Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1903-06-27
COLORADO PAPERS STAR REPORTER
INVESTIGATES ASYLUM CHARGES
Puere and Absurd Aspersions Fall Flat Da Costa and the
Individual Scored
HIGHEST PRAISE FOR MANAGEMENT OF THE INSTITUTION

The Optic publishes the subjoined
article from the Denver News of Fri
day morning for what it may be worth
When Hon. Thos. M. Patterson, pub
Usher of the paper, received the con,
temptible anonymous letter from some
enemy to the welfare OF Las Vegas he
dispatched his best man, Albert G.
Birch, until recent years Sunday edi-
tor of the Munsey syndicate, to make
an independent inquiry. Mr.. Birch
came, spent three days in the city,
listened to evidence submitted at the
investigation, talked with those who
made the charges and those who op-
posed, secured pictures of the asylum
building, of DR.. Upton, Maragrito and
Benigno Romero and Of Mary Leon.
ard; investigated motives and meth
DDS. and wrote the article re published
today for his paper.
The Importance of the article, as
the view of brilliant writer for an
influential democratic paper, ready, if
opportunity should offer, to make cap
ital against the administration of Gov.
ernor Otero and in favor OF IT'S OWL
party, Is considerable, though, of
course, no man with any pretension
to intelligence and honesty could find
anything to say against oneof the most
excellently managed institutions in
the United States. The New Mexico
press, also, has been almost entirely
unanimous in supporting the manage
ment. Happily, one paper in Central
New Mexico, whose commendation al
ways places the object under suspi-
cf0n, has assaulted the management,
the members Of the board Of directors
and the eminent gentlemen appointed
by the governor on the investigating
committee. The gentlemen need no
more complete vindication. The News
article follows:
BY Albert G. Birch, News staff Core
spondent.
Special to the News.
LAS VEGAS, N. NJ, June 25.-The
feeling aroused among the citizens of
Las Vegas by the developments Of
the investigation into the alleged cru
elites at the New Mexico Insane asy.
lum here has reached perhaps the
highest point since the charges were
hrst brought against the management
Of the institution. something over a
month ago. Through four vigorous in
vestigations the asylum has retained
its reputation of being one OF the most
carefully conducted institutions of its
kind in the country. In the plan to
oust the asylum officials has been un.
earthed political intrigues and q race
war that threatens to have an impor.
tant bearing upon the future Of the
town.
Thoroughly indignant over the
whole affair, the residents Of Las We
gas have taken common stand, and
are seriously discussing the matter
Of running the instigators and promot-
ers Of the asylum scandal out of
town.
The climax will probably come to-
morrow afternoon, when the weekly
issue of the Advertiser, the official or
gan Of the sore-head politicians, is
due to make its appearance. There is
considerable speculation as to wheth.
er the paper will be published this
week In the face of such widespread
public indignation.
IL was through the medium of the
Advertiser that the charges against
the asylum management were given
birth. And among the clientele of the
Advertiser. which at that time was
somewhat numerous in the Mexican
side of the town, the allegations read
ny gained supporters. The charges
were just what good many people
there wanted to see made public. At
once the Advertiser became the Koran
Of the west side.
The West side has serious griev-
ances against the American portion
Of the town. Formerly the west side
had q postoffce Of its own. Now the
residents have to depend upon the