The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-08-11
ONE WITNESS EXAMINED

In the Investigation OF DF. statneIsI
Superintendent of the Asylum for
the Insane ut Wcston-Nirs. SOM
merviIIe's Testimony.
Special Dispatch to the IntellIgencer.
WESTON, W. Va, August f0.-After
a long time spent In discussing the
prellmlnaries, the board of directors
has finally entered into what promises
to be a thorough, rigid and searching
inquiry into the charges against DR..
W. E. stathers, superintendent of the
state Hospital for the Insane. There
seems now to be u thorough under
standing between the board and the at
torneys representing the prosecution.
and the investigation is expected to
proceed rather rapidly.
This morning the committee which
made the original accusation preferred
new charges. alleging two additional In
stances wherein Dr. StatheTs Is accus-
ed OF making improper advances to-
wnrd employees. It Is also. alleged q sec
ond trip to Cincinnati with a former
female employe. These charges were
supported by afIidavits in the hands Of
the committee.
After considerable discussion the
board tabled the new charges, believ-
Ing that DR.. Stathers should have rea-
sonable notice OF these new allegations,
and that an injustice would be done
him, without such notice. The board
then decided that the signing OF the
original charges by the committee was
q SUFFICIENT signing TO meet the require
aH, .
was ordered thereon.
Some time was spent in O discussion
by the attorneys Of request by the
prosecution that the board should pass
an order granting to all witnesses who
testify immunity from discharge by
reason OF their testimony. and, after
one failure OF passage. the motion was
again taken up and the order passed.
The board also passed an order requlr-
ing each side to procure and pay It's
witnesses, but this order was finally
rescInded as TO the summoning OF Wit
nessey and an order was passed direct
ing the secretary Of the board to issue
subpoenas for such witnesses as may
be demanded.
Mrs. .sOmmeryilIc's Testimony.
The only witness who was called to-
day was Mrs. Mary L. sommervllle,
the store-keeper at the institution. She
stated that she became a patient in the
institution in July, 1897, and was dis
charged cured in the following Octo-
Der. DR.. Stathers was very kind to her
while her reason was dethroned, ana
treated her as a father would his own
child. Just prior to her discharge,
however, she alleges that he made i'm
proper advances TO her in her bedroom
when her attendants was out walking
with the other patients from the home
and she was too Ill to SO out. She
stated thar the superintendent APP
preached her bed, put his arms about
her and tried TO kiss her, telling her
that he loved her Afterwards she was
employed by him as an attendant, and
more than year ago promoted to the
position that she now holds. She recit-
ed several Instances when she claims
that DR.. Stathers improperly npproach-
ed her, telling her that he was her on
ly friend, and that he had given her the
position she held and was getting no
nay for Il. and he wanted her to be his
little pet; and that II she would con-
sent to be his pet until a stated time
he would send her away TO school.
Relative 10 counter statement
which she signed after having made
an affidavit to the facts above recited'
she claims that II was wrested from
her when she was III in bed by threats,
and that DR.. Perry who attended her IN
her sickness. advised her to sign the
statement to save annoyance. She as
serts that DR.. Stathers admitted 70
her that he had taken one Of his female
employees on n trip TO ST. Louis In May
1895. The REORGANIZATION OF Mrs.
sommervllle will take place to-mor-
row.