The Union daily times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1918-current, 1922-12-29
Report of Condition Of
5. c. State Hospital
For the Insane

Columbia, Dec. 27.-Authorities OF
the South Carolina State hospital 70,
the insane at Columbia are commend.
ed for "good and efficient service" in
a report, made public today, Of an
investigation last November into con-
ditions at the institution as a result
Of charges preferred by Paul T. Gads-
den, a Charleston lawyer.
The investigation was made by Gov
ernor Harvey, Robert Norman, q
member of the state board of public
welfare, Senator H. H. Gross, of Dor
chester, chairman Of the senate
finance committee, DR.. J. A. Hayne,
state health officer, and Alfred s.
Gaillard, of Columbia. Present dur
ing the inquiry were DR.. C. F. Viii
Gams, superintendent Of the hospital
former United States Senator Christie
Benet, member of the board of re
gents, and Mr.. Gadsden.
Recommendation was made in the
report that the general assembly take
steps to relieve the congestion at the
hospital, and to provide for the care
of patients who are classed as feeble
minded instead Of insane, elsewhere.
Commencing the system Of the au-
thorities for investigating home con-
ditions Of inmates with view to pa.
rolling them, if it appears that their
people can care for them, the report
says, eve beg for liberal support on
the part of the general assembly to
continue it."
Mr.. Gadsden made three COM
plants, according to the report. They
were:
First: That many patients were
confined without proper commitments
Second: That patients were unlaw.
fully detained because they were IL.
legally committed; that proper rec
ords were not kekpt of paroles and
discharges, and that patients were moi
properly treated.
Third: That patients were denied
to an unreasonable extent the right
to receive and write letters.
The investigation showed, the re-
port stated, that while the law in some
instances had been technically vio
lated in the incarceration Of some pa
/, tients, Substantial justice had beer
/. done" in placing dangerous lunatics
as speedily as possible in a, place
where they would not be menace tt
the public. AS to the alleged treat
ment of patients, the report declared
SHWe found nothing to warrant an!
!, charge of cruelty or wrong-doing o.
neglect" and the physical condition
s,of the institution was pronounced >
could be maintained with the fund
available. The matter of letters, ac
. cording to the report, 10 being handle'
Fin q satisfactory manner by the au
: thorities.
Changes in the laws goyernine tn
!. admission of, ratients are advocate
ges3Ing that mo person Snon1d oe p
manently entered as an inmate un
after every effort is made ito demo
strate beyond possibility Of error tn
the party is rightfully held by me-
cal examination and the getti
-s,of all facts in the case" Rigid CO..
pliance with the statute requiri
probate judges to take the testimo
Of near relatives Of the prospect
patient Us urged in the report.
More segregation Of patients, q
the providing for them Of as mi
employment as possible are ame
the recommendation of the board
investigation. Additional money
needed to carry out these recomm
dations, the report points out.
No concrete suggestion is made
to the relief IF the congested cor
ton of the hospital by caring for
of the patients elsewhere, but rel
ence is made to the fact that the nc
for the feeble minded has long w
ing list. and the hospital for the
SAINT is the only other place where
state can care for this class OF
sons.
"The state should relieve the
atoms as soon as possible the be
- declared in its report.
1--WE desire it distinctly unders'
that nothing herein contained rem
on the integrity or capabilities OF
officials or regents in charge" the
port asserts.
Referring to w. Gould Morrow
Dominick Cherry, two hospital
mates who were called by Mr.. &
den to support his charges, the re
says:
ain the unanimous opinion OF
committee (as laymen) It was
that these patients were proper
iects for the hospital"
The report in full follows:
"At the State Hospital on Tue
November 81, 1922, an investig
conference was held in compl
with the request of Mr.. Paul !.
den, of Charleston, South Car