Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1903-05-27
T.
WEDNESDAY EVENING. MAY "
THE ASYLUM INVESTIGATION.

The public generally will be glad
to know that Governor Otcro has de
termined to spare no effort to secure
the fullest possible investigation Of
the scandalous charges made against
the management Of the insane asylum.
The charges are more than scandal
Gus. They are criminal, including
that of murder.
We believe the action Of the gov
crnor, who comes to inauguratc an Of
fetal investigation. is proper. DIR. I.
u. Hart Of Ration. u physician OF high
standing, Is here also. He Is the
only out-of-town member Of the board
No one should have any doubt of
the intention OF the directors linen
sof the highest business standing and
personal chafactcr) 10 30 10 the bot
Tom OF the matter. and no one should
question either the ability or The pur-
rose of the governor to get at the
facfs. The whole question Is 70 be
gone into In the most comprehensive
manner possible. There Is GRIMM
ality somewhere. II ii turns out as
seems likely. In the light o. all that
has been ascertained up TO the present
time, that the management OF the inst
tutIon Il not responsible for murder
and for the cruel treatment 10 patients
charged, then the criminality lies AT
the door of those who have made such
infamous charges. II the charges he
proven upon investigation to be wen
founded, steps viii be taken imlnedi-
ately TO punish the guilty.
The interests involved are moment
Qua. The investigation must be oil
such d nature as TO convince the peo-
pie beyond the shadow OF q doubt that
tho flnding has been Just and based
on the fullest evidence. The coming
Of the governor II appreciated, The
executive will, 10 doubt, find thai The
situation Ii serious enough to justify
nim III taking the step mat Will en-
ape him 10 make an official state
ment 10 the people that will remove
all doubt as 10 conditions. That ina
step is the appointment OF a commit
tee of honest and able gentlemen In
~ierestei In no way In the instltu
lion. beyond the reach of local infiu
ences and opinions, men living u
other towns of the territory, to con
duet the most searching and thorough
investigation.
The degree OF personal animus tina
has entered into the question, the de
spicable appeal to race prejudice, tn
bitterness involved In the local dis
cussion OF the case, viii prevent ever
the acceptance as final Of a verde
by the grand jury. II the grand jur.
vlndicaies the management. as in tn
general opinion Il will, there will b
nose TO say that that body OF swor
Ii'n WIZ lhiihth'tNs iht hpftih
and the board OF directors will be in
justly charged with interest In secul
ing a vindication. People living 1
Las Vegas will spread such reports
people living outside will believe then
The optic is extremely anxious to 81
cure such d verdict al viii leave no
a shallow Of a doubt In the minds {
any onc as u It's justice, and viii CIV
no notoriety seeker or outside me'
dler in Las Vegas affairs any foundi
ton apon which 10 build a fabricati0
having IN IL a menace 10 the most ~
cred public interests Of the t%erriior,
Therefore. we urge the governor,
he hnls the least trace 81 anythin
that could lend color to tho sens.
uonai reports that have boon eztel
sivoly circulated to the injury Of u
city anil territory, and the menace I
The reputation Of people who hay
lived and been respected in the con
munity for years, TO appoint such
committee Of Investigation as suI
gested.