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.

/ CO""lIlec-t1o tailSSCH A>aA ~&-SiA va
| its Part.
COLUMBIA, April 29.-The reply O
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 Courle
bureau this evening.
DR.. Griffin begins by stating the con
ditions under which the testimony
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 I had nc
knowledge at that time, except from
the fact that most, if not all, Of the offi
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 OF
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 I
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-examire 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 cersure developed dur
ing the investigation. Instead of this
on a purely ex-parte inquisition [ am
arraigned by the committee in their re-
port to the Governor upon most serious
charges of negligence, misfeasance and
incapacity in the conduct of my Office
aneclng me personally as wen as pro-
fessionally and offic' lily. These charges
bear the date OF 49, 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 I 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
information 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 l
have the inherent right to say that JUS
tice has been denied me. ] am con-
demned 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
ing the accusing witnesses, and with
out right of testimony in my behalf.
Under such singular and untoward
conditions can have no adequate an
swer to submit to the board save that
of a general denial, and my demand for
a fair and impartial investigation OF
the charges according to the approved
forms Of trial.
nr. Griffin states that in the manage
ment of the institution be followed the
modern doctrine Of non-restraint, and
be quotes DR.. Hammond's treatise on
insanity, in which are described the
methods of Pinel and Connolly, giving
theory and practice OF non=restralnl'
and also the practice in the more i'm
portant institutions in this country
and Europe. The principle on which
DR.. Griffin lays stress is this, from Dr..
Hammond;
"Restraint Is never necessary to Sc
cure the lives or the comfort of others,
and when used it should be with all
the safeguards against abuse which
sound policy and humanity dictate"
The next part of the paper deals with
the system of caring for the patients,
the number of attendants, duties of the
physicians, etc. Replying to specific
points DR.. Griffin says:
"The killing Of DR.. Kershaw by an
other patient named Denaro was deplo=
rable. Denaro was permitted by an
attendant, contrary to orders, to wan
der from his ward to another, and