The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1914-02-26
DEFENDING HERSELF.
Fighting for Her Moral Character
Says DIR. Saunders.

EloduOId d. OduuuSlo, thO .o't'AS
woman physician, to-day told the leg
islative committee appointed to in
vestigate the affairs at the State
hospital for the insane that she con-
sidered two letters written by the
governor, asking that she retire from
the institution, to be a reflection up
on her moral and professional rep
utation.
Il am contending for my reputa-
ton. What l did was for the benefit
of the white women patients in the
asylum. l am not contending for the
retention of my present position. /
think that l have been slandered,'
said Dr.. Saunders in the course OF
her testimony which took up more
than two hours.
One by one she answered the vari-
Gus charges brought by the other as
sistant physicians and submitted af-
fidavits and documentary evidence to
prove her testimony. When she made
the various points of her defense the
large number of spectators in the
supreme court room cheered her.
DR.. Saunders denied that she med
died with the other departments, but
stated that if she trespassed it was
in the interest of the States unfor-
tunates.
DIR. Saunders Statement.
Columbia, S. c., Feb. 19.-"I had
no idea then that the governor had
written any letters. We talked of it
quite late. | thought of it all night.
We went down the next morning to
the ROOM l had read the COVER
nor's letters before I went into the
room and l thought they were most
unjust. We went down to the meet
ing, and of course the narrowing cir
cumstances you already know. OF
course | remember quite little OF
it. but certain remarks and the read
ing of these letters burned into my
whole being like FURNISHED steel.
Il felt that they were most unjust
and most untrue, and in fact | con-
sidered the remarks of Dr.. Griffith
and the letters of the governor as
slander. l tried vainly to show them
that day that what l had done was
for the hospitals good, and if they
had not objected previously. not Civ
ing me warning, that it was rather
unfair then not to give chance to
even have an honorable discharge y
Il told them that day that I was
not insisting on the retention Of the
position; that l simply wanted a
clearing on the insinuation, or even
any insinuation of wrong-doing NOR
ally, or professionally on my part
Thus Eleanora B. Saunders, NJ. D.,
the young woman physician at the
State Hospital for the Insane, to-day
spoke to the special legislative COM
mittee that is Investigating the
charges in connection with the asy-
lum. She was on the stand fol
nearly two hours and in that time
demonstrated that she was one of the
most important parts of the State s
institution for the care of unfortu-
mates.
When she was making her dram
attic recital of the fight that has been
waged against her by the men physi-
clans and the governor of South
Carolina in connection with the asy-
lum, tears came to her eyes for a
minute, but she quickly regained her
composure and proceeded to ably de-
fend her position at every point. She
won the admiration of every one OF
the large number of spectators and
when the hearing was concluded and
even before, when she would make
telling points in her defense, the
crowd cheered her. Time and again
DR.. Saunders reiterated the state
ment that she was not fighting for
her position, but for her moral char
acter.
DR.. Saunders cleared up every
charge that has been brought against
her and showed that she has never
interfered with any department ex-
cept for the good of the department
When DR.. Saunders completed
what was considered the most bril-
liant testimony ever given by wit
ness in this State, the chairman ask
ed if any of the accusers desired to
cross-examine her.
The accusers did not ask one ques-