The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-02-14
Says He Will See That Prac-
tice of Beating Sick Inmates
by Drunken Companions Is
Eliminated.
REPORT is THOROUGH ONE
AND is CLEAR AND CONCLUSIVE
THROUGHOUT-NO ATTEMPT is
MADE BY COMMITTEE TO SUG-
GEST ANY REMEDIES.

Finding that charges published in
the Item. relative to alleged misman-
agement of the county infirmary and
the mistreatment of the inmates, were
'incredulous, the committee, including
George Fl. Eggemeyer, Wilfred Jessup
and John l.. Rupe, appointed by the
1tichmond newspapers and the county
commissioners, made it's report today.
THE committee completely exonerates
Superintendent Townsend and his as
sistants, but does not touch upon the
charge of neDotism, which was made
by the Item, following the appointment
of the committee.
The committee was appointed for
the explicit purpose Of investigating
conditions at the county infirmary, as
a result of an article published in the
Item Monday, January 81. It's report,
therefore, covers only these points,
but it is probable that some recon-
mendations will be made by the COM
mittee. Just what changes will be
suggested are not known, but it is
probable, they will relate to the care
of the sick, advising that better nurs-
ing service be rendered and a choicer
supply Of food be given. Such recon-
mendations, if made, will be by per-
sonal letters to the county commits
Statement by Foulke.
Editorially, the Hon. William Dud-
ley Foulke will answer the report of
the committee. To the Palladium he
made the following statement:
Before l retire from the newspaper
business, if God spares my life and
faculties, there are two or three
plished in this community intend to
see to it that tubercular milk is no
longer given to the infants of the
city: that public situations and en-
ployments are no longer peddled out
among relatives of public officials, as
if they were personal spoils; that the
poor creatures, the helpless and the
sick at the county infirmary are no
longer liable to be beaten at midnight
by drunken companions, nor suffered
to live upon food which is not fit to
sustain or nourish them"
The committees report is as fol-
lows:
Report Of Committee.
To the People of Wayne County:
We, the committee selected to in
vestigate conditions at the county in
firmary in view of the charges pub
Eshed in the Evening Item, have con-
s.l, InI h@ Srr-
to the public the following as our re-
port thereof.
The investigation was conducted un-
der the general direction of the com
mittee. with the assistance of attor-
neys. Mr.. Henry L. Johnson represent
ing the Item newspaper and Robbins
and Robbins. the county commission.
CrS.
The committee heard all evidence
offered except as to the charge OF
nepotism in the appointment of Mr.
Townsend, brotherin-law of one
member of the board of commission
crs, as superintendent. and the ap
pointment of other relatives as EN-
ployes of the institution. We did not
feel that these matters were within
the proper scope OF our inquiries. and
they were therefore excluded
Three Days at infirmary.
Our investigations were conducted
practically entirely at the infirmary
where. during the three days of oul
work, We had opportunity for persona
inspection. communication with in
mates and inquiry from all connected
with the institution. and We awaited
ourselves freely of all these sources OF
information.
We do not find the conditions sucl
as one would naturally expect from
reading the Evening Items published
charges. We find no credible eyi
lence. either in evidence produced be
fore us. other statements or from oul
own inspection and examination. thai
the infirmary is not as cleanly KEEP,
as is reasonably possible: nor nav,
we found any substantial evidence OIL