Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1903-06-24
Six Members Of Investigating
Committee Sign Report in
VindicatiOn.
ONE WHO EXCEPTS
Hon. Il. ". Chavcs OF Albuquer-
que Differs with Majority on
Part Of Finding
BELIEVES MAESTAS WOMAN

The Optic understands that 81,
members OF the able special commit
tee appointed by Governor Otero L
investigate the asylum matter have
signed report not on.y vsndicatlns
the management Of all charges Of cru
city, but commencing them IN inc
highest terms for the excellence Of
the manner In wnicn they perform
their duties. The four medical mem
bers of the committee are agreed that
the methods applied by the manage
ment are entirely sensible and scien-
tific and just, and the sanitary condl'
ton of the institution, tue care of the
health of the patients. tae cleanliness
and the food are ali lha, could be de-
manded by the most captious. With
the few poorly paid attendants, the
crowded inadequate quarters and the
many drawbacks, the success Of the
management and the percentage Of
cures are considered remarkable.
While, in some cases, the committee
believes, the attendants have in viola.
ton of strict orders, mistreated pa.
tients, the management cannot In any
sense be held responsible. Those who
signed this report are Major Rufus
Palen OF Santa Fe, the Santa Fe oank
er; Hon. II. M. Dougherty. the dem
ocratic leader and brilliant lawyer O
Socorro; DR.. Geo. c. Bryan Of Alamo
gordo, president of the Territorial
Medical society; DR.. Frank Mcconnell
secretary Of the territorial board o.
health; DR.. w. G. Porterfeld OF Silver
City and DR.. Hernandez. the eye and
ear specialist Of this city. Hon +
|V. Chaves, the able democratic lawyer
Of Albuquerque, The Optic Is inform
ed, takes exception to some Of the
findings OF the committee.
Mr.. Chaves is. no doubt. inclined
to believe the statements Of the aban
dones Maestas woman, who charged
the head matron with gross cruelty tt
native patients. We know Mr.. Chaves
to be an honorable man. During his
stay here he expressed his detestatior
of the methods used by the asylum ac
cusers. II the gentleman believes, at
ter hearing all the testimony, weigh
ing the animus. and taking into &C
count the standing Of the witnesses
who told such remarkable and contra
dictory tales, and after listening (
the statements OF the witnesses called
by the management, II he stlll be
lieves those In charge Of the institu
tion are guilty OF cruel treatment o
patients, his views are to be giver
the consideration due to an hones
man, but his judgment is to be mar
veled at. II Mr.. Chaves should hun
lup the record Of the Maestas woman
In Las Vegas and Albuquerque hi
would probably think differently re
garding her testimony.
II 1t had been thought necessary
the city marshal Of Las Vegas coult
have been put on the stand to show
that he had, ordered her to leave thu
town or cease to live in a disreput
able houses esr1'he womans testimon,
was contradtAed byia dozen reputable
witnesses. I! she told the truth, Mr.
Chaves Is Justified In taking excep
tion to the Eart of the report vindi
eating Miss Twomey. But that the
woman lied carelessly there can bt
no doubt. There is enough evidence
of this to secure a conviction for per
jury. She is contradicted by the re
cords of the institution, by Mrs
Dorbandt, whom she exonerated, ant
by all the members Of the manage
ment, and by Catholic priest. Il
The Optic is clearly informed and Mr.
| Chayes believes what she said Ia true
his report to that effect can hardly
carry much weight.
The Optic was ready to assert thai
any one who should familiarixe him
self thoroughly with the proceeding
Of the investigation and still believe
the management Of the asylum a
fault, Was either . fool or . knave