The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1914-02-24
Thursdays Session.


Columbia, Feb. 19-"I am contend
ing for the clearing of my name and
my reputation and not for the reten-
ton of my position" declared Dr..
Eleanora B. Saunders, woman physi-
clan at the State Hospital for the In
sane before the Asylum investigating
committee of the general assembly
this afternoon.
81 considered the letters of Cover
nor Blease and the remark of DR..
Griffin SANDER said DR.. Saunders,
in a statement simple in its narrative.
Every listener bent closer as DR..
Saunders told of the executive meet
ing of the regents on December II,
when she was condemnd on charges
Of interfering with other members of
the medical staff, and neither ner
father nor attorney was allowed to be
present. Not in a spirit of denuncia-
ton, but with womanly dignity, DR..
Saunders impressed her hearers with
the fact that the position is not what
she is trying to retain it is her good
name and her reputation which she
wants cleared Of charges which, she
says, are unfair, unjust and untrue.
In telling of the executive meeting
Of the regents On December II, when
size was suddenly confronted with COM
plants from other members of the
medical staff with no previous knoWl-
edge, and when alone with her ac-
cusers, she said this afternoon that
she tried Tainly 20 tell them her work
at the asylum mai been only for the
best Interests OF the institution and
IN an effort to build up the hospital
and advance the comfort and well be-
ing of the poor unfortunates there, and
of how DR.. Griffin insulted her and she
left the room in tears.
Considers Charges SIander.
DR.. Saunders said that if Governor
Blease intended to sIander her, it was
unfair that he should say it was best
for her that the matter be closed. "It
was unfair that the governor should
act both as my prosecutor and my
judge" she said. In that meeting, she
said, her professional integrity and
her personal conduct were assailed,
and the charges made by Governor
Blease and others were unjust unfair
and untrue, and she considered them
slander.
81 saw no reason why should ac-
cept the accusation she said, referr-
ing to the alleged unfairness of her
treatment before the executive session
of the regents and of her declination
to accept the suggestion to end the
matter, as it was best for the young
lady, as stated by Governor Blease
and the regents in their resolution re-
fusing the request of her father, Rep
resentative O. L. Saunders, to reopen
the investigation.
DR.. Saunders said she reused to al
low the matter to be hushed up and
the evil tongue of silent suspicion be
noised abroad and it's poisonous infu-
ence get at work. She wanted the
full light turned on and the whole
matter threshed out in the open, she
said. All she asked was for fair trial
and this was refused her by Governor
BIease and the board of regents, she
stated.
How without social life, continuous
ly on duty, and with no outside prac-
tice, she had Iabored for seven years
to upbuild and upIift the State Hos
pital for the Insane, and that what
work she did in other departments was
in the spirit of cooperation and with
no knowledge that there was objection
from the heads of those departments,
was told this afternoon by DR.. Saun-
ders, the woman physician, whose re-