Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-04-14
WAS OFTEN SEEN INEBRIATED
OLD SCANDAL RETOLD BY MRS. ADA
SANDERS.
Eyidence Presented That Is Consider
ed Very Damaging to Governor
stephens PretensiOns of Fair
ness and ImDartinlfty
i'm Public Duties.

FULTON. MO-. Apral Ek-(SpeclalD Inc
second days session OF the committee IN
vestiSatirE the management OF the fuiton
asylum developed several new and impor-
tart features th;vt were not brought out
AZ, either of the foumer investigations. The
committee extract ed testimony to-day that
is regarded as extremely damaging to
Governor Stephens. The hand of the gov
ernor in the estfgation is glaringly ap-
parent His secretary. Paul Moore. at.
tends all sessions Of the committee. and
even takes the Liberty to call upon the
members of the conNnittee to ask many
questions calculated to help DR.. Coombs.
Mr. Moore prompted several questions to-
day. but to his great surprise the answers
were quite damaging 10 the governor and
To DR.. CooInbs The committee appears to
be desirous of making thorough inyesti-
cation and TO shield 40 one. The oues-
tons asked by Representative Hall. of
Grundy. seem TO result in the most peril
nent answers. and he relentlessly draws
out testimony fnom the most unwilling wit
nesses.
II was shown to-day that through some
strange action on the part of the board of
managers. w. F. Lloyd. who had served
faithfully as steward in the asylum for
twenty years. was deposed to make room
for L. D. Summers. q, man 6 years old and
os no experience in asylum work what
ever. Summers il a personal friend of Gov
ernor Stephens.
1t was also shown that the charge that
the investigation is promped by the allo-
pathic school of medicine is unfounded.
Dr. Yourg, a member OF the board Of
charities and an allopath. said to-day that
no feeling OF prejudice against Homeopathic
practices in the asylum existed in the state
as far as he knew.
One witness testified to-day that he had
~l,- ,,,y,,
ately after the alleged scandal that re-
suited in an Investigation and had been
asked to induce his wife. who swore that
she saw DR.. Coombs coming out of the room
of one of the lady attendants, to swear
that she could not identify DR.. Coombs as
the guilty man.
Dr. Reed member of the board of man
agers testified that the board had elected
DR.. Coombs without having any knowledge
OF his ability. This witness also stated
that DR.. Coombs had been reinstated with
the understanding that he would resign
shortly afterward and that he had signed
a pledge promising to abstain from liquor.
The first important witness in the morn
ing was F. E. Luckett. of Jefferson City. a
member Of the board of managers. He said
that Governor Stephens had stated to the
board that If # were desired he would see
that DIR. Coombs resigned Immediately aft
er his reinstatement.
II do not think that the capabilities of
Mr.. Summers were discussed at the time
Of his election said the witness.
The Governor Wa. Not Satisfied.
r. E. Young, member of the state board
OF charities. was asked: What was the
purpose of the investigation that was made
by the state board of charities
My understanding said he in reply.
''is that the governor was. not satisfied
with the finding of the board of managers.
Very grave and calculated to ruin DIR.
Coombs. The governor asked our board
to thoroughly investigate the matter. He
said the uciest thing In the effort was the
resignation OF DIR. Coombs." .
DIR. Young continued: Il never pay much
attention to the record of cures that are
effected, as there is disposition on the
part of all such institutions to exaggerate
the number cured. In many instances the
same patients are cured several times.
WAS there a general feeling Of dissat-
ment under homeopath?" -
There was no such feeling as far as I
know. 1 am alopath myself
The witness stated that sDrf- CoombS had
told him that at the funeral-of Judge Mac
farlane he had taken four drinks between
ii q. m. and 8 p. m. -
Mrs. Ada Sanders. formerly, an attendant
in the, asylum. testified that she had left
after service of eleven years because Of
the trouble concerning DR.. Coombs.
left because | had been a witness
against him and ] did not think that I
could remain at the asylum, said Mrs.