The San Francisco call., 1898-07-24
ATTACHES COACHED
 BY THE ASYLUM RING

SAN JOSE, July Z3.-JOnn +. Carrere, secretary of the State Lunacy Commis- sion, made a flying trip to San Jose this afternoon and served notice upon Trustees Hale and Curnow and Dr. Sponogle to be present at the investi- gation to be held at Agnews Asylum next Tuesday morning at Il o'clock. The notices served request the mem bers to be present at an investigation of the general management and admin istration of the hospital and to have such witnesses present as they may desire to appear before the commis- sicn.
 Carrere was in San Jose just long enough to see Hale and Curnow and then drove to Agnews to serve Spon- ogle, where he caught a train for San Francisco.
 Trustee Frank H. Gould arrived at Agnews Asylum this evening. For the past couple of days the employees at the institution have been preparing fer an investigation, and Gould's presence was needed to give them the final pol ishing off before the fateful day. Meet ings have been held by the employees and there has been an attempt to get them solidly back of Sponogle and the administration. Those who desired to remain neutral were greatly excited to- day, for if they failed to come out boldly for those in charge they would be regarded as enemies of Gould. To- morrow and the next day, 1t IS said, the asylum employees will be given a private examination to find just what they know in regard tC existing affairs.
 The investigation by the Lunacy Commission promises to be more searching than the public expects and the session will probably last the bal ance of the week. Gould will be at the asylum up to the time of the in- vestigation.
 Tomorrow Trustees. Hale, Curnow and Gould and pr. Sponogle will hold an extended conference. They will outline their plans for the investiga- ton. The leaders of the attendants will be given their orders and when the investigation opens everything will be well greased and in working order.
 Trustee Gould refused to talk to- night on the forthcoming investiga- tion. lie said he had nothing to say for The Call, and with an oath brought the interview to close.
 Chairman Curnow of the Agnews managers in speaking of the investiga- ton tonight said:
 T have been summoned to an invest igatiOn on Tuesday morning, and as fal as l am concerned I want the whole af fair investigated If there is anybod! there whose morals are not of the bes l want him dismissed. I am inclined to think the investigation should be by the AgneWs board of managers, but thorough investigation by either body will be satisfactory. The investigation should be strictly impartial and thor. ough. l have no pets there and do not fear any truth that will be brought out As long as I have the honor of being manager l shall do my utmost to set that affairs are faithfully and honestly administered. 1 think the investigation will cover the whole institution, as wei as the statements made against Dr SponCgle, MT. TourtilIott, Mrs. Madigar and anybody else concerning whom there is any suspicion of immoral char acter and dereliction of duty"
 Trustee Hale said he had discussed the matter with Trustee Upham in SaI Francisco last Tuesday and they de cided to bring 1t before the State Lun acy Commission. Both agreed to joi1 in a letter asking for an investigation He had expected to sit as judge in tn, case at first, but now he may be one O the witnesses. Under ordinary crcum stances, he said, he would have liked tc try the case, but with White and Up ham probably disqualified he wa! pleased with the arrangement by whicl the State Lunacy Commission would hold the investigation. The charge. against Tourtillott and Mrs Madigar are the only formal ones before tn, local board, but other matters may b, taken up.
 As to Dr. Sponogle being illegally il office, MT. Hale said the doctor haC never laid claim to having had thre, years experience in asylums, as tn, law required. pr. Sponogle was ap pointed first assistant under Dr. Hatcl and when the latter accepted place or the State board Sponogle succeeded al medical director. Mir. Hale said:
 desire the fullest, freest ant frankest investigation of the affairs O the institution of which I am a man ager. I realize some statements hay, been made detrimental to the genera welfare of the institution and I would like very much to have such investiga tion as will prove the truth or falsity of the charges. We enjoyed a reputa tion some two years ago of having tht best-managed asylum in the State O. California and received this compli ment from the Chief Executive of tn State. I believe a majority of tn, managers are anxious to see the insti tuition restored to it's former prestige This can be accomplished only b, wedding out all undesirable and in