The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1916-03-22
1.U. VAUGHN WILL Be
COMMIT TED ASYLUM
Death Sentence of Green
Vile Man Further Stayed
SOLICITOR APPLIES
FOR TRANSFER
No Objection is Anticipated on This
Point, as Physicians and Vaugm's
Attorneys Have Agreed That 1t
Would be Advisable to lncarccrnte
the Prisoner in the Hospital.


Thurston L. Vaughn, who is in the
state penitcntiary under sentence
of death for hcinous crimes which he
confessed to have committed while
he was superintendent OF the South
Carolina Odd Fellows Orphanagc
near Grccnvillc, is to be ncarccratcd
in the State Hospital for the insane
said the Grcenvillc Piedmont Saturday.
Solicitor Proctor a. Donham after
a careful consideration Of the Vaughn
case and after consultation with ply
sicians whom the state had retained
to examine into the condemned mans
mental condition. has decided to pur-
sue this course and will at an early
date, probably next week, apply TO the
circuit court for an order to transfer
Vaughn from the penitentiary to the
asylum.
Inasmuch as the physicians agreed
that a test can best be made in the
hospital, where Vaughn will be under
the constant attention Of Dr.. J. Hey
ward Gibbes and other eminent ply
scians, Solicitor Bonham Saturday
stated that he thought it advisable
that this examination be made.
Thus another important chapter will
be recorded in the famous case which
has been followed With the kecncst
interest throughout, from his first ar
rest, escape from the county jail, and
subsequent recapture, trial. conviction,
sentence to death, and appeal to the
supreme court Of the state and Of the
United States. Now that the highest
tribunal has sustained the state courts
in all particulars, it seems that an in
sanity decree is the only thing that can
save Vaughn from death.
ThurSton U. Vaughn confessed to-,
and was sentenced to be hanged for
having wronged several minor" girls
inmates Of the Odd Fellows Orphan
age, of which he was superintendent.
Since his first death sentence the old
form Of execution in this state was
changed to electrocution, and this fact
was the main ground Of his appeal to
the United States supreme court.
Solicitor Bonham Saturday stated he
realized that the Vaughn offense was a
most horrible one and, of course, he
should be punished to the very limit of
the law, but manisfestly the effect of
the execution, he explained, would be
entirely lost if the offender is not him
self capable Of realizing why the pun
ishment was imposed.
1T would be contrary to the laws o!
the land and humanity to execute a
mere bundle Of ncsh,'" said Mr.. Bon-
ham.
Solicitor has WorScd Diligently on
Case.
This decision was not reached by
the solicitor until he had made a
thorough Investigation Of the case
and after interviews with Vaughns at
torncys, physicians and Governor
Manning, ali OF whom agreed with
him that this was the wseSt course
to pursue.
Upon the governors advice tina; an
order from the circuit court will be
necessary for Vaughn's transfer. so
licitor Bonham stated his intention to
procure this order at an early date
and that he had no doubt but The coUrt
will consent. He anticipates no OBJ
lection from counsel for Vaughn as he
learned from interviews with them
that thcy agree il would be advisable