The Big Sandy news., 1918-04-12
|ELLIOTT COUNTY SMALLPOX
MR.. WAUGH DEFENDS JUDGE
CISCO ON QUARANTINE


The following reply from Hon. Judge
NJ. Waugh TO the attack made on
Judge a. N. Cisco by the State Board
OF Health in regard TO quarantining
Elliott County. appeared In the East
kentucky Journal OF Grayson:
my Dear sirs:
zee by the papers that you have
issued an order quarantining Elliott
county and criticising Judge A. n.
Cisco because he held the regular term
OF the Elliott Circuit Court. claiming
that there is an epidemic OF small
pox In that county. | feel that there
is due you an explanation OF the sit
uation OF the facts as ! found them In
that county. and feeling that they
have been grossly misrepresented to
sou by member OF your health board
In that county. and ] feel that when
you understand the situation. there
will be an explanation due Judge Cisco
want TO say after a thorough in
yestigatlon OF the matter that there
is no epidemic Of small pox prevalent
In Elliott county. There is not enough
in any locality 10 amount TO an epidem-
ic. There are about four or five isolat-
ed cases IN the county. The nearest
one to the county seat - seven miles
away, and part OF those cases are well
and released. There is no locality in
the county that is or has been under
quarantine There is just three priv
te house under quarantine as was re-
liably informed: and there has not
been case Of small pox In the county
seat for forty years.
We understand that II was repres-
.ented TO you that there was wide
spread epidemic OF the disease, many
cases in the county seat. man brok-
en- out with II in jury room. and many
exposures, all OF which is absolutely
false and untrue.
The whole situation is this-there
are a few cases OF small pox scatter
ed about over Elliott county, and. as
understand tits at the present time in
perfect control Part OF your health
board was expecting indictments for
an offense that Is not necessary to
mention TO you, others were expect
ing the same, others had been indicted
and were not anxious for trial. and
getting their heads together. they con-
sldered 20 prorogue the Court for few
terms and thus escape the law. TVS
matter was put up TO Judge Cisco on
his arrival at Sandy Hook last Mon
day. and after comforting with the
sheriff and many other good citizens
Of she county and learning the reas-
ons that / have mentioned above. re-
fused and properly think, to adjourn
the Court. and ais a matter OF retalia-
1.. - ~
board, and the order followed.
Judge Cisco did more in one day
TO efectuaily prohibit any spread OF
the disease in that county than your
board OF health has done since there
has been a case there. We are only
trying 10 assist your boards and up
hold the law. and incidentally to make
them take notice OF their duties In
the matter and some times they resent
this and went a long ways In this
case 70 bring about this quarantine.
Judge Cisco and myself arrived at
Sandy Hook at 1880 on Monday and
there were at that time more than 400
men on the streets. and II there had
been any chance OF spread or exposure
to small pox. il would have been ac-
before we got there. There
was light docket and did not neces-
state the attendance Of any great
number OF persons on the Court. and
every precaution was taken to bring
no litigant or witness TO the Court that
had even a chance for the disease. We
both feel that you have been imposed
upon by these parties there-and In
short--were lied TO about the situa-
ton and II you win take the trouble
TO Investigate, you win find II as
have represented 1t to you in this let
ter and no other way.
Judge Cisco is an upright and hon
orable Judge, and feels keenly the
statement that he was violating the
law instead of upholding IT, | have
been representing the interests of the
State here in this distrIcs for more
than IA years and under several judges
and know OF no man that tries hard
er to do his duty under any and all
circumstances and we feel with the
proper investigation OF the matter by
your board. you ought TO and will
yindicate him in this instance IL any
thing wrong in connection with the
situation in Elliott county, and sin
cerely ask that you investigate this.
I do not, probably as you know. live
in Elliott county. I have no inter-
ests there to be affected by this quar-
antine but il is rank injustice to those
good people to be put under quarantine
In the present situation. and IL they do
anything like their duty, there will
be no necessity OF this quarantine Of
the county at all
hope you viii see this matter in its
true light and II not satisfied with
these statements. investigate and see
what the situation is and then you
will see who is right and who is
wrong.
Very truly yours.
j. NJ. WAUGH.