The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1914-02-17
INVESTIGATION PROCEEDS.
Regents and Physicians TeStify-Noth-
ing Develops Except There Seems
Lack of Harmony in STAFF.

Clumbia, Feb. 12-Dr. Eleaoor B.
Saunders, the lady physician on the
asylum staff, when Superintendent j.
". Babcock is backing up, and whom
the majority Of the board Of regents
hold responsible for the friction which
they state would have ended among
the medical staff had DR.. Babcock
dismissed her, was not allowed to have
a stenographer present during the ex-
ecutive meeting of the -regents-in in Dec
ember, when Governor Blease was
present with his private secretary,
Col. John K. Aull, who is a steno-
grapher, and Mrs. Bessie Saunders
was also present as a stenographer,
according to the cross-examination of
DIR. w. L. Settlemeyer, one of the re-
gents, this afternoon by Dr. Saunders.
This was the meeting at which COM
plants of certain members of the
medical staff against Dr.. Saunders
were taken by the regents, and her
father, Mr. O. L. Saunders, was not al
lowed to be present, it has been tes-
titled to, and resolutions condemining
her for interference were passed by
the regents.
DIR. Settlemeyer went on the board
of regents last April, succeeding Mr..
Fred H. Dominick, and he stated that
in selecting persons for the vacancies
filled by the>board July l he voted for
those he thought best fitted for the
positions, and that there was no pre-
vious understanding among any of the
regents as to who were to be elected.
Praises DR.. Saunders.
Corroborating the testimony of
Chairman Carouthers, DR.. settlemeyer
was of the opinion that the trouble at
the asylum came from the friction be-
tween members of the medical staff,
and the complaints by certain subor-
dinates that DR.. Saunders was infring-
ing on their duties and rights. He
spoke highly of the work and efficiency
of DR.. Saunders and stated he had in
spected her ward, that of the white
women, only twice and found every
thing in fine shape Personally, he
stated, he knew no charges against
DR.. Saunders and those made by the
other members of the medical staff
were only general.
Under questioning from Dr. Babcock,
DR.. Settlemeyer stated that he thought
it was the duty of the male doctors to
lend every assistance in their power
to the female doctors; that the profess
sion was very arduous, and that he
considered from a question Of ethics
that all of the male doctors at the
asylum should cooperate with DR..
Saunders in every way possible. He
praised botn her and the work she was
doing highly, said there was no charge
regarding her moral character, and
stated that ne and DR.. Babcock had
gotten on we'll together He did not
consider DR.. Babcock a subordinate,
but the equal of the regents in author
ity, and said he thought DR.. Babcock
ought to have come to the regents
with the whole matter and the trouble
might have been avoided.
Doesn't Know Why.
The witness, in reply to question
from DR.. Saunders, said thathe did not
know why Representative o. L. Saun-
ders had not remained when the re-
gents went into executive session to
hear the complaints against his daugh-
ter, and certainly, he said, he had no
objection to his remaining. He said
he did not know why Mr. A. M Deal,
the stenographer for DR.. Saunders,
was not allowed to remain at the
meeting and why, Col. John K Aull
and Mrs. Saunders stayed, except
thai Mrs. Saunders, he thought, had
been invited to come as the stenog-
rapher for the board. Just why the
lady physician under Investigation was
not allowed to have her stenographer
present, ne said. he could not explain,
and did not know He stated he did
not hear Governor Blease suggest to
Mr.. Deal that he leave after it was
stated the board was going into ex-
ecutiTe session.
Col. John K. Aull brought in the
minutes of the executive meeting Of
the board of regents on December II,
and reading from them Representative
A..