Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1901-10-26
THE CHARGES PROVE FALSE
investigation Of the Home for In
curabIes Completed.
REPORT OF The COMMITTEE
Shows That the institution is Conducted in a
Highly Satisfactory Manner by
n EnnAhr.a

committee which visited the West
Virginia Asylum for Incura bles few
days ago, to investigate the affairs Of
that institution. agreed upon the
following report OF the results of
thier visit.
Lit was not the purpose of the
committee to make their Investigation
with view to the condemnation or
commentator of any one, but simply
TO ascert ain the facts as near as DOS
sible. that the people of the State
might profit by them. The commit
men who are alike interested in the
affairs of the asylum and it is their
hope that the institution may be
spared from being brought into disre-
pute but that it may serve noble
and humane purpose for which it was
intended.
The report in full is a follows:
Charges of a grave and damaging
character, having been made against
the present management of the home
of the incurables, bv it's former super
intendent, Mrs. Mary jackson Ruff
ner, in a recent public address which
was given wide circulation by the
press of the State and these state
ments having been supplemented by
an affidavit of former employee of
the institution, Mr.. John A. Jones,
of Huntington, one of the board of
directors of the home, residing at
Huntington, W. Va, invited the I'M
dersigned to visit the institution and
ascertain ii the charges were well
grounded.
Upon this invitation we went to
the nome for incurables on the 14th
day of October. The superintendent
was not oware of our coming and was
found at the power house now under
construction. Being informed that
we wished to inspect the ipstitu ton
he assented, and said while 1t was
under his charge he wished it under
stood that the place was open to
inspection at ali times and that he
courted the most searching inquiry.
INSPECTED ENTIRE PREMISES.
Every door in the institution was
promptly and cheerfullv opened to
us, and we inspected the entire pre-
misses. making careful observation
ofithe condition of the patients,
their surroundings, the character of
the food then in preparation for
them. and of the apparent relations
existing between them aud the super
intendent and his subordinates. Every
room, hall and closet in the two build
ings was looked into from ba sement
to the attic. We found the food
abundant and of healthful and muir
ltiouscharacter and served with pains
taking cleanliness. The entire pre-
misses were clean and well kept and
the attitude of the unfortunate to-
ward those in authority was unmis-
takablv one of respect and affection
this being noticeably the case with
regard to Dr. Guthrie. This COM
mittee is of the opinion that the pre-
sont management, as compared TO the
former, or other institutions while
it may differ in some details, is at
least as good if not better.
CHARGES UNTRUE.
We took uD the charges III detail
and found them untrue
Since the scope of the asvlum was
enlarged by the legislature, it became
necessary that a man of experIen CO
who would devote his entire time to
the place, should be given charge and
the statute requires that the superln.
tendent shall be graduate of a re-
putable medical school
The people of West Virginia are of
right deeply interested in the welfare
of the asylum and we take this occa
sion to say to them that Its manage
ment is excellent and that the APP
pointment of DIR. Guthrie has so far
been amply justified by the manner
In which he has conducted it's affairs.
We believe Mrs. Ruffner to have been
mislnformed and imposed upon. and
take pleasure in assuring the public
that the asylum remains a model
place of refuge for the class of unfor-
Inmates who are entitled to Its shell
ter.
Respectfully,
Dan A. Mossman,
President Chamber of Commerce.
Thos. A. Wyatt,
OF Huntington Advertiser.
Floyd s. Chapman,
Of Huntington Advertiser.
g. l.. Thompson,
H. @. Gordon, Mayor.
G.. A. Northcott.
B. b Evans
Pastor of First Nj. E. Church,