The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1914-03-18
BABCOCk resigns
LEAVES The ASYLUM AS RESULT
OF RECENT FRICTION
Or. SAUNDERS QUITS TOO
Governor Blease Accepts Aesignation
of Superintendent and Physician
DR.. T. J. Strait Of Lancaster Is Ap-
pointed in Place of DR.. Babcock-
No New Assistant Yet.

No New Assistant Yet.
| Gov. Blease Friday accepted ths
resignation Of Dr.. James W. Babcocl
as superintendent Of the State Hos
pital for the Insane, and appointed II
his stead DR.. T. J. Strait Of Lancaster
This turn in the evens of the asylum
came as a climax to the two-days
session of the board of regents.
| DR.. Babcock became superintendent
Of the asylum by appointment OF Gov
Tillman August 13, 1891. DR.. Strait
| Is the senator from Lancaster county
and was a member Of the Legislative
committee that conducted the recent
investigation into the affairs at the
State hospital.
Gov. Blease was asked whether be
had any statement to make with re-
gard to the asylum situation. He
said he had none, but would be GLAD
to furnish copies of the official cor
respondence between himself and
those at the asylum, since the letters
are public record which any one is
| entitled to see. His secretary fur
nished the copies Of the official cor
respondence and the official notice to
the secretary of state indicating the
appointment of Dr.. Strait as the new
superintendent.
DR.. J. L. Thompson, the first as
sistant physician at the asylum, will
have temporary charge OF the institu-
ton until DR.. Strait qualities as su-
perintendent.
DIR. Babcock's Letter.
DR.. Babcock's letter to Gov. Blease
was as follows:
columbia, S. c., March u, 1914.
"The Hon. Cole L. Blease. Gov
ernor, Columbia, S. C.-Dear Sir:
desire to acknowledge receipt OF your
letter Of March 12 requesting me to
put IN writing what you have stated
to ne verbally in reference to your
resignation in order that I may take
it up with the board Of regents OF the
State Hospital for he Insane at 4
O'Clock this afternoon It is rather
difficult, as, of course, you must ap-
preciate, to be entirely accurate as to
what transpired in my several talks
with yo uas to my resignation. The
substance of it, however, is this: That
on account of the lack Of harmony at
the State Hospital for the Insane the
patients must necessarily suffer, and
rather than be party to such condi-
tions would prefer to resign.
"This morning expressed my will
ingness to the board Of regents to CO.
operate with them for the good OF the
institution, and it is now for them to
say whether We can unite our efforts
to this end. If there is not to be CO.
| operation, then I desire to resign
from the superintendency Of the Hos
pital for the Insane. Yours very re-
spectfully,
(siened) ~. W. Babcock."
Gov. Blease's reply follows:
columbia, s. c., March 13, 1914.
"Dr. J. w. Babcock, superintend
ent State Hospital for the Insane
Columbia, S. C.-Dear Sir: Your
resignation, rendered verbally on the
18th day Of September. 1918, also
through Senators T. J. Mauldin ane
TT. Strait, and your written resigna
ton, bearing date March II, 1914
have been received. After duly ane
carefully considering the same youl
| resignation as superintendent OF th'
| State Hospital for the Insane Is here
by accepted, to take effect this day
Very respectfully,
"Cole L. Blease, Governor.
Dir. Saunders Leaves Also.
DR.. Eleanora Saunders. woman
| physician at the State Hospital 10
! the Insane, resigned to the board o
regents this afternoon and he
RESIGNATION was accepted. She vii
| remain at the institution for fe7
days until her successor Is chosen
No action was taken as to the Stat
Park. It was announced that she an
DR.. Babcock will open private SAM
tarium in Columbia for the treatmen
of nervous diseases.
Gov. Blease has written DR.. Thoml
son a letter, and also one to Cap
, Runch. secretary Of the board OF re
gents. The letters follow:
columbia, S. c., March 13, 1914.
"Dr. ]. L. Thompson, First Assls'
: ant Physician, State Hospital Tor tn