The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1914-02-10
.BLEASE THREATENS
SUPT. BABCOCK
Governor Hurls Deadly Warning
to Asylum Superintendent.
SEN. TILLMAN TESTIFIES.
Got information For His Charges
From DIR. Babcock Him.
self.

From DIR. Babcock Him.
self.
Columbia, Feb. 7.-An angry out
burst by Gov. Cole l.. Blease, con-
tanning threats of personal violence
directed at witness, and testimony
by the governor to the effect that he
expected to clear the South Carolina
penitentiary Of some 400 prisoners by
next August, were the features of an
inquiry into the condition at the
state hospital for the insane, which
today was instituted before a spceial
legislative committee here.
DR.. j. w. Babcock, superintendent
of the hospital under investigation,
aroused the ire OF Governor Blease
when he testified that he had learned
on good authority that certain
charges affecting the conduct of the
hospital had been overheard by Gov
ernor Blease in a conversation at the
home of the governors sister.
Advancing to the front of the room.
Governor Bleasc exclaimed:
That's false! If you try to drag
my sisters name into this | will nut
you under the clods!"
INQUIRY Is SHIFTED.
Members of the Investigation com.
mlttee Immediately shifted the in
curry to other matters and the Incl
dent was closed.
United States Senator B. r. Till
man also was a witness TODAY. He
TOLD the committee that his assertion
that an effort would be made to dis
credit and dismiss nr. Babcock wera
based upon statements Of the ASYLUM
superintendent himself Senator
lliiman admitted that he had guess
ed the hospital property might be
sold for private gain.
DR.. Babcock, one of the central
iigures in the inquiry, followed Sen
ator Tillman in the witness stand
he stated that the board of regents
at the hospital had in a way inter
fered with his work and the harmon
ious operation of the asylum bv pro-
mitigating rule by which thev could
elect his subordinates. In speaking
or Or. 70. B. Saunders. a woman
thyslclan, whose resignation was AT
one time asked for by the regents
Dr. Babcock declared he regarded
hor as the best officer of the institu-
tlon and last year personally urged
Governor Blease to reappoint her
DR.. Bahcock then related in detail
the incidents which led up to the de-
mand or Governor Blease i'm Noyem-
ner, 1913, that DR. Saunders be re-
moved. 1t was n recital of conflict
ing inf, ences and alleged indis-
Greet acts of certain physicians at the
hospital
TO FREE ALL CONVICTS.
The governor, while on the witness
stand stated that he hoped to have
ell "onNicts freed from the state pen-
itentiary here by August 1, 1914 and
he urged that the prison be convert
ed into tuberculosis hospital for
negroes.
He stated fatty that he would veto
any appropriation for the futher de-
velopment of the SANDY bottom
lands" at State Park. where 1t is
proposed to establish the new hospital
for the insane. He regarded the eff
fort to enact legislation authorizing
the sale of the hospital property in
Columbia as a steal"
Il came into the office OF governor
three years ago determined to oust
Babcock," he said, because he was
a traitor to James II. Tillman dur
ing his trial at Lexingt for the
murder OF Gonzales ten years ago.
DR.. p. B. Saunders is unnecessari-
~ hlCSIiSIlHB "lIn the WOrK or the
other officials of the asylum, and is
today the bone OF contention between
DR.. Babcock, the board OF regents
and the governor. and should be re-
moved" he asserted.
BIDS WOMEN LEAVE ROOM.
He told the women to leave the
room at the opening of his address,
because he was going to "use some
= plain language" They left.
He reviewed in detail the turbu-
lent stitution surrounding the hospi-
tai officials for the past several years
and made many caustic comments.
Considerable politics was injected in
to his remarks.
The investigation today was order
ed by the legislature as a result OF a
special message from the governor.
who enclosed a letter from United
States Senator Tillman containing
charges OF improper official inter
ference with the hospital administra-
tion.
Tillman is Not Bitter i'm Charges.