Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1922-12-14
THE COUNTY FARM.

On Tuesday afternoon OF last week,
at the request OF the County COURT,
the writer made visit to the County
Farm in company with the County
Judges, the County Health officer and
other citizens, for the purpose of in
vestigating the charges of mistreat-
ment Of the County wards contained
in an article published In the st. Louis
Star on November 29th.
We spent considerable time there
and every allegation in this article
worthy of consideration was carefully
looked into and found to be either
misleading, grossly inaccurate or
wholly untrue.
The inmates were questioned in
every conceivable way as to the treat
ment they were receiving and not q
single expression came from any of
them that would in any way reflect
upon Mr.. Keathley, the Superintend-
ent, or his good wife. The inmates
seemed as happy and contented as
could be in their unfortunate condi-
tion.
We found from Mrs. Keathley that
they have been and now are fed with
the same food that the Superintend-
ent and his family live upon, viz,
light bread, biscuits, corn bread, beef,
chicken, pork, fruit, vegetables, cof-
fee, molasses, cereals, milk and but
ter.
The cooking is done by Mrs. Keath-
ley in their home and the food divid-
cd between the Kesthley family and
the inmates Of the Poor House, ac-
cording to their respective require
ments. In our judgment nothing
could be more considerate or humane
than such an arrangement. The in
mates wore comfortable clothing and
the rooms and bedding appeared
clean and bore evidence OF proper at
tention. None OF the women would
say that they had any fears OF being
encroached upon or mistreated by the
male inmates, as alleged, and the
Kesthleys say emphatically that they
have never had an experience in the
10 years that they have lived there
that would warrant such a statement
or conclusion.
The charge that ell of the inmates
are locked up at night by the Super
intendent is untrue; soma Of them at
least lock their own doors, and others
occupied by woman were fastened by
the superintendent on account of the
the disposition of the occupants to
disturb those in adjoining rooms.
No matter how laudable the pur-
pose the object cannot be attained
through Misrepresentation.
AS the matter now stands an ire
parable injury has been done the
citizens OF Iron county by the st.
Louis Star, and the Keathley family
in particular.
We ell favor bettering the condition
OF the INDECENT poor of the state and
that part of the Stars program haf
our support. The logical way tc
bring this about would seem to be fol
the State to build . suitable institu'
ton for that purpose and receive the
poor people from the counties mol
financially able to maintain an insti'
tuition of that kind, charging, go mucf
per capita, but even with this innova'
tion doubt il the inmates would re-
ceive kinder treatment than those In
Iron county receive at the hands o.
Mr.. and Mrs. Keathley.
In the case Of Mr.. John Colyotte
mentioned In the Star as . man wht
10 slowly dying in the Iron County
Poor House without any attention
whatever, ! subjoin the following
statement, after consultation with DR.
Gay, local representative Of the Stat'
Board of Health: Mr.. Colyotte, nov
man As years old, was born ant
raised in the south end of Iron count.
where his father still lives. Whe'
grown he left Iron county and move'
down south, moving around fron
place to place. From childhood b
had skin trouble which commence
on his scalp and gradually sprea
over his entire body. While dow
south he became infected wit
syphilis; also had rheumatism, en-
all these conditions combined made
impossible for him to work or tax
care OF himself. He was placed In
hospital In New Orleans whore he re
msined for long time and Will
there received the best and latel
medical treatment for his disease
From there he went to Hot Spring
Ark, where he was in hospital for
number Of months; he then can
back to his fathers home in Ire
county. His father is an old mai
poor and not able to care for hir
alth n,reh Vuil1inU n dn M The fatht