Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-04-19
MRS. WILLIAMS HEARD, ALSO
DIR. COOMBS ADMITS THAT HE
DRINKS TOO MUCH.
Declares, However, That He Has Not
Been Drunk Since He Has Been
in Charge mt Fulton-In-
veatigation Ended
Yesterday.

famous investigation of the Fulton insane
asylum ended this afternoon at o'clock,
after sessions that have occupied the time
of the committee for seven days and
nights. The members of the committee
have worked diligently and have shown no
favors in their efforts to learn all the de-
tails of the management of the asylum
and Of the conduct of the superintendent.
The last day here proved to be DR..
Coombs' red letter day, as he and Mrs.
Mollie Williams, both the implicated
parties in the scandal. were given an op-
portunity TO testify. The testimony of both
consisted of general denial of all the
charges. Mrs. Williams came from Iowa,
and her presence here was a surprise, as
she has kept herself in the background
q since the first reports were made public,
more than a year ago, and made no ef-
fort to testify at either of DR.. Coombs
former trials.
Before Mrs. Williams testified. DR..
Coombs was compelled to offer merely his
own statement to refute the charges made
by the two women who claimed to be eye
witnesses. As the matter now stands con-
cerning the immortality charge, there are
two witnesses for the prosecution and two
for the defense, but as the doctor and
Mrs. Williams are both implicated parties,
if is not known whether the committee
will consider that the strong testimony Of
Mrs. Sanders and Miss Huer has been re-
futed. The last named has not testified
yet, as she is Ill, and the committee will
be compelled to visit her at her home in a
small town in this county. She testified
at the former investigation and her state
ments agreed with those OF Mrs. Sanders
1t seems almost certain that the COM
mittee will find DR.. Coombs guilty Of the
charge of drunkenness. but it is difficult
TO forecast, the report that will be made
on the other, charges 1t 1sstknown that a
majority Of the members believe that the
accused is guilty bfs the, charge of immor-
ality, but their final action may be changed
if it is thought advisable 70 give the doc
tor the benefit of the doubt. AS predicted
yesterday, some instances of bad manage
ment in the purchasing of supplies have
been found, but 1t is not thought that
verdict Of mismanagement will be returned.
The committee will go to Jefferson City
this week and from there will proceed to
Chiilicothe to investigate the industrial
school for girls. 49, ,-y.- 7y-,.- ..y----'
Dr. Coombs was the first witness called
this morning. He displayed no nervousness
as he testified in his own behalf The doc
tor told of his practice before he became
superintendent of the asylum and the po-
sitions he held in medical colleges. He said
that when he became superintendent the
institution was becoming decrepit and
badly In need of repairs" He told how he
cleaned and beautified it. On April 13, 1887,
there were $40 patients, while now there are
s24. He expressed the opinion that this in
insane persons.
Doctor, what has been your habit as to
sobriety?'
mot what 1t might have been. 1 have
not been addicted to the use of liquor to
the extent of impairing my abilities. but 1
recognize that when one drink is too much,
two is certainly SO. Still I have never
drunk enough to make myself an eyesore to
my friends. My drinking has never been
periodical, and my taste has never become
fixed in that direction. Sometimes several
weeks have gone by without my drinking"
what was your condition the day of
Judge Macfarlane's funeral?"
II was duly and entirely sober. I had
three or four drinks of whisky. AS to the
size of the drinks / don't remember, ex-
cept that I took reasonable. gentleman's
drinks"
do you remember a certain occasion
when you went to hear Bryan at Column
bia?"
Eyes, one OF the boys had a pint bottle
and another had quart bottle. took a
drink out Of one Of the bottles. I also had
drink at Millersburg. Then I took an
other drink at Columbia late in the day"
'You heard Lee Paisley tell on the stand
that he had seen you drunk at the boiler
house. Is that true?"
Paisley was sitting in the crowd. DR..
Coombs looked about until he had located
him and, looking straight at him, replied:
'It is absolutely false"
Paisley returned the stare without finch
ing. ii
Have you ever been intoxicated since
you have been superintendent of this asy-
lum?"
81 have not
You heard Mrs. Sanders testimony on
the immortality charge. Were you in Mrs.
Williams room on that occasioH?
mot on that occasion or any other. Mrs
Williams had been discharged and had left
the asylum before knew of that charge"
How did she happen to be discharged?"
''Dr. Hudson told me that Mrs. Sanders
and Miss Huer said they had seen me come
out of Mrs. Williams room. 1 discharged
Mrs. Williams at once, in order to show
that was not afraid TO get rid Of her with.
out seeing her."
do you know where you were at the
time you are accused Of having been in Mrs,
Williams room?"
''Yes. sir. 1 was in the assistant physi-
P,,r@ !