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.

Dr. Grimm tcpIeS 10 tno SnhrSeH oi LIN
Committe--He Alleges Bad Faith on
its Part.
COLUMBIA, April 29.-The reply OF
DR.. Griffin to the committee of inquiry
had been submitted to the board of re-
gents of the Lunatic Asylum and q
copy was sent to the News and Courier
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 doors
in the rooms of the board at the Asy-
lum. OF their proceedings 1 had nc
knowledge at that time, except from
the fact that most, if not all, of the Off
GERS and attendants, so'le Of the pa
tients and few former employees were
examined on oath. During the exami-
nation 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
v authorized to iHfer 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
answered: II cou.d not possibly ask for
anything more"
The Investigation was concluded
without notice to me and without op-
portunity to cross-eXamine witnesses
who bad 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 a 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
incapacity 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 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 tc
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 til!
Tuesday last, the 2lst instant.
This statement is submitted without
comment. I have fault to find, and
wish to express through the board tc
the committee of investigation and tc
the Governor all due Difference, but ]
have the inherent right to say that jus
tice has been denied me. I am con-
demued without the opportunity Of
plea and defence and without semb.
lance of trial, without knowledge o
charges and specifications preferred
against me, without place for confront
ing the accusing witnesses, and wit.
out right of testimony in my behalf
Under such singular ana untowarc
conditions I can have no adequate an
swer to submit to the board save thai
ola general denial, and nay demand fol
a fair and impartial investigation o
the charges according to the approved
forms of trial.
,0r. Griffin states that in the manage
ment of the institution he followed the
modern doctrine Of non-restraint, anC
be quotes DR.. Hanmond's treatise or
insanity, IN which are descrioed Inc
methods of Pinel and Connolly, giving
theory and practice Of non-restraint
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 othe! ,
and when used it should be with al
the safeguards against abuse which
sound policy and humanity dictate"
The next part Of the paper deals witt
the system of caring for the patients
the number of attendants, duties of th'
physicians, etc. Replying to specific
points DR.. Griffin says:
"The killing of DR.. Kershaw by an
other patient named Denaro was deplo