The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1891-05-28
GRIFFIN AND TILLMAN.
A TART CORRESPONDENT BETWEEN
TWO OFFICIALS.

ent of tho State Lunatin Asylum TO
Account, and the Latter Defends Him
self with Some Acerbity.
COLUMBIA, S. G, May 1S.-The fol-
lowing correspondence between Gov
ernor Tillman and DR.. Griffin, which
concludes with request for the resig-
nation of Dr. Griffin. will be read with
great interest. The letter referred to
by Governor Tillman in his opening
note was published in the News and
Courier:
COLUMBIA, SC, May 5, 1891.
DR.. T. +. Griffin, Columbia, 5. c.
Dear Sir: In your letter to the regents,
a copy of which was handed me last
week, you complain of unfair treat
ment and an ex-parte examination of
witnesses by the committees.
| beg to remind you that when the
investigation begun no charges had been
preferred against anyone, and the COM
mittee, including myself, looked to
getting at the truth only-iindinC out
If anything was wrong with the lnstl-
tuition or its management. The devel'
OpmentS were of such nature as to
provoke more thorough inquiry along
certain lines, and you were promised
an opportunity to cIOSSQueStiOn wit
neSSeS or bring in testimony In reDuttal.
AS soon as the testimony was reduced
to writing 4 copy was furnished to the
regents for their ami your use, and you
had the opportunity you asked. But,
instead of doing tins, you entered on a
discussion of the old and new methods
Of treating tn insane.
The Constitution imposes on me the
responsibility for the litEeSS and Elf
cheney OF the officers and the employees
of the Asylum. must perform my
duty, however dsagreable it may he,
and yet | will give you the full oppor-
tunity to exonerate yourself If you can.
| write to ask whether you still wish to
crosscXamine the witnesses whose teS-
timony condemns you, or to attempt
to impeach their veracity.
Yours respectfully,
B. Il. Tillman, Governor.
OFFICE 5. &. LUNATIC ASYLUM,
May 5, 1891.
TO his EXcellency, Is. r.. Tillman,
Governor-Sir: In reply to your letter
Just received, | beg to state that shall
have the honor to communicate with
your EXccllency some time this after
noon or evening, either personally OF
by letter.
] have the honor to be very respect
fully your obcdent servant.
l.. l.. Griffin. superintendent.
On the same day DIR. Griffin wrote the
following:
OFTicE 5. c. LUNArIC ASYLUM, /
May 5, 1891. !
TO his Excellency. Il. r. Tillman
Governor--Sir: After more mature
consideration of the subject matter OF
your letter of this morning, l am con
strained to recall my hasty promise tc
reply this evening, and therefore beg
your EXcelency's indulgence for day
or two longer.
have the honor to be very respect
fully.
u. T.. Griffin, Superintendent.
OFFICE,S. G.. LUNATIC ASYLUM, !
O.. May 8, 1891.
10 His .Excellency, Is. r.. Tillman
GOVernOr--Sir: | have the honor tt
acknowledge the receipt of your letter
of tho 0th of May, instant, in which
referring to my answer and report t
the board of regents OF the Lunatl
Asylum, Of date 29th April last, and tt
the recent investigation made by tn
whether still wish to cross. EXAMINE
the witnesses (whOse testimony, as yo'
are pleased to assert condemns me) 0
to impeach their Veracity.'
In my report to the board ! ?SSerte,
that by the secret and eX parte inquisi
ton "justice had been denied me; tina
| had been condemned without Oppor
tunity of plea and Of defence, wlthou
semblance of trial. without knOwledg
of the charge and specifications pre-
ferred against me, without place tO
confronting the accusing witnesses an
without the right Of testimony IN m
behalf"
In your letter you concrde that Wa
promised an opportunity to eros
question the witnesses or bring in te
timony in rebuttal," but you precee
to say that "as soon as the ttStimOn
was reduced to writing Il copy was fu
nished to the regents for their an
your use, and You had the opportunit
YOU asked. But iustead of doing tn
you entered on Il discussion OF the ol
and new methods of treating the il
sane"
This promise. as | stated in my r
port, was made TO me by you, speakln
for the committee a3 well aS for you
self, while | was before the commttt
undergoing examination, and certalnl
if given in good faith, authorized me
expect that before the inQuisition w;
concluded | should have the occasiC
rendered to me 10y you and the COMMIT
tee of presenting my defence.
NOW your Excellency does not LEI
to be informed that SO soon rs the co!
mittee had concluded the cXamlnatlt
OF each witness as they choose to Sele
without notice to me, without G
slightest intimatiOn of their readine
to hear me- they with swift senten
on that same day proceeded to find al
publish their verdict by which | W
CONDEMNED" as you term it, upon me
serious imputations of negligence, IN
feasance and incapacity in the condu
of my office affecting my personal, {
fetal and professional reputation.
the face of this statement Of fact. whi,
is not denied, you say that as soon
the testimony was reduced TO writ
that copy was furnished to the
gents land that had the opportnni
askedp How? When? Where?
my report to the board stated tina
had "access to some eighty pages
manuscript containing portions of t
testimony of some Of those witness
such as the legislative committee che