The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1914-02-13
ASYLU1G INVESTIGATORS
RESUME HEARING
MANY WITNESSES BEFORE THE
COMMITTEE,
The Hearing OF the Investigating
Committee Taken Up Again on
Monday.
W. F. Caldwell in News and Courier.

W. F. Caldwell in News and Courier
Columbia, Feb. declarations OF
Capt J. w. Bunch, nephew by mar
riage of Senator Tillman and appoin
ted by the latter in 1891 to his present
position at the asylum, that friction
between DR.. J: w. Babcock and his
subordinate of the State Hospital for
the Insane existed before Governor
Blease came into Office, or the men
appointed by him on the board Of re-
gents took charge; that Fred. H. Dom
mick during his service on the board
was one of the best presidents of the
board of regents he had ever known;
denial by Mrs Bessie Saunders, for
merly Miss Bessie Allen, who served
as stenographer at the asylum, that
Mr.. Dominick ever made remark
derogatory to Dr. Babcock or that he
had said they were going to get rid OF
DR.. Babcock, and corroboratiCn Of the
testimony Of Governor B,ease, given
Saturday, by Col. E. II. Auil, featured
the second session Of the committee
probing into matters at tae State Hos
pital for the Insane.
The grilling DR.. Babcock gave Col.
AulI concerning some confidential con-
Eersations. they had directly after the
receipt by DR.. Babcock Of Governor
Bleases letter demanding the removal
of DR.. Saunders excited interest DR..
Babcock, paying high tribute to the
friendly efforts of Col. Aull to bring
about peace and harmony, said that on
the night he showed the governors
letter to Col AuI, they had some
confidential conversation concerning
the letters, what a certain party would
pay for them, and about some neWspa-
per. Col. Aull said ne recollected stat
ing if the asylum was to be made an
issue, he proposed for DR.. Babcock to
run for goveronr and he would sup
port him in his paper, the, Newberry
Herald and News
DR.. Babcock kept insisting there was
something about a certain party and
what he would pay to get hold Of the
letters, or something concerning some
big possible political effect, apparently
having to do with the fortunes Of some
candidate Col. Aull couldn't recolIect
anything else, but DR.. Babcock insist
ed there was another statement which
he said was vital. On his starting to
say something Chairman MauIdin told
him to ask what questions he would
and that he would be given another
opportunity to go on the stand and tell
what he wanted.
Governor Warns Again.
Again this afternoon Governor
Blease warned the witness not to drag
the names of any of the female mem
bers of his family into this matter, as
they had nothing to do with it. He
said whoever dragged in their names
he would hold personally responsible.
As far as concerned any confidential
conversations he had with either DR..
Babcock or Col. Aull, or anything he
had said or written about the asylum,
he relieved them of the ban of conf
dence, and told them to tell it ALL
Another feature of the session was
the testimony of Col Aull, that the
asylum commission favored the reten-
ton and development of State Park
and The removal of the asvlum there,
while Goveronr Dlelse favored the sale
or that property AID the retention. of
the present property in the city. This
was brought out under cross -examina-
ticn by the governor.
The sessions OF. the committee were
resumed al $50 o'clock and the. su-
pfehte court room was packed to the
doors with spectators. There were
several ladies in the audience. Cove
acr BIease Assistant Attorney Cen
eral Dominick, DR.. and Mrs. ]. W.
Rabcock, Dr. E. B. Saunders. the lady
whose retention Or dismissal appears
to have causeG the lone of contention
between Dr., Ratccch and the majority
of the board u 1egents, sat inside the
rail.
Capt. Bunch on Stand.
Capt. J. w Bunch was the first wit
ness, his direct examination being
conducted by Mr.. Stevenson, member
of the investigating committee. The
captain who is secretary of the board
of regents, Unidentified certain minutes