The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-10-02

interests or the penltentlaIy demand
| change.
Persuaded that q change was nee.
I essary, we voted for DR.. Mann, whose
| credentials, appended to this state.
| ment. convince US that he Is eminent.
| ly suite dior the position.
I'VE resent the insinuation that the
Governor appointed US with the I'M
| derstand1ng that we appoint DR.
Mann as surgeon. Only two OF the
| members of the board who voted foi
Or. Mann were appointees OF Cover
nor Mann and the third and last ap-
pointee OF Governor Mann voted for
DR.. Darlington and then made the
vote unanimous for DR.. Mann. The
Governor has never. directly or indi-
| rectly. before or since our appoint
ment. attempted to influence us in
any way or to discuss the matter with
US. or any Of us. We would have
resented such action on his part and
would neither have accepted nor held
office on such conditions.
AS this incident has been used AZ
an excuse to impugn the motives and
acts of the board In its management,
of the penitentiary, we request an In
vestigation OF our acts and Of the acts
| and conduct of all the officers and
employees OF the board. We have
nothing to conceal and have to-day
asked for an open and exhaustive in
vestigation OF the penitentiary, with
the least possible delay
Ask for Probe.
All five members OF the board sign
ed the communication which was sent
to the Governor. This communica-
ton reads thus:
Dear Governor Mann:
We attach clipping from one OF
the daily papers of Richmond, which
was published In said paper on Mon
day, September. 18th, which stated
that the election of physician for the
State penitentiary was postponed un-
til Monday on account of one men,
Der of the board being advised that.
under certain conditions. an investi-
cation would be had in connection
with the penitentiary This statement
is absolutely untrue.
In justice ITO the board, we earn
estiy request that YOU transmit to the
Legislature our request for a spe-
cia1 committee to be appointed to
make thorough investigation OF the
management of the institution in
every way, shape and form.
We have given the best service in
our power to the institution. and have
striven on all occasions to act for the
best interests of the penitentiary and
OF the State. In our opinion, there
is absolutely nothing in connection
with the transaction of the business
Of the institution which Is not In
every way honorable and fair; but we
respectfully insist that full. open
and exhaustive investigation be had
with the least possible delay. Our
only regret 10 that, as far as we know,
there is no way OF securing such an
investigation prior to the meeting OF
the Assembly. II legislative inves-
tigation can possibly be held sooner
We would welcome 1t.
tSigned)
Yours very truly,
j. ID PATTON,
wv. B. BRADLEY,
p. IAnnI1D STRATUM.
SAMUEL COHEN.
Il. l.. SCHERER."
Holds Four Years.
DR.. Mann will enter upon his duties
at the penitentiary January i, 1872.
The position holds for four years
and pays $500 annually.
1t may be that 1t will devolve upon
DR.. Mann, who was one of the prin-
cipal witnesses in the Beattie muir
der case. to hold the timepiece. If
Henry Clay Beattie. Jr., goes to the
electric chair for wife murder. 1t is
true that Beattie is under sentence
to be electrocuted November "a. but
il is very likely that he will at least
be reprieved for a couple OF months
or so, Ii it is finally decided that he
must die for the crime Of which he
stands convicted.
The law requires that the prison
surgeon shall be present and ascer :
tain beyond the peradventure OF a
doubt that the condemned man Is put
to death.
Endorsed by Johnston.
In recommending DIR. Mann for the
position of prison surgeon, DIR. George
Ben Johnston, the eminent surgeon,
addressed the following communica-
ton to the board
Il learn that you are to select a
surgeon for your institution some
time in the near future, and that DR..
Herbert Mann Is a applicant for the
position. 1t gives me pleasure to
commend Dr. Mann to you. His ex-
perience. in my opinion. fits him es-
pecially for such duties as this po-
sition entails. He served as a hos,
pital steward in the United States
army during the Spanish war. and
after his graduation from tie Medi-
cal College OF Virginia served one
terne in the Old Dominion Hospital.
1t was in this capacity and as a stu
dent that l had anip:e opportunity
to know and observe him. He was
always faithful to his duties, and dis
charged them with unusual intelli-
gence and ability. Since he entered
private practice, he has earned an ex-
cellent position in his profession. and
Is much esteemed by MS fellow prac-
titioners.
In my opinion the doctor will
make you a fine officer, and I ear
nestly recommend him to you.
Yours very respectfully,
(Signed) GEO. BEN JOHNSTON"
Kosher Writes To Board.
DR.. Lewis c. Bosher wrote to the
board as follows:
DIR. Herbert Mann has been as
ISOLATED with me in the practice OF
medicine and surgery for the past
six Or seven years. and turing that
time | have had ample opportunity
of observing his ability and compet-
ency In medical and surgical work.
therefore take great pleasure in hear
lily endorsing him as being thorough
ly capable and competent to meet the
duties OF the position for which he
is a candidate.
Very respectfully.
Signed) LEWIS c. BOSHER."
More than a score of other men,
bers of the medical profession in
Richmond addressed communications
to the board. in which they all ex-
pressed the highest confidence in his
ability and competency AZ a surgeon
and physician.
Nearly 100 members of the medi-