The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1909-05-05
ASYLUM Matter
Serious Charges Filed With The
Committee
BILL OF COMPLAINT

Contain Allegations of Various Forms
OF Mismanasement at the State
Hospital for the Insane-Nsmes of
the Complaints Withhcld-lnquiry
Adjourned Until May 4.
The committee charged with inves-
tigating the State Hospital for the
Insane adjourned Wednesday to meet
on May T. The committee was in
executive session most of the morn
ing and when the doors were opened
the committee announced its 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 tc 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:
/. That the board Of regents and
the superintendent act in violation
of section 2249 Of the civil code Of
South Carolina, which provides that
the hospital shall be maintained sole
ly for the support, custody and treat
ment for insane persons and de-
.ine when q person shall be consider
ed insane or At to be 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
tho superintendent are neglectful in
not properly looking into all cases
Of persons who are committed to the
asylum in order to ascertain wheth-
er or not such persons are fit sub
jects to be committed therein, and
whether the law has been complied
with concerning the reception Of such
patients.
8. That the board Of regents are
in the habit OF violating section 2261
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 of 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 code by re-
ceiving inebria;es 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 requir-
ing pay and by retaining such pa
tients therein when the accommoda-
tions for the regular inmates are IN
ADEQUATE. and against their will.
6. That the board of regents is
| Indifferent and reglectful 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 too
suhservient to the will OF the super
intendent and employees.
I. That patients, especially IN
i solitary confinement on remote and
| unclean wards, are subjected to sui
fering for want Of water and food
and are allowed to live in filth amid
Bugs and lice.
8. That whiskey intended for
medicine, eggs, lemons. chickens ana
other such delicacies intended to be
given to delicate patients are used
nv the keepers on the wards, and es-
Decially ward 5, and the patients
deprived Of the same
9. That generally, to which tnerS
are some exceptions, the keepers
amploved are inefficient and unfit for
the positions which they occupy ana
instead of treating the patients hu-
namely and kindly, continually treat
them in a spirit of teasing and brutal
| sport, to the great annoyance OF tne
said patients.
10. That many of the keepers en-
Moved are uncouth, young and INT
crate, and have not proper concep-
son of the humane treatment which
the unfortunate patients should re-
ceiye at their hands, and disregard
many of the rules Of the government
Of the attendants, and the authorizes
Of the hospital over said attendants
either known or by proper diligence
could know OF this conduct on the
e ~ 1yaonere and attendants.