The San Francisco call., 1898-07-29
AGNEWS TRUSTEES
 APPLY THE BRUSH
Asylum Board Completes the White washing of Tourtillot and -drs.
 Madigan.

| 4iAttAA SiA4s
 SAN JOSE. July 2S.-''Not guilty was the verdict of the Agnews Board of Managers to-day In the matter of the charges of improper conduct pre- ferred against T. T. Tourtillott and Mrs. Madigan.
 No surprise was created by the de- termination reached, as all the proceed ings indicated clearly what would be the ultimate result of the investigation. The fact was appreciated that the ma jority of the board had relatives or friends on the pay roll of the institu- tion, and that they were bound to stand together for their mutual protec- l tion. While the result achieved may
 be satisfactory to the judges and the accused, 1t is far from freeing the pub lie mind from the idea that the insti- l tuition needs a thorough wedding out | to restore a wholesome moral atmos | phere within it's walls.
 | The proceedings partook largely of | the nature of snap judgment. At the | last regular meeting of the Board of Managers, Williams, who filed the 1 charges, was given until the next reg ular meeting of the board in August to prepare his case. On Monday last the ! board decided to hear the charges on Tuesday, July 26, and it was not until | about o'clock Monday night that Will Hams received notice that the matter was to be heard the following morn- ing. This gave him little or no time to secure the attendance of some of his important witnesses, many of whom lived out of town, or were away from their homes.
 By the unexpected action of the
 board in taking the matter up late Tuesday, after it had given out the i'm pression that nothing would be done on that day, Mir. Williams was de- prfved of the services of his attorney
 He attempted to carry on the case to the best of his ability in the face of overwhelming disadvantages, such as the evident hostility of a majority of the board, the gag rulings of Chairman | Curnow and an array of numerous wit nesses, all employees of the asylum, who, while they did not contradict the principal prosecuting witness, gave tes- timony bearing on the good reputation and character of the accused, and at the same time endeavored. though l1n- successfully, to prove that Mrs. Will Hams was not mentally balanced"
 With one exception, all the witnesses Tor the defense were employees of the asylum. The local board had been in structed by the State commission to instruct all witnesses who were em- ployes that they were to tell the truth and the whole truth in the matter un- der investigation, and that they would be protected in their positions This very important preliminary was scrdp- ulously omitted in every instance
 At to-day's session Williams pleaded for more time, that he might produce witnesses to corroborate Mrs. Williams. He explained that yesterday his time was taken up in court, in a battery case, in which he was the prosecuting witness, but the board was obdurate, Several more witnesses were put on by the board in behalf of the defense. The opportunity to argue the case was curt ly and absolutely denied Ira Wright. the attorney for MT. Williams. The board went into executive session and in three and a quarter minutes opened the doors, announced a verdict of not guilty, and the first act in the farce of Investigating the affairs of the asy- lum by the Board of Managers was over.
 Miss Louise Bambauer, Gould's in- portation to fill the matronship, was the first witness to-day. She first worked at tbe institution about three years ago. remained eleven months at that time On November 1. 1897, she re-entered the institution. Miss Bambauer underwent an examination for attendant soon after her arrival, and in June last under went an examination for matron. She claimed to have no knowledge as to the percentage she obtained. She was told she had been appointed matron by the hoard, and supposed she had made the necessary percentage.
 In answer to an inquiry by Williams as to the result of the examination for