Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1907-02-22
Drinking, Fighting, Gambling


fighting. maintaining, a gambling
room, an other things which units him
for the position he now holds, was
charged against Superintendent James
Il. Rucker, of the state school for the
deaf and blind, by Delegate kuyken-
dali, at meeting, of the Judiciary
committee yesterday afternoon.
Some two weeks ago Delegate Kuy-
kendall, of Ro.nney, Hampshire
county introduced house joint resolu-
ton No. II, which provided that
com mittee be appointed to inspect the
state institutions. 1t was referred
to the committee on the Judiciary, of
which Joe Naylor, of Wheeling, Is
chairman IN this com mittee it has
since reposed, until Mr.. Kuyke ndal
appeared before the committee and re-
quested that he be heard upon the mat
ter and that some action be taken.
When he appeared before the COM
mittee he stated specifically that the
purpose of his resolution was to have
the school for the deaf and the blind at
Romney investigated, and submitted
the following specific charges againt
its principal Professor J. L. Ruck er,
made by citizens of Romney
That he was addicted to the use of
Intoxicating liquors, and has been seen
drunk as many as five different times
on the streets of Romuey; and tn at he
had been known to have been engaged
in several fights in the streets OF that
town; that he was gambler, and that
he had room in one building which
was used exclusively for gambling put
poses: and that he had been known to
have gambled On the Sabbath that in
toxicating liquors had been found in
room of one of the blind patients and
that in a row said patient had serious
ly cut and 10 aimed one Bumgardner,a IAN
attendant; that he had made a propo-
sition to certain farmers OF the county
to buy produce of them for the institu- |
ton in the last campaign, II they |
would vote and work for the Republi- |
can ticket; and further, that he had
offered to ''financen the campaign OF
r.Kuykendall to the amount of $500
if the latter would not run for the
house of delegates, but for prosecuting
attorney land that he, Mr.. Rucker, had
told him, Kuykendall, that he, had
too many friends here for the latter to
procure an investigation.
MIR. Rucker, who was present, ans
wered the charges by saying that he
took drink and always had, but that
no man could say that he was ever too
drunk to be "neapacitated" from the
from the discharge of his duties; that
he had been indicted for playing cards
on Sunday but that it was "demo-
cratic scheme end that he was play
ing out the hand of Il Methodist min
ister's son, whom he was trying to get
away from the game that he had been
obliged to have fight or two as the
democratic gang logged him.
| In other words, Mr.. Rucker made a
campaign speech. saying Hon. John
J. Cornwell ana his paper, the Review,
aud the democrats generally, were
bounding him, on account Of his re-
publican politics; that he was model
man and ran a model institution upon
humane, model and modern lines, and
was giving NEST of his wages to the
poor of Romney as he was making
more money than he had any use for,
and that despite his good acts the citi-
zens of Romney made straw man OF
him land here Mr.. Rucker had tears in
his voice 80 hurt were his feelings),
and took the straw man, set 1t upon
his front gate and burned it; burned
me in eifigy, Gentleman Of the COM
mittee," said Mr.. Rucker, me, the
best friend they have"
While Mr.. Rucker acknowledged
that he was not an angel he was much
aggrieved and he should be thus at
tackled for political reasons, only.
In answer TO ths 81 900 item IN his
report, which stated the money was
spent for the scare of colored child
rem, y and to the charge that there were
no colored patients at the institution,
he said there were five negro girls
which the board of the school permit
ted him to send TO school in Baltimore,
aud it cost 81 zoe per year to do this.
While MIR. Ruckner said he was
W lling to be investigated, ne denied
that he had said Governor Dawson
would see that he was not investigated
and did not want Mr.. kuykendall to
| be on the committee.
After Mr.. kdckner had completed
his political pea 10 the. partisan cem-
nittee, said committee went into ex-
ecutive session and was not going 10
report on the resolution when its at