Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-10-19
THE HUNTINGTON HOME
For Jncurables is Declared to he .
Model institution.
The Full Text of the Report Made
by the Examining Committee,
Composed of Ministers. business
Men and Newspaper Men.
Special to tine Register.

/ Special TO tine Register.
HUNTINGTON, w Va, October IS.
The committee appointed to inyesti-
| gate the charges OF Mrs. Mary jackson
! Ruffner against Dr. Guthrie, superin-
tendent OF the Home for incurables in
this city, has submitted the following
report.
Charges of a grave and damaging
character having been made against the
present management Of the Home Tor
the Incurables by its former superin-
tendent. Mrs. Mary Jackson Ruffner. in
recent public address which was
given wide circulation by the press of
the State. and these statements having
been supplemented by an affidavit of
former employee of the institution, Mr.
John A. Jones, one of the board OF d.
rectors of the home. residing at Hunt
ington, w. Va. invited the undersigned
to visit the institution and ascertain If
/ the charges were we'll grounded.
Upon this invitation we went to the
Home for Incurables on the 14th day
Of October The superintendent was
not aware of our coming, and was
found at the power house now under
construction. Being informed that we
wished to inspect the institution he as
scented. and said while it was under his
charge, he wished it understood that
the place was open TO inspection at all
times and that ne courted the most
searching inquiry.
Every door in the institution was
promptly and cheerfully opened to us,
and we inspected the entire premises,
making careful observation of the con-
IL LII. nd
ings. the character of the food then in
preparation Tor them, and of the ap-
parent relations existing between them
and the superintendent and his subor-
dnates. Every room, hall and closet
in the two buildings was looked into
from basement to attic. We found the
food abundant and of a healthful and
nutritious character. and served with
3 painstaking cleanliness. The entire
promises were clean and we'll kept and
the attitude OF the unfortunates toward
those in authority IVES unmistakably
one of respect and affection, this being
notieably the case with regard to DR..
Guthrie.
This committee is of the opinion that
the present management, as compared
to the former or other such inst tu
tions. while it may differ in some de-
tails. is at least as good if not better.
We took up the charges in de all and
found them untrue.
Since the scope of the asylum was en-
larged by the Legislature it became
necessary that man of experience who
would devote his entire time to the
place. should be given charge, and the
statute requires that the superintend-
ent shall be a graduate of reputable
medical school.
The people of West Virginia are of
right deeply interested in the welfare of
the asylum and we take this occasion
to say to them that its management Is
excellent and that the appointment of
Dr. Guthrie has SO far been amply JUS
titled by the manner in which he has
conducted its affairs. We believe Mrs.
Ruffner to have been misinformed and
imposed upon, and take pleasure in as
surfing the public that the asylum re-
mains model place of refuge for the
class of unfortunates who are entitled
TO its shelter Respectfully.
DAN A. MCSSMAN.
President Chamber of Commerce.
THOMAS A WYATT.
FLOYD S. CHAPMAN,
OIL huntington ADVERTISER.
c. l.. THOMPSON,
H. C. GORDON. Mayor.
G. A. NORTHCOTT,
B. B. EVANS.
Pastor of First NJ. E. Church.
+. +. CHAPMAN,
OF Huntington Herald.
J. w. VALENTINE,
f. s. SCANLON.
JOHN MCCARTHY,
Minister of First Cong Church.