The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1891-05-07
ASYLUM INVESTIGATION.
DIR. Griffin Replies to the Charges of the
Committee-He Alleges Bad Faith on
its Part.

COLUMBIA, April 29.-The reply c
DR.. Griffin to the committee Of inquir.
had been submitted to the board of re
gents of the Lunatic Asylum and
copy was sent to the News and Courie
bureau this evening.
DR.. Griffin begins by stating the con
| ditions under which the testimon,
concerning him was taken, as follows
The committee sat with closed door
in the rooms Of the board at the Asy
lum. Of their proceedings l had NJ
knowledge at that time, except from
the fact that most, if not all, Of the Off
GERS and attendants, some Of the pa
tients and few former employees were
examined on oath. During the exami
nation I was called before the commit
tee. No statement Of any matter o
complaint was made to me, and my
explanations were directed to matters
as to which the committee chose t. in.
terrogate me. From these questions ]
was authorized to infer that charges
were contemplated against my admin
istration, and I then protested that
if any charges are to be made l
would like to have specifications. To
this the Governor replied IN these
words, quoted from the stenographer's
report:
"The committee would say here that
as soon as the testimony has been taken
you can cross-eXamiue witnesses on
any points you desire. We do not care
to have any feeling displayed in the
investigation. We are simply to in
quire into the condition of the institu-
ton, and we shall give you or anyone
else an opportunity to show that wit
nesses have or have not been telling the
truth"
To this most satisfactory assurance I
answered.: II could not possibly ask for
anything more"
The Investigation was concluded
without notice to me and without op-
portunity to cross-examine witnesses
who had or had not been telling the
truth.
The testimony during the examina-
ton was not submitted to me. Nor
was there any information given me of
any matter of censure developed dur
ing the investigation. Instead of this
on purely ex-parte inquisition I am
arraigned by the committee in their re-
port to the Governor upon most serious
charges of negligence, misfeasance and
iEcapacity in the conduct of my office
affecting me personally as we'll as pro-
fessionally and officially. These charges
bear the date of the day when the ex-
animation of witnesses was concluded.
The board do not need to be Informed
that a copy of the testimony taken
before the committee has not been
given to me, but that l have from the
board, through their courtesy, access to
some eighty pages of manuscript con-
tanning portions of the testimony of
some of these witnesses such as the
legislative committee chose to select,
while, as am Informed, the larg, por-
ton Of the testimony taken during the
investigation has not been furnished to
the board, including whatever evidence
may have been given by any Of the
witnesses tending to exculpate me from
these charges. This meagre amount of
was not available to me till
Tuesday last, the 2lst instant.
This statement is submitted without
comment. I have fault to find, and
wish to express through the board to
the committee of investigation and to
the Governor all due Difference, but I
have the inherent right to say that JUS
tice has been denied me. I am con-
1emned without the opportunity of
plea and defence and without semb-
lance of trial, without knowledge of
charges and specifications preferred
against me, without place for confront
ng the accusing witnesses, and with
out right of testimony in my behalf.
Under such singular and untoward
conditions can have no adequate an
;wer to submit to the board save that
If a general denial, and my demand for
/ fair and impartial investigation of
he charges according to the approved
orms of trial.
.nr. Griffin states that in the manage
nent of the institution he followed the |
modern doctrine of non-restraint, and
le quotes DR.. Hammond's treatise on
insanity, in which are described the
of Pinei and Connolly, giving
heory and practice of non-restraint,
md also the practice in the more i'm
,ortant institutions in this country
md Europe. The principle on which |
Or. Griffin lays stress is this, from DR..
Hammond:
Restraint is never necessary to Sc
;ure the lives or the comfort of others,
md when used it should be with all |
he safeguards against abuse which |
ound policy and humanity dictate"
The next part of the paper deals with
he system of caring for the patients,
he number of attendants, duties of the
etc. Replying to specific
'oirts DR.. Griffin says:
"The killing of DR.. kershaw by an
ther patient named Denaro was deplo-
able. Denaro was permitted by an
ttendant, contrary to orders, to wan
Ter from his ward to another, and
While the attendant Of the other ward
Cas in the nreSence and within tOuch