The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-02-18

committee which is investigating con-
ditions at the State Hospital for the
insane heard the testimony OF DR.. H.
III. Griffin. third assistant physician at
the hearing adjourned until tomor-
row morning at 10 o'clock. DR.. Grif-
fms testimony threw little new light
on the situation, being largely q re-
statement OF facts which have been
brought out at previous sessions Of
the committee.
! Most of the evidence submitted by
DIR. Griffin was in pointing out specific
instances in which he felt that DR..
Saunders had trespassed upon the
rights Of his department and promot-
ed friction at the asylum. These
charges are the basis OF the whole
matter and were made in general
terms by DR.. Griffin to the board Of
regents. and may have influenced
that body to pass the resolution call
ing for the resignation of DR.. Saun-
ders.
DR.. Griffin was questioned at the
conclusion of his statements to the
committee by Gov. Blease, DR.. Saun-
ders. DR.. Babcock and DR.. Cooper.
Today's hearing was marked by a
short colloquy between Governor
Blease and Joseph Sparks, a well
known newspaper man who has been
reporting the meetings OF the commit
tee. The governor read extracts from
the record Of the committees ses-
sions, which, he said, sustained his
position in the entire matter, and stat
ed that unless this would be in the
printed report of the committee he
wished to send it in special mes
sage to the legislature, as he knew
the newspapers would not print It.
Mr.. Sparks arose and stated that IL
the committee would furnish him
with a copy OF the minutes in ques-
tion he would gladly publish the vital
parts Governor Blease said: Yes,
and the vital parts will all be
against Blease." to which Mr.. Sparks
replied: THE governor may point
out what he considers the vital parts"
| When get to be news censor for
the Columbia State" said the gov
ernor. II won't be on this earth; I will
be In hell"
You are damn right" replied Mr..
/ Sparks. Chairman Mauldin raped
for order before other remarks had
been exchanged.
DR.. Griffin testified that he was
elected member OF the medical staff
of the state Hospital for the Insane
in January, 1905 on the recommen-
dat!on Of DR.. Babcocll and DR.. B. W.
Taylor. He wished it understood that
his position in this affair had not been
brought about by the fact that Dr..
habcock succeeded his father as SUI
perintendent Of the hospital" We bad
always been on the friendliest terms
with each other prior to my election,
and for some years thereafter" ne
stated. and cherished no malice to-
ward him."
For about four years. testified DR..
Griffin. he and DR.. Saunders had not
been IN very good terms and he
thought their first unpleasantness
was caused by her misapprehenson Of
g statement he made to her. While
present at meeting of the Columbia
Medical Society. nc said, he noticed
that his name and that Of DR.. Saun-
dcrs were read among those whose
dues had not been paid. The next
day he said he told DR.. Saunders OF
the Tact that she was indebted to the
society. and. according TO his testi-
mony. was told ito mind his own bus
mess He stated that he had not in
tended anything disrcspectful To tho
lady.
P'AA'Aiit WHO al (Ht TtCOTU OF the
committee hearings is quoted as say
ing that DR. Saunders was supposed
To he married" today expressed his
regrets that lac should have used
those exact words. and thought he had
used slightly different wording. 81
did not intend To convey the impress
sion which those words gave" he
said; Il dlsclaim any intention of
casting any reflection on Dr. Saun-
dcrs' character. have never known
or heard anything dcrogatory to her
character"
Asked to give other specific in
stances when DR.. Saunders had trcat-
cd him with disCourtcsy. Dr. Griffin
said that ON one occasion he went into
the general Office of tho asylum and
requested a young lady stcnoCraph-
or TO take some diCtation. when Dr.
a tI,s