Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-08-21

CHARGES AND THE RESULT OF
THE ENQUIRY.
STAFF Special.
WESTON, w. Va, August 20.-The
sole topic of conversation here is the
termination of the Hospital scandal.
AS matter of course there is division
of sentiment relative to the justice OF
the verdict by the Board. To thorough
ly comprehend the situation of affairs
at the institution, with particular ref
erence to the investigation and the
events leading up to it, knowledge of
its political phases is necessary.
Politics was factor in the charges,
| and it is a popular belief that politics
was factor in the verdict.
The fact that political rehabilitation
rather than desire to purify the NOR
ais of the institution was a motive in
the prosecution has been so thinly veil
ed as to be apparent even under super
| fetal observation. Mr.. R Ad Hall is
postmaster of Weston, and aspires to
| the leadership of his party In Lewis
| county. 1t is generally understood that
| he promised places at the Hospital to
dozen of his political friends, and it
| is not disputed that he was unable to
| deliver the goods. This affected his
prestige as leader, and the retention
OF efficient Democrats by DR.. StatherS
increased the burden of his humilia-
| ton.
Halls appeal to Governor Atkinson
was no more productive of desired re-
suits than his importantly of DIR. Stath-
ers. The bitterness of feeling which
was manifested during the trial has re-
suited in closer definition OF factional
lines in Lewis county. 1t has been
Republican fight, however, and Demo-
Gratis have comprehended its signifi-
| canoe and wisely held aloof.
The indications point to a continue
ton of the fight by Hall and the six
| teen citizens of Weston.
Hall is the recognized leader OF tho
| younger faction of the party, which
embraces several elements. Mr.. Fos-
| ter, who was the principal attorney
for the prosecution, is understood TO
be a prospective candidate for prose-
cutting attorney. State Senator George
G.. Cole, who was associated with him,
is charged with political ingratitude,
inasmuch as he was, previous to April,
treasurer of the hospital, nice plum
with several hundred year attached.
involving very little necessary expen-
diture of time or money.
Whether or not Governor Atkinson
commissioned his appointees on the
Board Of Directors, to "whitewash' the
| Superintendent, Is a matter for con-
lecture The insinuation Is indignant
ly resented by the Board. President
Meighen says a letter from the Cover
nor to him. intimated that prompt
| trial and fair verdict upon the evil
dence presented would be most salts
| factory to Atkinson. In this eonnec-
| ton. it is understood that b. ID. Glib
| son, Democratic member from Charles
| Town, wrote very drastic letter to
Dave Snyder, who has been a promi-
| nent figure in the prosecution, because
of Snyder's failure to retract the state
| ment that Gibson received a letter
| from Atkinson, asking him to white
wash Stathers. How much the feel
ing against Hall, Snyder, ct al, in
fuenced the Board, II at all, in reaching
lbs verdict, the public must Judge.
Throughout the investigation, II
was evident that the Board was very
| friendly TO DR.. Stathers, with but one
| possible exception. Alex. McVeigh
Miller. of Greenbrier was usually on
the minority side. He had several
lifts with Meigben over the admissf-
| birity OF evidence. and the relevancy
| OF matters, which the prosecution en-
| deayored to show by its witnesses.
Most OF these disagreements were duo
to the absence OF any clearly defined
rule of procedure. President Meighen
appeared TO be governed by the prac-
| tice OF Circuit Courts. while Mr.. Mil
Ter contended consistently for wider
scope Of inquiry. ignoring legal tech
| nicalities. in order to admit all teStf-
mony which might enable the Board
to form a correct opinion as to the
guilt or innocence Of the Superintend-
ent. Mr.. Miller was the only member
OF the Board who refused to concur IN
the verdict OF mot guilty."
Friends Of Dr. stathers charge that
| Mr.. Miller was actuated In his course
| during the investigation by desire for
| the removal OF DR.. SKATERS and the
promotion of his (MiIler's) relative. DR..
Perry. who Is one Of the corps Of ply
! sicians at the Hospital.
| The division Of sentiment in Weston
| appeares to be based, not SO much upon
| the evidence adduced in the inyestiga-
ton. as upon the respective degrees OF