Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1909-05-06
MATER
Serious Charges Filed With The
committss 8
BILL Of COMPLAINT

- 49,
Contain Allegations of Various Fornas
of Mismanagement az the State
Hospital for the Insane---Nanses Of
the Complaints Withheld--Inquiry
Adjourned Until May 4.
The committee charged with fnves-
tigating the State Hospital for the
Insane adjourned Wednesday to meet
on May 4. The committee was In
executive session most of the morn
ing and when the doors were opened
the committee announced it's decis-
ion relative to the publicity OF the
inquiry.
The committee seemed to have
been much divided as to how much
should be given out relative to the
testimony. 1t was finally determined
that the evidence should be public,
but that the newspapers should not
be permitted to give the names of
any Of the witnesses. although the
connection of the witness with the
institution might be given.
During the morning the formal
charges that have been made against
the hospital management were Of
fered and copies of these charges
were handed all the members of
the board of regents and the super
intendent. The formal charges were
as follows:
Specification of Charges.
Specification of charges against
the management OF the State
Hospital for the Insane growing out
Of complaints which have been made
to the committee of investigation by
those interested in asking for the
investigation of the management:
1. That the board of regents and
the superintendent act in violation
of section 2249 of the civil code OF
South Carolina, whicn provides that
the hospital shall be maintained sole
ly for the support. custody and treat
ment for insane PERSONS" and de-
fine when person shall be consider
ed insane or fit to be a patient in
the hospital by receiving persons not
embraced In the said section, such
as inebriates. dotrads, paupers and
even cases of nervous diseases.
2. That the board of regents and
the superintendent are neglectful in
not properly looking into all cases
of persons who are committed to the
asylum in order to ascertain wheth-
jects to be committed therein, and
whether the law has been complied
with concerning the reception of such
patients.
3. That the board of regents are
in the habit of violating section 2267
OF code of laws by not discharging
patients who shall have recovered
as expressly enjoined upon them by
the said section and that the super
intendent endorsed said action.
4. That the board of regents and
the superintendent constantly act in
violation of section 2267 or the code
of laws by requiring an arbitrary
form and receipt to be signed by
various persons for the custody of
patients in consideration of what the
| superintendent terms release
against the advice and consent of the
| superintendent. instead of an uncon-
ditional discharge contemplated by
said section.
5. That the said superintendent
and board of regents constantly vio-
late section 226S of the codc by re-
ceiving inebriates addicted to the
| drug habit, who are not dangerous
or violent, and by not requiring the
pay therein provided for and by re-
| ceiving such patients as voluntarily
apply for admission without fequir-
ing pay and by retaining such pa
tients therein when the accomnloda-
| tions for the regular inmates are In
adequate. and against their will.
6. That the board of regents is
indifferent and neglectful as to the
care of patients-confined In the. hos.
pital, and do not inspect the said
institution as often and in the man.
ner that they should and are toe
subseryient to the will OF the super
intendeDt and employees.
z. That patients, especially II
solitary confinement on remote ant
unclean wards, are subjected to suf
fering for want Of water and fooi
and are allowed to live in filth ami.
bugs and lice.
8. Phat whiskey intended fo
medicine. eggs, lemons. chickens ant
other such delicacies intended to b,
given to delicate patients are uset
by the keepers on the wards. and es
peciany ward 5, and the patIent
deprived OF the>same.
8. That generally. to which ther'
are some exceptions. the keeper
employed are inefficient and unit 70
the positions which they occupy ant
instead of treating the patients M
namely and kindly. continually frea
!, them in spirit of teasing and bruta
sport, to the great annoyancs of tn
said patients.
| 10 That MANY ~ the kaonere ~,