The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-10-21
DR., SMITH SCANDAL
Investigation by the Peniten-
tiary Board.
THE DECISION TO-DAY
OF A MOST DAMAG-
ING CHARACTER.
WITNESS STICKS TO THEIR STORY
They Relate the Same Facts as Were Told by
Them to the News and Observer
Man About Month Ago.

the morning in routine business
AT the afternoon session the DR.. Kirby
Smith scandal was taken up for public
Five witnesses were ex'
amined, as follows: Mr.. Williams, who
was the chief attendant upon the crimi.
nal insane in the penitentiary when the
charges were made against DIR. Smith;
Mrs. Franklin, a white convict, who is
the attendant in the white female ward;
Miss Hampton, an inmate of the ward;
DIR. Kirby, superintendent of the insane
asylum here.
All these witnesses were sworn before
testifying.
Mr. Williams told practically the
same story as that already printed in
this paper. He said he looked upon DIR.
Smith as a superior officer, and so gave
him the keys to the insane department
whenever he wanted them, until the
night of August 22nd, when Miss Hamp-
ton reported something wrong in DR..
Smiths conduct toward her and Mrs.
Franklin.
when Dr. Smith got the keys he al
ways insisted upon going alone. One
night / watched him; he told me he took
was alone. He went alone several times
and when Miss Hampton told me his
conduct was improper / Immediately re-
ported the fact to DR.. Kirby.
II suspected him before the reports
came to me, and that is why l watched
him. Mrs. Franklin mad told me DIR.
Smith was taking liberties with her,
and, she thought, with Miss Hampton"
inL lr
was under the influence of liquor on the
night of August %.
Mr.. Williams said he did not see Dr.
Smith go into the insane department
but the women in the wards told him
that he was there-and by himself. DR..
Smith, he said, also told him that he
went.
DIR. Mott was the next witness. He
said he knew nothing Of DR.. Smith and
the charges against him. Miss Hamp-
ton, he said, was a woman Of suspicious
character at the Morganton asylum
and was considered person of a very
passionate nature. DR.. Mott said he
had never heard OF any charges she ever
made against the attendants or physi-
clans at Morganton. If she had ever
been in a house of i'll fame he know
nothing of it; he never heard such a re-
port until the Kirby Smith scandal was
started He had never known her to
make improper advances to any man.
Her reputation for verac;ty was not con-
sidered good.
DIR. Kirby-"Didn't she try to burn up
the asylum
Dr. Mott-"It was thought that she
did it--or rather that she was the per-
80 xxrbn ha ilynlu RI
have done it,"
was sent here to the criminal depart
'mentg
DIR. Motif do not know"
Mrs. Franklin testified that Miss
Hampton told her often that she was
expecting DR.. Smith. Sometimes she
would tell me that he came and some
times she would say he didn't come.
Sometimes / would hear him and some
times / wouldn't
s'On the night of August 22nd he came
in, closed the hall doors carefully, tip
toed to my room, sat down on the edge
of my bed and put his hands on me as
he talked to me in an improper manner
Then he went into Miss Mlnish's room,
shut the door and remained quite awhile.
Hampton's room and closed the door,
went in and found him sitting ON the
edge of the bed The lights were out.
In the meantime l had locked Miss
Minish's door, He asked me to let him
go in again. unlocked the door and he
went in and sat down on the edge Of the
bed and put his hands on her, as if feel
ling her pulse.
| 'Iyhen he came out, put his hands on
me again, tried to push me back into
my room, talked very improperly and
refused to desist in spite of my protests.
told him there would be a scandal
caused by his conduct. He said nobody
would know it. / told him the guard in
the hall would see how he was acting
He said there was no guard there. FL
nally he went away.
"Again ON Monday night, August Both
| he came to our ward by himself, saying
that Mr.. Williams had gone to the in.
sane asylum and he was on duty. He
came into my room and then went into
Miss Hampton's room, but he did not
stay long. When he went away he asked
Miss Hampton if he should bring heI
some medicine later. She told him to dc
as he liked. Next morning Miss Hamp
| ton told me he did come back, in his
stocking feet, and went to her room.
''That day he also went up to the de
partment while / was away, with Miss
Minish. He came again after | got bach
and cautioned me not to talk 10 Mis-:
Hampton about his visits, and not to tel
her that he went to Miss Minish's room
He told me never to follow him-eithe
him or Mr. Willams-when they came
and went into room, but to make ;
mote of it.
Mr.. Hughes-"Did Miss Hampton eve
make any charges against anybod.
elseY
Mrs. Franklin-"She never did"
Superintendent Smith-"Didn't he tel
you to always watch anybody who wen
into the wardsY
Mrs. Franklin-"He did after peopl
began to talk, and he told me that peopl
were beginning to say ugly things, an,
I must be careful"
Mr.. Dockery-"How long did Dl
Smith remain In Miss Minish's roomY
Mrs. Tranklin-"Fiye or ten minutes.