The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1899-08-23
NOT GUILTY.
Board Whitewashes DR.. Stath-
ers at Weston.
Prosecutions is yery Sore-One Member
Vigorously s,issenfs- Supplementary
Charges to BE Investigated Later =
Verdict Expected.

WESTON. w. Va, August Ill
Just verdict or whitewashy'
Tnis is the question to he decided
by the public. the appellate court
for the consideration of evidence adj
duced 10 the hospital investigation.
The board Of directors has found
DIR. Stathefs not guilty
Will the finding OF the board re
ceive the stamp Of popular appro-
val?
Six members of the board say no
other verdict would have been pos
sible under the evidence. The sew
enth member, Alex. McVeigh Miller,
Republican, dissented.
The prosecution contended that a
case was make against Stathers
which would have convic' ed him in
any court of justice, but they affect
to be not surprised at the result.
They say he was convicted in the
eyes of the public and that they
had little to hope for from biased
board, which popular report alleges
to have been instructed by Cover
nor Atkinson to "whitewash" the
Superintendent
The board was in executive SEES
sion all morning, and until late in
the afternoon. Counsel and repre-
sentatives of the press were exclud
ed. Conferences were numerous
recesses were frequent, but no in.
formation was given out relative tc
the matters under consideration.
Even after final adjournment
members were extremely reticent
Newspaper men were referred to the
ORDER or THE BOARD,
entered upon the minutes, as the
only public statement which would
be made.
The order reads:
sOn motion, it is ordered that tn,
board proceed to consider thu
charges filed against the superin
tendent, and all evidence presented
in connection Herewith, and aftel
mature consideration the board is o
the opinion that the prosecution hai
failed to sustain the charges so flee
against said w. f. Stathers, Super
intendent, and find him not guilt,
as charged"
Several questions arose during tn,
session of the board, which provoked
considerable discussion. The prose
cution's request that the board sub
pnna O. G. Rung, superintendent O
the st. Louis Hospital for insane, fol
the purpose of asking whether o
not a woman was with DR.. Stather
in that city, and for the additions
purpose of enabling him to deter
mine if Harriet Green was that wo
man, was talked of informally. /
was not acted upon.
The board was evenly divided
and President Meighen cast the de
Gliding vote on the
QUESTION OF PosTPoNEMENT
of vote until the next regular meet
ing in October. Three members
urged delay in order to gain tim
for the preparation and weighing o
the evidence and to enable the alb
sentees, Messrs. Hardman and Kel
Ter, to vote upon the guilt or limo
cence of DR.. Stathers. After consid
cradle wrangling the board decided
to take an immediate ballot.
Mr. Miller was the only membel
who did not vote for a verdict o
not guilty.
By common consent, the supple
mentary charges go over until tn
next meeting of the board, wher
they may not be investigated.
The local Republicans who hav,
been associated in the prosecution
are indignant over the finding Of thu
board, characterizing it an outrage
r. AID. Hall and other prominen
leaders announce that they will cal