The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-05-01

Columbia. April 2s.--The commit
tee charged with the estigation of
the state Hospital for the Insane
spent most Of the morning in execu-
tive session. and then when the doors
were opened. at the request Of the
board Of regents, an adjournment was
taken until the 4th Of May.
One side Of the picture was present.
ed yesterday and today whatever of
charges there are against the man.
agement Of the Hospital for the In
sane. took shape. Formal complaint
was made. 1t Is to be remembered
that thus far the bill of complaint IL
simply In the nature OF charges. Who
brought these charges, and how
much. II any. truth there be in any
or all of the charges remains to be
seen. The board of regents think
that they can and will prove to the
satisfaction Of the committee and to
the people Of the State that they and
the officers Of the institution have at
all times done their full duty. and
that they have done the best they
could and that there is nothing in
the charges. at least not so far as
they know.
Whether the witnesses are former
patients who were at the hospital as
inebriates or as insane patients was
not developed. The statement was
made today that thus far three form
er patients have been summoned as
witnesses. but further than this It
was not developed. at least not for
publication. who the witnesses are.
nor who brought the charges on
which the subcommittee of the in
vestigating committee framed the
charges that were today served on
the board Of regents and superintend-
ent. DIR. J. w. BabcocK. = .-&>'-'..--s'
As far a. 10 authorized for pub
lication the most interesting phase OF
the executive session was how much
and what of the inquiry should be al
lowed to get into the newspapers.
The committee appears to be much
divided on this phase Of the situation,
but II has now committed itself to
public investigation, from which
the evidence may be published, and
to which the public is entitled to ac-
cess. and anything may be published
except the name Of the witness tes-
tifyins.
The committee appears to be anxi.
Gus that the oficial record on this
phase Of the inquiry be known. and
when the doors were opened official
announcement was made of what had
been done. and the record read, Civ.
ing the vote on the matter of pub
licity.
The charges are as follows:
State Of South Carolina. Richland
County--Legislative Investigation
Hospital for the Insane.
Specifications of charges against
the management Of the State Hospital
for the Insane growing out Of COM
plants, which have been made to the
committee Of investigation Of the
management.
1. That the board Of regents and
the superintendent act in violation Of
Section 2.249 of the Civil Code Of
South Carolina. which provides that
the Hospital be maintained solely for
the support and custody and treat
ment of insane persons and defining
when a person shall be considered in
sane or fit to be a patient in the Hos
pital, by receiving persons not en-
braced In the said section. such as in
ebriates. dotards. paupers and even
cases Of nervous disease.
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 whether
or not such persons are ft subjects
to be committed therein and whether
the law has been compiled with con-
cerning the reception of such patients.
8. That the board of regents are
In the habit Of violating Section 2.267
Of the Code of Laws by not discharg-
ing patients who shall have recover
ed, as expressly enjoined upon them
by the said section. and that the SUI
perintendent endorses said action.
4. That the board Of regents and
the superintendent constantly act In
violation of Section 2.267 of the Code
Of Laws by requiring an arbitrary
form and receipt 10 he signed by va