Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1909-01-22
Friday, January %. 1909.
c. s. HOME OF MARYLAND.

The SPECTATOR is in receipt OF
communication from Capt. u. w.
Rooth of Baltimore, referring to an ed
itorial which appeared in its issue OF
December 18th. Capt. Booth is Presi-
dent of the Society of the Army and
NAVY of the Confederate States IN
MARYLAND, and especially, we believe
in charge of, or largely interested IN
the conduct of the Old Soldiers Home
at Pikesville, Md. A report came TO
us "a our editorial of the 18th ult. dis
closed, telling us that two Con1eaera'e
soldiers had died there and were buried
under peculiar circumstances, that one
especially, Mr.. Lusby, had lain dead
so long that he could not be buried IN
the ordinary way, but that his legs had
to be broken to get the body INTO The
coffin. This editorial, we lind, mas
stirred the management, and caused an
investigation of conditions at the Sol
diers' Home, and especially OF Inc
Lusby case, and we have been sent
CODY of the report of the findings OF the
,nacial committee in charge of the in
yestigation, which committee hnos 'ne
facts as given us, untrue. The lnvestl-
ration was made in peculiar way. IL
the FACTS were what the commlttee
really wanted they had one SURE way
of getting at them-that was exhume
Lusby's body, which was only ourleo
fow weeks ago, The task would have
bean EASY and the results certain. They
did not do this, but took testimony, ana
az the case stands it rests solely upon
statements of interested witnesses,
leaving the public somewhat IN douo'
vet as to the REAL facts.
AS for the SPECTATOR it had no de-
sire to injure any one. The report came
from person in whose statements II
had faith, as the editorial stated,
gentleman apparently familiar WIFE
the Home, and we may add-we sup
roosevelt known to the management
The only object the SPECTATOR mac
was to ameliorate conditions as 10 III
living. The Confederate soldier is las
disappearing from public concern an
personal consideration, so II by any
thing we could do in a proper way, III
condition was improved and his III
made easier, we would be amply IT
paid. We said in our edltorlal :"
would not publish the statement aio
not come from a person in whom "
had perfect confidence. There is no a'
sire to put the managers in a false ilei
as to this occurrance
We did take sides with the OLD soidl'
s. when the flags were removed from u
Home to the Capitol. This we did nj
lay at the door of the managers Oh IL
Home, however, but at the door OF al
other element in Maryland which pc
meates it's politics and its State go
eminent.
We have no apology to make TO an
body for what we have done. we pu
4 lished the article in good faltn' al
made no comment inconsistent WI
the facts as given us. We are giao
- investigation has been made, we
glad if anything has occurred TO ma
managers, or employees, more conslo
ate or more watchful. We are GLAD
everybody has been absolved' i
SPECTATOR is not the especial guardl
of Confederate soldiers, but it shall c
ainly publish well authenticated
ports of occurrences tending to sh'
neglect on the part of paid employ
toward these people, as well as dis
gard by those who undertake thelr CT
in public institution, whether pi
or not. The management knows u
these statements were not ours. IL
knows, we think, whose they were,
least the gentleman making them q
us scarf blanc" to give his name,
whilst we have not given it, they KIN
who he is. We regret that the CO
mittee did not get the REAL evlden
when it was so easy to get, if it wan
facts, but satisfied itself with sts
ments of interested witnesses. Ii Il
are satisfied we are.
rACr CTINnAV