The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-09-21
IS IT ANOTHER
GR|SSOM AFFAIR?
Grave Charges Made Against
a Physician at the
Penitentiary.
A SHOCKING CRIME
IF IT Is TRUE
THE STORY OF THE TWO WO-
MEN AND CHIEF ATTEND
ANT WILLIAMS.
DR.. SMITH FORCED TO
RESIGN HIS POSITION

The Scandal Has Been the Subject Of Gossip
Among the Pententiary Employees For
Several Weeks But Not Until Yester-
day Was it Generally Known Out
side Of the Prison Walls.
..Dr. Kirby Smith has gone to New
York city ON pleasure trip"
This announcement appeared in all the
city papers Friday evening and Saturday
morning.
Simp.e and innocent enough these two
lines seem, but between them some folks
read another story, and this is why
their publication set their tongues a-wag-
ging aud rumors to flying thick and fast.
Ugly things they were that Madam Ru-
NOR had to say and things that the News
and Observer at once set about lnVesu-
eating.
AS 10 well known the last Legislature
estab lished in the State penitentiary
department for the criminal insane, and
provided for the transferenee thereto OF
all criminal and dangerous insane per-
sons then confined in any of the asylums,
and all persons who may hereafter COM
nit crime while insane. DR.. Kirby, the
superintendent of the insane asylum at
Raleigh, charged with the care and
treatment of these patients, but the law
allows him no voice in the selection of
the physician in charge, nor any control or
the department, but commits everything
except medical treatment to the peniten-
tiary authorities, the asylum board hav-
ing no voice even in the selection of en-
ployees.
DIR. X. III. Smith is a son of Mr.. John
r Smith, superintendent of the peniten-
tiary He was the person selected by his
father to care for the patients in the de-
partment for the criminal insane at the
penitentiary.
Now, among these patients are Miss
Aurelia hampton, from Asheville, and
Mrs. Mary Minish, from Iredell county,
both sent here from the Morganton asyl-
UNI. They occupy a ward in the eastern
end of the building on the second floor.
In the same hall is another woman-an
attendant, Mrs. Franklin. who was sent
to the penitentiary from Caldwell county
for poisoning her husband.
This insane department., though in the
main building, is cut off from the rest of
the penitentiary, and is in charge of the
attendant, Mr.. Benton Williams. He keeps
the keys and no one can enter the depart
ment without his knowledge. Nor at
night can anyone go into that part of the
building unless admitted by Mr.. J. A.
Lowry, the corporal of the guard. But
as for that matter neither DIR. Smith nor
anyone else is expected to go in unless
necessary to see the inmates profession
ally.
But more than month ago, so the re-
port goes. he went to Williams ard asked
for the keys. saying that he wished to
give Miss Hampton some medicine for a
headache of which she was complaining.
Williams gave him the keys and he went
in and remained several minutes, alone
and without light in the bedrooms of
all three Of the women. The next day the
same thing was done. and again on the
Monday following. Both Williams and
Lowry suspected something was wrong,
but said nothing. because DR.. Smith was
the son of the superintendent of the in
stitution. For this reason they always
gave him the keys without question until
finally Williams reported the matter to
DIR. Kirby. Once Lowry started to fol-
low Smith, who turned to him and said,
Don't YOU come. it might excite Miss
Hampton: want to put her to Sleep
or course, employees talked-insiae the
penitent:ary walls and among themselves
about these strange doings, hut outside
not word was said until DIR. Smith went
away: then it all began to leak out, and
yesterday News and Observer repro
sentative called at the penitentiary and
asked for an investigation.
The request was granted by Can't.
Smith. the superintendent. who sa d that
he was vprv much pained that such re-
ports should have gained currency. that
he thought his son bad simply been inn
prudent. Fe had arrived Mt This c0nclu-
sion, he said. after nvesti1a ting the mat
ter. and he believed TIE newspapers
would come to n similar conclusion. The
attendant in chnroe Mr. Wil'iams, was
sent for. Mr.. Williams has for many
years been an attendant Mt the insane
asylum here and when the department
for the insane was created Mt the npni-
tentiary he YVES sent thnre ny DR. Kirby.
As Dr. Smith. from day to dav. grew
hoider in going TO the wnmen's ward
alone "nd Gossip grow pronortionntely.
Mr.. Williams rememhnrino Tho Gr:ssom
affair. hecame 'arrrnd He know the
end must come Some tirrn and IN investi-
CATION no the result. So finally he had
the warden TELEPHONE for Dr. Kirby and
he LAID the facts hoforo him. As result
DR.. Smiths resignation wos demonde
by his father. mon Or Eirby's advice
The investigation. which was y verr
informal affair. was held in the women,s
ward for the erinr;nnI insane Reside
Cant. Smith. Mr.. Williams and the rem.
resentntive of tho News and Observer
the three wnmen-Niss Hamnton. Mrs
Minish md Mrs. FrankIn-were pres.
ent Trhp two lost pnp,ed ore insano
Mrs. Minish being wholly without intel.
ligence Mrs. Franklin is only con-'~.
atfendnnt Roth Mrs. Franklin pn8
Miss Famnton ore rather good Ianking
Mrs, Ninieh's hi"nl fonn is li@tee los
than repulsive. None Of the women are
old.
Capt. Smith asked Mr., Williams To