Letter from John W. Robinson; February 7, 1876

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Letter from John W. Robinson; February 7, 1876

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People

Ames, Adelbert, 1835-1933 Burrows, D. M.Carter, J. L.Compton, W. M.Cross, Samuel P.Dawson, Unknown Forrester, Michael French, John W.French, Unknown Guptall, J. B.Johnson, G. R.Johnson, Unknown Keating, M.Kerr, George F.McGill, R. F.Murray, J.Noble, Mrs. Unknown Robinson, John W.Seaman, William Stricklin, W. T.Taylor, William B.Temple, Mrs. Unknown

Events

Criminal Procedure Criminal Procedure--Charges and specifications (Civil and Criminal)Political Office--Appointment to office Political Office--Removal from office Sex

Organizations

Mississippi--Legislature Mississippi--Legislature. House of Representatives Mississippi--Legislature. Senate Mississippi--State Hospital

Occupations

Legislators Medical Profession Medical Profession--Hospital Employees Medical Profession--Physicians

Places

Mississippi--Hinds County. Jackson

Vital Statistics

Death

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[note] Ames Feb 7. 1876 [/note]

Compton Investigating Committee
Monday 7^th day of February 1876.

Col. W. B. Taylor, being duly sworn deposes and says as fol-lows:—

In 1871 I was one of the Trustees of the State Lunatic Asylum and D^r J. L. Carter and myself were appointed in said year by ~~Gov~~ the Board of Trustees to investigate certain charges of immoral and lascin-cious conduct on the part of D^r W. M. Compton ^Medical Superintendent of the Asylum^ with certain ^female^ employe's of the Asylum in and about the Asylum. We made the investigation to the best of our ability. Several witnesses refused to make statements in writing—among them William Seaman, who now resides in Jackson—and J. Murray, M. Keating & Samuel P. Cross—whose wherea-bouts I do not know. The committee had no power to administer oaths or to enforce

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the attendance or ~~testi~~ giving of the testimony of witnesses.

Q. If you have a list of the witnesses ~~who were~~ who were summoned please furnish it.

Ans. I here produce a list of witnesses marked "A"—said ~~[?]~~ list containing mem-oranda [apponts] the names which indicate whether their statements were taken.

Q If you have the statements of these witnesses please furnish the same to the com-mittee.

Ans. I herewith hand the committee all the state-ments that were made—viz—the statements of Mrs. Noble, (to Mr. French member of House) and statement of Mrs. Noble to committee—^statements of^ G. R. Johnson, Geo. F Kerr (now deceased) J. B. Guptall, Also letter from W Samuel P. Cross, Johnson, Guptall & Dawson re-^side in Jackson^

Q. Have you a copy of the report made by the ~~committee~~ ^Trustees^; if so

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please furnish the same to the committee.

Ans. I have a copy of the statement and hand it to the committee. It is the original ^first Draught of report.^ (Copy of Statement is marked "B.")

Q. Have you a copy of the report made by the Committee to the Board of Trustees; if so, please furnish the same to the committee of the Senate.

Ans. I have the original reports of the ^Investigating^ Committee to the Board of Trustees—I hand them to the Committee herewith. (Two Reports, marked C & D)

Q. If you have any papers relating to the defense made by D^r Compton please furnish the same to the committee.

Ans. I have all the papers and testimony given in defense by D^r Compton and I here-with hand the same to the Committee.

(Statement of D^r Compton, marked ~~Exhibit~~ "E"; statement

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of R. F. M^cGill, Steward, marked "F"; Statement of W. T. Stricklin, marked "G"; Statement of Michael Forrester marked "H"; Statement of Mrs. Temple, marked "I"; Statement of sundry employe's, marked "J" Statement of Mrs. Compton marked "K," and statements of certain young ladies, marked "L").

The investigation continued some days. It was the unanimous opinion of the committee and the Board that the charges were sufficiently sustained to demand a removal of D^r W. M. Compton; but it was apparent to the Committee and the Board that no recommendation which they might make looking to his removal would ~~not~~ be acted on by the Gov-ernor, who had the sole power of removal—

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The papers which I have furnished to the committee were left in my hands by as President of the Board and have remained in my pos-session. I furnish them in-voluntarily on the demand of the Committee, being com-pelled to do so. The testi-mony was all read to the ~~committee~~ ^Pres^t, & Bd. of Trustees^ and ^all^ the papers and testimony remained in my hands on the suggestion of the Board

Sworn to and subscribed before me this 7^th day of February 1876

W^m B. Taylor

Jno W. French
Com

John W Robinson, ~~D^r~~ D. M. Burrows, being duly sworn depose and say they were members of the Board of Trustees of State Lunatic Asylum at the time of the investigation of the

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charge against D^r W. M. Compton and that after the report was made the Board of Trustees re-quested Col. W. B. Taylor, who was President of the Board, to keep in his possession of the statements and papers relating to the investigation,

John W Robinson

Sworn to and sub-scribed before me this 7^th day of February, 1876.

Jno. W. French
Con—

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Testimony of W. B. Taylor, John W. Robinson & D. M. Burrows.