not reported 1t to any other member of the board. | Williams was frequently interrupted ! in his cross examination by Gould's and Hale's objections, which were in- variably sustained by Chairman Cur now, notwithstanding that whenever Williams offered any objections to mat ter clearly irrevelant he was overruled by the Chairman Gould brought out the opinion from Dr. Sponogle that the work of Tourtillott had always been satisfactory and that his conduct had been the same. Witness had never heard the moral character of Tourtil- 1 lott questioned before this accusation was made and he added that he did not believe the statement made by Mrs. | Williams.
 State to the board" requested MT. Gould, what the mental condition of Mrs Williams was Curing the latter months of her employment here"
 This brought an objection from Will Hams, who informed the board that he had recommendations from the off, cials of the institution as to her com 1 potency, moral character, intelligence and truthfulness He was not allowed to offer them In evidence, though Chairman Curnow admitted he had given Mrs Williams such recommends tion. Williams added that If his wifes sanity was in question at any time dur ing her employment it was clearly the duty of the board to have discharged her.
 At this point Gould gave the cue to the chairman to apply the gag to Will Hams, and 1t was duly and promptly done. pr. Sponogle continued:
 ''I think she acted peculiarly at times. think she passed eight months or a little longer in this way. She inn agined she had become a great news paper writer, and at other times she thought she had become quite singer She also tried to become great pen man, and instead of retiring tn the morning when her duties were over she would practice penmanship From observing these peculiarities 1 remain In this institution. l did not think that with her family history she would be benefited in this institution Her mother had died in an asylum, but of her father 1 know nothing.
 This was all brought out by the questioning of Gould
 Williams asked the witness If he had not promised to give Mrs Williams a recommendation, and if he had not stated that she was competent, faith full and truthful. pr. Sponogle made no answer.
 F. P. Kerns, the nioht watchman testified that he had never seen any thing blameworthy in the conduct of either Mir. Tourtillott or Mrs. Madigan.
 Dr. J. F. Christal testified that Mrs. Williams had told him of the Tour tillott- Mad'"an il ident two ~ays after it had occurred, and that he had re- ported 1t to pr. S0onogle.
 Tourtillott and Mrs. Madigan were called to the stand and made general denials of all the charges.
 Mrs. F. TempletOn, Mrs. Watkins. H. A. Braden and Miss Julia Creighton, all employees of he asylum, testified to the good character and reputation of the accused, and also that of Mrs. Williams. They knew nothing of the alleged misdoings of the accused.
 Detective Erwin Frost said Williams had come to him to get his services In the case. Williams wanted to force the managers to reinstate his wife, so that he could go East and study law. Frost said Williams put him on the track of certain things against Dr. Sponogle, which, if true. ought to cause the doc tor to leave the State Williams had no money to pay the witness and agreed to liuuidate the indebtedness as soon as Mrs. Williams got at work again.
 It was during Frosts examination that Williams and his wife left the room and departed for home.
 Chairman Curnow declared the case closed, and intimated that he desired the board to go at once into executive session to decide the matter, though Williams had asked previously for the = opportunity to produce additional wit nesses whom he had not been able to . reach. owing to the extremely short time he had been given to notify them Gould pleaded to have another witness . examined, and his wish was not gain