The Topeka state journal., 1905-07-26
ASYLUM INQUIRY.
State Board of Control Looking
Into NeWlOn's Accounts.
Three Inmates Said to Be on the
Payroll WrOngfully.
ADMITS CROOKEDNESS.
Superintendent Says Some of
His Work Is Queer.
But That What He Did Was
Under Others Advice.
ADMITS CROOKEDNESS.

winfield, Kan, July 26.-Two or
three state employees may lose their
positions and the members of the old
board Of charities be involved in an
ugly scandal as the result OF an inves-
tigatfon Of the state asylum for i'm
beetles begun here late Tuesday by the
state board OF control. The charges
concern the financial transactions of c.
S. Newton, superintendent of the insti-
tuition, made under the regime of the
board of charities. The charges
against the superintendent have been
filed with the board by John Maxwell
clerk of the institution The board has
probed the affair as far as possible.
but the members are not ready TO an
nounce what they Will do when they
shall have completed their investiga-
ton
The charges are that Dr. Newton
carried three inmates of the institution
on the pay roll without giving them
the money he drew for them from the
state; that he sold to the institution a
horse and buggy and a bookcase in
violation of the law; that he drew
from the contingent fund of the insti-
tuition year ago the sum Of S147.6S
with which to pay his expenses on a
5unkeCng trip to eastern cities, and
that this was charged to Conveying
inmates to other institutions" DR..
Newton admits that he has done
things charged against him but saws
that he has acted under the advice of
the members of the former board of
charities.
Newton Makes Reply.
1T was my understanding. said DR..
Newton when the charges were read to
him, that all Of the superintendents
of institutions had their expenses paid
when they made trips east and that it
was necessary to draw the money.
ostensibIy for some other purpose. The
trip was taken and the expense paid
as It was on the advice of the mem
bers OF the board of charities"
The sale OF the horse and buggy and
bookcase to the institution by Superin-
tendent Newton must have been made
with the sanction of the board of
charities, as two members Vince7t
and Denman, indorsed the vouchers.
The horse and buggy were sold in the
name of M. F Sullivan" who is the
mother-in-laW of Newton.
Newlon's bookcase was sold to the
state by A \. Lanes. Newton saws
these names were used at the sugees-
ton Of the members of the board. who
decided 'it would not look weII' for
Newton to use his own name in the
transactlon- These sales are in viola
ton of section of article 4S2 of the
session laws Of 1903, which provides
no member of the board Of trustees
OF charities and corrections or officer
or eInpIOye or any state institution
shall be interested, directly or Indirect
", in any purchases or sale of anv
article or in any contract for suppIv-
ing any institution with anything what
soeVer''
How Charges Started.
The charges which have been fled
appear to be the result of a Quarrel
between uperintendent Newton and
John Maxwell. the clerk. The quarrel
arose over the discharge of Miss
Barney, another clerk in the iustifI1-
ton Newton charges that Miss
Barney and Clerk Maxwell Threatened
to do him" when the woman was dis
charged
Mrs. Newton, the matron of the in.
stitution, and Miss Barney had trouble
over piece of work in the institution
Miss Barney was ordered to clean IIr
the building. Mrs Newton saws she
refused. maxwell saws that the YOUNG