The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-07-16

AsneWS Asylum 10 clear the moral at
mosphere of the institution under their
charge.
Each day since the startling charges
90 murder and immortality were first
given publicity the people have been
expecting one or all of these things to
occur. AS the matter now stands the
indications are that at least month
will go by before the work of moral
fumigatiOn will begin unless the Gov
ernor has the courage to perform his
duty by demanding that something be
done Immediately by the board of man
ayers of the establishment to show the
public that it is DESTROYS of having the
State hospital freed from the terrible
incubus of suspicion that now weighs
it down.
Chairman Curnow. who has the
power to call a special meeting of the
board, evidently is disinclined to take
the responsibility of doing so, while
Trustee Hale is Of the opinion that a
suggestion for a special meeting would
not come with good taste from him.
Said Chairman Curnow to-day. after
remarking that The Calls history of
the method by which the appointments
were made at Agnews was correct:
Il shall communicate with the other
members regarding the calling of a
special meeting TO investigate the
charges against some of the attaches
of the asylum and see what they are
inclined to do.
II don't think those charges against
Mr.. Tourtillott and Mrs. Madigan are
we'll founded. I have been investigat-
ing and the evidence is very weak.
so far as DR.. Sponogle is concerned,
I know nothing of his prior history ex-
cept by hearsay."
DR.. Curnow did not care to discuss
the character of the hearsay history he
had heard.
When Mr.. Hale was asked what he
was disposed to do in the matter of
having a special meeting called he said:
If special meeting is thought de-
sirable by the chairman OF the board
and the chairman of the management
conTY&t tee 5tGOuld), I am ready and
willing TO attend it at any time and
place for any purpose whatever.
Asked as to what he thought Of the
advisa bility OF calling a special meet
ing he answered:
Il think the chairman of the board
and the chairman of the management
committee ought TO .QelSTlnlIlc lHdl
matter"
In endeavoring to explain the serious
charges of murder and criminal assault
made against him by Detective Erwin
Frost DR.. Sponogle induced the yellow
journal of San Francisco to publish
statement attacking in a most unmanly
and unwarranted manner the former
matron Of the asylum, Miss Ella Royce,
who took no part whatever in the pro-
ceedings at the boards meeting on
Wednesday last. Part of the medical
superintendent explanation was as
follows:
These charges are purely the result of
malice and have no foundation in fact
The persons at the bottom of them are
parties who have been practically dis
missed from the asylum. Why they
should assault me is mystery, as l was
in no manner responsible for their dis
charges. While Miss Ella Royce, the late
matron of the asylum, was here our re-
lations were not very friendly. She was a
young and impetuous woman, in no way
qualified for the position to which she
was appointed, and it became necessary
for me sometimes TO correct her mis-
takes. This was always done in gen.
tlemanly manner. She. however, took a
pledge before the board of managers to
use every means to injure me, and it
seems she is trying her best.
Miss Royce has absolutely declined,
since the sensational exposures of this
week, to be interviewed regarding what
she knows of the affairs of the asylum,
but in view of DIR. Sponogle's action in
bringing her name into the matter she
made the following statement to-day:
so far I have had nothing TO say
about this affair, but as DR.. Sponogle
has attacked me l feel that in justice
to myself l must make an explanation.
l did not take any pledge before the
board or anywhere else of the charac-
ter the doctor ascribes to me. I don't
understand why DR.. Sponogle should
say this.
"At the time 1 was before the board
on May &c, the day that 1 resigned, in
answer to a flimsy charge made by
Miss Bambauer, they questioned me
about the nurses under my charge, and
l told them, as was the case, that their
work was very satisfactory. There was
no occasion for such an inquiry what
ever, and l intimated as much and sug-
gested that their attention might be
turned with more profit TO DR.. Spon-
ogle. who was present at the time. l
told the board that he wes unfit for
the position he held; that he was an i'm
moral man. that he lacked manhood
and integrity, and that no lady could
associate with him without losing her
self-respect. All the members OF the
board were present except Mr.. Upham.
And as for DR.. Sponogle' having oc
be we'll for the State to employ guar
dian for him, as he is irresponsible for
any thing he does"
Objections have been urged by some
members of the board who have been
identified with the Gould combination
to going into an investigation without
formal written charges being filed.
1hey evidently have forgotten that Miss
Royce, less than two months ago, was
placed on the carpet to answer to some
petty charges brought against her by
MISS Bambauer, Gould's MERGED impor-
tatlon But the situation was differ
ent then. Gould cracked the whin and
MS creatures in the board sat ready
TO crack through" his programme, re-
gardless OF legal or other formalities.
They also overlook the fact that these
charges were directly called to their at
tentlon In an open meeting of the
board, and that there is at their dis
posal an affidavit which states facts
SUFFICIENT TO warrant and In fact, NOR
ally compel the board 10 take imrne-
date cognizance of them. The docu-
ment referred to is that of Mrs. VIII
liams, which was published in The Call
of Thursday
But, to paraphrase, the trail Of the
serpent is over it all. Gould accented
the responsible position Of trustee Of