Omaha daily bee., 1906-07-13
(From a stan correspondent

Findings of the Governor.
Following is the findings Of the governor,
together with a statement Of the case, is
sued by the governor:
The charges against DR.. ]. M. Alden,
superintendent of the insane asylum at
Norfolk Neb., were this day taken up by
me for final determination. I have care
fully considered all the evidence adduced
ings reported to me by the Board of Pub
lie Lands and Buildings, and l find and
First That as superintendent Of said
asylum for the insane DR.. ]. NJ. Alden has
shown himself to be incompetent to prop
erly manage and care for the inmates
Second. THAT as such superintendent,
DR.. j. NJ. Alden has failed and neglected
to keep and maintain harmony between
himself and his assistants such as was
necessary to successful and efficient man
trary has wantony allowed and caused
unnecessary contention and inharmony to
prevail to the detriment Of the proper con-
duct Of said institution.
Third. That as superintendent Of said
asylum he has grossly neglected HIS duty
ana has knowingly kept and retained at
tendants who were guilty of assaulting,
abusing and maltreating patients and in
mates mates OF said asylum and has further
of said asylum and the laws Of the state
of Nebraska forbidding violence to and
abuse of patients in said asylum.
asylum he has suffered and allowed the
records Of said institution to be improperly
Kept and has neglected and refused to
itemize and furnish receipts for money
drawn by him from the institution cash
IIn . In payment Of his personal expenses
while travelling on public business, though
the filing of such receipts is required by
the rules OF said asylum and the orders
OF the Board OF Public Lands and Build
Fifth. That as superintendent of said
asylum DR.. j. NJ Alden has negligently
h.a1., gNoWa
and has wantonly retained said incompetent
help and assistants after knowledge on his
part of their incompetency and cruelty and
abuse Of the patients and inmates of said
asylum.
i, Therefore. remove DR.. ]. NJ. Alden from
his official position as superintendent of the
asylum at Norfolk. Neb. and hereby de-
mand and require that DR.. ]. NJ. Alden
yield and turn over to his successor in
asylum and Immediately vacate said asylum
premises.
Findings. I'm Nicholson Case.
The charges against DR.. Frank s. Mich
olson, assistant superintendent of the an
sane asylum at Norfolk, Neb., were this
day taken up by me for final determine
tion. have carefully considered all the
evidence adduced before me- including the
evidence and findings reported to me by
the Board of Public Lands and Buildings,
and find and conclude as follows:
First-That as such assistant superin-
tendent, Dr. Frank S. Nicholson mas
wantonly failed and neglected to keep AMI
maintain harmony between himself anil
the superintendent, such as was necessary
to a successful and eficient management,
! Of said asylum, and on the contrary has
wantonly allowed and caused unnecessary
| contention and inharmony to prevail 20
/ the detriment of the proper conduct Of
| said institution.
second-That as assistant superintend-
| ent of said asylum, he has grossly neg
/ lected his duty and has failed to discover
/ and report attendants who were guilty
of assaulting, abusing and maltreating
nat NaW4N aWaA fWNW N~m
/ he has further failed and neglected to
| enforce the rules of said asylum and the
! laws of the state of Nebraska, forbidding
violence to and abuse of patients in said
/, therefore, hereby remove DR.. Frank
/ S. Nicholson from his official position as
/ assistant superintendent of the asylum
at Norfolk. Neb., and hereby demand and
| require that DR.. Frank S. Nicholson turn
! in his hands belonging to said asylum and
| Immediately vacate said asylum premises.
summary of the Case.
In disposing of the foregoing case deem
II proper to make the following observa-
! tions
AS a general proposition it may be stated
that no class OF unfortunates appeals more
powerfully TO our sympathies than do those
| wards of the state whom, by reason OF
mental affiiction. It has been found neces-
! sary to temporarily or permanently con-
fine within asylum walls. Every prompt
ing of humanity suggests that they should
have the best of professional attention
and that all the surrounding conditions
should be such as to induce, II possible. the
return OF reason, and IL not possible then
the patients should be guaranteed that
quiet and freedom from excitement best
calculated TO AFFORD them the maximum OF
comfort during their remaining days.
Organized society recognizes its duty in this
direction and the state has been generous
in providing buildings and equipment for
the care OF these unfortunates In accord
anoe with the most approved methods. II
follows that the ofhcers to whom Is con-
must be men fully equal to the response
bilities laid upon them or else failure
wholly or In part will be the result, and
accordingly. The wisest are none too wise
the kindest are none too kind. and the
most painstaking are none too careful to
have charge of such Institutions.
As chief executive ] feel keen personal
responsibility for the efficient conduct OF
all the state reformatories and hospitals
The officers in charge are my appointees
Their acts are indirectly chargeable to me
and !, in turn, am answerable TO the state
to speedily and effectually remedy any
I administrative delinquency which exists IN
any OF the institutions ana to employ sucf
means as may be necessary for that .pur
have been unable 10 fully agree with
Ian OF the findings OF the Board OF Publ,
Lands and Buildings upon these charges
The evidence taken by said board In ~
investigation. and other evidence before me
leads me TO conclusions somewhat differen
from those reached by the board.
DtsaErees with Findings Of Hoard
1 cannot agree with the board In its find
ings and conclusions that the discord tina
existed between DIT. Alden and DR.. Nichol
: son did not impair the efficiency OF tn
MANAGEMENT OF the institution and the car,
| OF the inmates after about April 10 1906
/ agree with the implied findings OF tn,
board that prior TO April 10, 1906 this fail
ure of Superintendent Alden TO maintail
harmony between himself and his first as
slstant and steward aid impair the eficenc,
OF his management OF the Institution ant
the care OF the patients, but cannot agre
with the board that such conditions cea Sc,
10 exist after April 10, 1906 On the con
/ trary. IL appears 10 me that the same con
tinued up to the very time OF the lnvestiga
/ ton by the board. Such conditions wer
wholly unnecessary and both Dr. Alden an,
| ar. Nicholson were grossly at fault bot
in allowing them TO arise and 10 continue
Among the duties OF the superintendent
as provided by section II, chapter XII q