The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1914-02-20
NONE HAS NERVE TO
FACE HER IN COURT
This is Charge Made by DIR. Flea
nora b. Saunders.
THERE ARE STILL OTHERS.
Woman Physician of Insane Hos
pital Staff Says She Has
Been Slandered.

server, Feb. 19.-Dr. Eleanora B.
6aunders, woman physicion at the
State Hospital for the Insane, bitterly
arraigned Governor Blease, certain
members OF the Board of Regents of
the hospital and those physicions who
had "untustly and slanderously'-
as she said-preferred personal and
professional charges against her. At
the session today OF the legislative
committee investigating the asylum
she declared that Governor Blease
and DR.. II. H. Griffin, member of the
the hospital medical staff, had sland-
cred her in their statements and that
none OF them who had charged her
with wrong-doing and insinuated NOR
al misconduct had the nerve to make
the same statements in this re-
gard before the committee that had
been made at a meeting of the Board
or Regent when she was condemned
In star chamber proceedings"
Referring to certain letters from
Governor Blease to Or. ]. w. Bab-
COCK, the superintendent, in which
were incorporated statements she re-
garded as 'slanderous and breathing
insinuation of wrong" she stated:
The reading those letters burned
into my soul like FURNISHED steel"
among gathering of men,"
The letters were read at the execu-
tive meeting of the Board of Regents
when her father and representatives
were excluded.
She stated that all the work she
had done at the hospital had been
for the good Of the white women
there, who are helpless as babes.
that hers was a humanitarian work
and that those physicians had 80
belittled themselves as to place pro-
fessional ethics above human love"
For more than two hours she re-
mained on the stand, talking rapidly
all the while. She stood in the midst
OF a densely-packed court room and
dramatically denounced every person
who had opposed her in this inquiry.
All efforts OF the committee to
maintain quiet In room were fruit
less, the hearers repeatedly breaking
forth in loud cheers when she made
particularly dramatic statements. Ap-
parently making full use Of all her
oratortcal ability, she by her words
quieted her accusers, who at first
showed an inclination to interrupt
her. At the conclusion of her state
ment not single statement she made
was quetioned.
She declared that she had visited
Governor Blease in his Office the day
previous to the executive meeting OF
the board and that he at that time
made no reference to her of her un-
atisfacory work, as he seemed to
regard 1t. She then stated that next
day his most false and most unjust
letters were read in her presence and
she was by that board declared
guilty of all these charges and asked
to resign without even giving me the
opportunity Of securing an honorable
discharge. THAT is why" she stated.
that / was unable to sleep for sew
eral nights and was forced to pace
my room in an effort to orget the
awful wrong which had been done
me-"
This is the first instance of It's kind
In the history OF this State When
she arose to begin her statement a
deathly silence fell over the room.
She stood for few moments. and
then the tall, pale-faced woman
physician commenced a statement the
like OF which as probably never
been heard beore in South Carolina.
She termed herself a woman defend
ing her own character and reputation
and he told story OF having suf-
fered oppression, discourtesy and
SANDER" In her work for insane
humanity. Dramatic. better and at
times plying was the nature OF her
address. She is the last principal to
take the stand and the investigation
will be concluded tomorrow afternoon
with a hort session. II was officially
stated. The inquiry has continued
for over two weeks.
Following is the official steno-
graphic report OF the closing min
utes of the asylum probe session
yesterday, after Eleanora B. Saun-
ders, M. D., had completed her di-
rect testimony:
The Chairman: The committee
would like to have some indication
as to how many would like to ask
this witness questions.
(Pause)
We were hoping to close up this
examination this afternoon IL we
could do IL. Is there anyone that
desires to ask any questions?
OF course we want to give them
the opportunity If they so desire.
Otherwise / do not see the use of
prolonging the examination.
(Pause.)
II you will kindly indicate now,
so the committee will be informed
we want TO give you that opportunity.
Anybody Interested here who desires
to ask questions pertinent to the
issue?
(Pause.)
DIR. Carothers, have you any ques-
tons?