Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1914-02-10
aAisesllaneous 8eaaing.
THE ASYLUM INVESTIGATION
Hearing Commenced by Committee
Last Saturday.

Last Saturday.
The legislative committee appointed
recently to investigate certain matters
relating to conditions in connection
with the administration Of the affairs
of the state hospital held its first ses-
sion in the supreme court room OF
the state capitol last Saturday, and
although the session lasted four hours
during which testimony was given by
Senator Tillman, Governor Blease and
DR.. Babcock, there was developed very
little that seemed to furnish founda-
ton for the impressions that have
been created throughout the state.
It will be remembered that the in
vestigation had it's inception in charges
that Senator Tillman made in a con-
fidential letter sent to member Of the
state senate. The letter set forth In
effect that Governor Blease and his
satellites were conspiring to besmirch
DR.. Babcock and his assistant DIR.
Saunders, with a view to securing
their removal, and that the governor
and his friends were also arranging to
manipulate the sale Of the asylum
property in their personal interest"
The letter fell into the hands OF Gov
ernor Blease, and sending it to the
senate in a message, he suggested an
investigation.
Senator Tillman was the first wit
ness; but it developed that he had no
facts. He said he had gotten his in
formation as to the alleged attempt to
oust DR.. Babcock from DR.. Babcock
himself, and as to the alleged manipu-
lation of the sale Of the state park or
asylum property, 1t was just an opin-
ion Of my own-a kind OF Sntuitive
suggestion or guess" He had no facts
whatever, and he knew nothing OF the
other matter except what he had got
ten from Dr. Babcock. He had infer
red. however, from Governor Blease's
appointment Of DR.. Houseal some time
ago, in place of DR.. Babcock, that Gov
ernor Blease has since been looking
for a man to take DR.. Baocock's place.
The senator explained what he had
meant in this confidential letter as
satellites and underlings by giving the
dictionary meaning Of those terms. He
stated that the "confidentiaP' letter
was to have gone to each member OF
the senate; but his clerk had misun-
derstood his order, and sent it to only
one member. He said he did not know
who the senator was who had betray-
ed the confidence; but he was willing
for that senator to get whatever honor
or glory that may attach to his con-
duct. He testified also that he had not
read Governor Blease's veto Of the Dill
relating to the sale Of the asylum
property.
Or. Babcoek.
II DIR. Babcocks testimony showed
that friction had obtained for some
time between himself and the board OF
regents who had elected his assistants
and a number Of physicians who were
continually plotting to secure his oV-
erthrow. He said DR.. Saunders was
the most efficient he had known in all
his long experience, and the only one
of his assistants upon whom he could
! rely. The regents wanted Doctor
Saunders discharged because they
charged she was interfering with the
other members Of the medical stan
and particularly because she permitted
Doctor Cooper who had been discharg-
, ed to keep instructing her, and which
was objected to by Doctor Blackburn
who had been elected to succeed Doc
tor Cooper, because he alleged inter-
, ference with his work. Insubordina-
: ton on the part of his subordinates
brought about because the regents
elected people openly antagonistic to
him and who ignored his authority and
demoraliZed the running OF the asylum
was stressed by Doctor Babcock. He
, also charged that efforts were being
made by the regents to oust him and
: that Doctor Tompson, his first assis-
tant, was scheming to get his place
and that another ring leader in the in
subordination was Doctor Griffin,
son of the man who was fired out o1
the superintendency of the asylum by
:, Governor Tillman and whom Doctor
Babcock succeeded. Doctor Babcoci
introduced letters to show Governor
Blease had ordered him to dismiss
Doctor Saunders which he declined tt
do, and he paid a high tribute to hel
worth and efficiency and made 1t clear
that he had stood by her and II she
, went he would go too.
This is from the stenographic tran.
! script:
y. w. Hardin-Doctor, after you re-
ceived the letter from the governor
D on the 10th Of November, l believe Il
is
I, DR.. Rabcock-The letter was dated
the 10th and l received IL on the 18TH
Mr. Hardin-Well, after you receiv
e ed the letter dated the 10th, did yol
, have a conversation with him abou
;, the contents of the letter.
DR.. Babcock-No, sir; he asked mt
j not to come. / tried to have.
Mr. Hardin-Have you had con
n versation since about the contents o
- the letter?
DR.. Rabcock-No, sir.
4 O. He says in there he heard som'
r conversation between some ladies re
n f1ecting upon the character OF DR.
Saunders. A.-Yes sir.
Q. Did you ask him who they were
n A. No, sir.
a O. Did you try to follow that up
T A. l did. / tried to find out what
could about.
| ". "ell, mere 10 dSSuooeioi
s against lady. Don't you think as su
n perintendent Of the hospital you ough
to have gone to the governor and ask
ed him to give you the names Of tn
witnesses so that you could ascertain
= whether ii is true or not? A.-Reat
s the last sentence.
! @. He does no reflect upon her a
all. / am asking you as the superin
e tendent of the hospital, having thi
e information before you, don't yo'
4 hink you ought to have followed 1t vi
:, and seen whether it was true or un
true? Al came down to try to se
: the governor but could not see him.
t Q. Have you asked him since tn
o date Of the letter? Al have no
=. asked him what he meant.
Q. Don't you believe that If yo'
Il had followed this up and investigate
this thoroughly that this investigation
G that we are having today would no
have taken place? A. l do not know
) how it would have prevented it.
e Q. Well. suppose you had seen tn
witnesses and found out that the &C
"usation was unfounded, that woul'
have been the end of it? A.-Yo'
t, think that was my business to find ou
q who the accusers are?
4. O. Well, you were the superintend