The investigation of the charges made against Supt. C. S. McGowan of the La Crosse county insane asylum opened and is being conducted by aspecial committee appointed by the county board. The charges are made by Frank F. Smith, a former trustee, and Martin Lyden, formerly an employe at the asylum, but discharged for inccmpetency. The charges are of a serious nature and assert that McGown struck patients in the face with his fist, locked up patients for| 3G hours without food or water, fed patients on sour broad and rottenmeat, abused the heln and others