La Junta tribune., 1899-01-28
ASYLUM INVESTIGATION.
fssiimony Proves some Of the Chargss
Prevtously Made.


fssiimony Proves some Of the Charge
Previously Mads.
Denver, Jan. 2l-A dispatch from
Pueblo to the News last night said:
The developments OF to-day and to-
night In the insane asylum investiga-
tion are verifying to n large extent the
charges preferred by the state board
OF charities and corrections against DIR.
p. Il. Thombs. the defendant, and the
members Of the board of control OF the
institution.
From early morning until midnight
the sitting remained In session, ceas-
Ing its labors only long enough to al
low the members to refresh the inner
man. For lunch and dinner the In
vestigntors were the guests Of DR.. Hu-
bert Work at the asylum.
The testimony OF DIR. J. T. Eskridge.
president OF the board. who occupied
the stand during the greater part Of the
day, was sensational In many partic-
ulars.
Regarding the birth OF the illegitl-
mate child within the walls OF the fe-
| male ward and the secrecy upon the
subject which was maintained subse-
quently by Superintendent Thombs,
DR.. Eskridge testified substantially in
accordance with the accusations en-
bodied In the report OF the board Of
charities and corrections. and stated
before the conclusion of the examine
tlon that DIR. Thombs had been sys-
| tematically hoodwinked by his en-
ploycs to the detriment Of the asylum
and Its inmates.
Charles o. unfug. secretary of the
board OF commissioners, was on the
stand most OF the afternoon. He was
forced to admit that the system Of
bookkeeping under which the affairs
OF the asylum have been conducted Is
lax In the extreme.
The night session was Of long durn-
tion, and when at last an adjournment
| was taken the senators and represent
ntives sought their coucbcs with ap-
parent relief. 1t is probable that the
investigation will be concluded Sun
day evening. Thirteen local witnesses
were subpocnaed to-day by NJ. Il. Wan
court. assistant sergeant-at-arms of the
| House Of Representatives. and more
may be expected to arrive from Trim
| idad and other outside towns tomor-
row.
Mrs. Harriet G. Il. Wright and Sem
| ator James +. Maxwell We're not pres.
ent when the committee took Its place
| In the commodious reception room AZ
| the asylum. and settled down for n
long and dreary seige OF investigation
into the affairs and conduct of the in
stitufion. Senator A. r. Stewart of
Pueblo rs chairman of the committee,
took his place at the end OF the large
desk in the center of the room. At his
left sat Representative Frank NJ. Her
mond OF Pueblo. at his right Senator
". Il. FELTON, of Leadville; beyond him
Representative Everett Bell of Trini-
dad and at the extreme right Repre-
| sentative w. Il. Kennedy of .Leadville
rrior to the arrival Of the other men,
bers of the committee NJ. +. Viancourt,
the assistant sergeant-at-arms OF the
lower house. and the official stenOg-
rapher, the Pueblo senator and DIR. J.
T. Eskridge OF Denver. made an In
sIAction of the female ward OF the in
stitution, under the guidance Of Super
irtendent Work.
Everything was neat and clean In
the extreme. Only four vacant rooms
were found. and DIR. Work stated thOt
TREY would be occupied within three or
fpnr days. Conditions were found to
b excellent as regarded the female pa
tents and their surroundings. and the
senator appeared to be perfectly salts
fed with what was brought to notice.