The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1914-02-25
DIR. ELEANOR SANDERS
COMPOUNDS ACCUSERS
Makes Telling Recital Of Incidents
Leading up to Asylum Investigation.
Regents had no Questions to Ask

Leading up to Asylum Investigation.
Regents had no Questions to Ask
Her.
Columbia, Feb. 20.-"I had no idea
that Gov. Blease had written any let
ters. We talked of it quite late.
thought Of it all night. We went down
the next morning to the room had
read Gov. Bleases letters before
went into the room and thought they
were most unjust
"And we went down to the meeting
and, Of course, the narrowing circum-
stances you already know. or course
l remember quite little Of it. But
certain remarks and the reading of
those letters Of course burned into
my whole being like FURNISHED steel.
felt that they were most unjust and
most untrue. And, in fact I cons.d-
cred the remarks Or DR.. Griffin and
letters Of Gov Blease as slander
81 tried vainly to show them that
day that what had done was for
the hospitals good, and II they had
not objected previously, not given me
warning, that it was rather unfair
then not to give q chance to even
have an honorable discharge.
81 insisted to them that day that
l was not insisting on the retention of
hn {I,ok x,s,
clearing Of the charg or even any in
sinuation Of wrongdoing, morally or
professionally, on my part"
Thus Eleanora b. Saunders, NJ. D.,
the young woman physician at the
State Hospital for the Insane yester-
day spoke to the special legislative
committee that is investigating the
asylum. She was on the stand for
nearly two hours and in that time
demonstrated that she is one of the
most important parts Of the States
institution for the care of unfortu-
mates. When she was making her dra-
matic' recital of the fight that has
been waged against her by the men
physicians and the governor Of South
Carolina in connection with the asy-
lum, tears came to her eyes for a
minute, but she quickly rcga incd her
composure and proceeded ably to de-
fend her position at every point. She
won the admiration of the large num-
Der of spectators and when the hear
ing was concluded, and even before,
when she would make telling points
in her defense the crowd cheered her.
Few questions were asked by mem
bers Of the committee. DR.. Saun-
ders spoke rapidly and had docu-
ments in the supreme court room to
prove her various statements. One
by one she dissected the various
charges made by the assistant physi-
clans. These we're dissipated one by
one.
DR.. Saunders reviewed in detail her
work at the asylum, showing that the
best systems for the benefit Of the
patients have been installed in her de-
partment. She told the committee
very plainly that she loved her work,
that she lived for her work, that she
had no other interests in life than
the care Of the insane white women
OF South Carolina and that her great
ambition was to build up every de-
parbment of tho State Hospital for the
Insane. She said that II she had tres
passed on the rights Of other men,
bers fof the medical staff, 1t was done
unconsciously and that whatever was
done was for the benefit OF the in
mates. She showed no malice toward
any one and was not bitter in her
statements. She said that she was
merely making plea for the vindi-
cation Of her moral and professional
character.
No Cross. Examination.
When she had concluded her testi-
mony, Chairman Mauldin Of the com
mittee asked If any Of the members
OF the medical staff desired to cross
examine her. This question was re-
Deated and the proceedings were halt
ed for several minutes. Not one re-
sponse was received.
Would you like &c make q state
ment, DIR. Carothers?" was the ques-
tion addressed to the chairman OF the
board Of regents by the committee.
mo" came the reply.