The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-09-21

wards alone.
Though his suspicious had previously
been aroused, Mr.. Williams said it was
not until Sunday night, August 22nd,
that he became convinced in his own
mind that something was wrong. On
that night, about 8 o'clock, Miss Hamp-
ton complained of having headache.
Williams sent for DR.. Smith and asked
him if he did not think she ought to
have some medicine to relieve it.
80, / don't know" replied DR.. Smith,
shes an Opium-eater and doesn't know
what's the matter with her, but I'll go
up aud see her, if you'll let me have
your keys"
Mr.. Williams suggested that perhaps
he had better go with him. To this DR..
Smith objected, saying that he would
take the corporal lowry with him.
Gas my suspicious had already been
aroused and DIR. Smith had told me
would be held responsible in case any,
| thing happened, l watched him. He
did not take the corporal with him. He
went. alone and stayed quite awhile
probably three-quarters of an hour. Then
| he came back and got his wife and Dr..
Mott and took them with him to the
! colored female ward. They did not stay
| there dong and. -when DR.. Smith returned
the keys he remarked that he did not
take the corporal with him, but took
his wife and DR.. Mott"
Mrs. Franklin said she did not think
Dr. Smith remained in the ward three
quarters of an. hour, though he was in
her room, sitting on the side of her bed
quite while. Then he went into Miss
III Mrs
Franklin thought, only about five min
utes. The door was shut and there was
no light in the room, though there was
an electric light in the hall. Leaving
Miss Hampton's room he went into the
room of Miss Minish to take her tenn
perature, he said. He also shut her
door when he went in and there was
no light in the room. Mrs. Franklin
thinks he stayed there not less than five
| minutes. She heard no talking or any
other noise during the time. She
knocked a chair around and made other
| noises to attract his attention and fin
ally she started to open Mrs. Minish's
door when DIR. Smith came out.
Mrs. Franklin also said that DIR.
Smith took hold of her, as if to put his
arm around her, and put his hand on
her in an improper way. She told him
he had better be careful or the guard at
the door would suspect him. He replied
| that there was no guard there. She said
she had herself suspicioned that all
was not right and that Mr. Williams
had cautioned her to be on her guard
to prevent any scandal.
Mr.. Williams said he had never gone
into one of the rooms or elsewhere
with the women unaccompanied by Mrs.
Franklin or some one else.
The next day, Monday, DR.. Smith
again got the keys, saying he wanted to
go to the negro department. But he
did not do so, Mr.. Williams says. He
went to the white department and re-
NAMED there fifteen minutes or more,
talking to Miss Hampton.
What did DR.. Smith say to your"
| asked Miss Hampton.
'He tried to get me to go to my
room with him. He said he wanted to
see my bed and examine the springs.
He asked me if | had ever had any re-
lations with Mr. Williams. | replied
that / had not. DIR. Smith said: L
know you never did and never wilr"
On Monday night, August Both, Mr..
Williams was going to the insane asy-
lum to a dance. Before leaving, how
ever, DR.. Smith asked him for his keys.
He gave them to him. What occurred
is related by Miss Hampton and Mrs.
Franklin.
Mrs. Franklin says Miss Hampton
seemed to be expecting some one that
night and on being asked she con-
fessed that it was DR.. Smith
When Miss Hampton heard him
coming she Miss Hampton went
to her room. DIR. Smith came in with
cut seeing Mrs. Franklin and went to
Miss Hampton's room, closed the door
but remained only a few minutes While
| he was in there Mrs. Franklin locked
| Mrs. Minish's door. While she was do
| ing this DR.. Smith came out of Miss
| Hampton's room and stood and talked
| awhile.
Later in the night Miss Hampton says
| DR.. Smith, according to promise, came
| back; that he pulled off his shoes and
| tipped in to keep from waking the 9th
ers, and that he told her there was no
guard at the door. When he left, she
| says he told her to ask for more medi-
| cine Wednesday so that he could get
an excuse to come up to the room.
| The next day these things were re-
| ported to Mr.. Williams by Mrs. Frank
| lin, and he had DR., Kirby telephoned for.
| The matter was investigated and Capt.
| Smith was asked to remove DR..
| Smith.
In explaining his action DR.. Kirby
said that DIR. Smith had acted very in
| discreetly, to say the least. 1t is not
customary in any well regulated asylum
for any physician, or even the superin-
tendent, to go into the roms of female
patients without being accompanied by
| some one. The passions and utter un-
trustworthiness of many insane persons
make this absolutely necessary to pre-
vent scandals.
1t seems, also, if reports are to be be-
lieved, that DIR. Smith has of late been
drinking too heavily to properly attend
to his duties
AS to the women who make these
charges, Mrs. Franklin is a very intel
ligent looking woman, and seems to be
| perfectly truStWOrthy She was non