Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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BABCOCK RESIGNS 1 ' l.HAVKS ASYLUM AS RFSl'LT OF RECKNT FRICTION. f j DR. SAUNDERS QUITS TOO | Governor RI ease Accepts Aesignation of Superintendent and Physician? ! l>r, T. ). Strait of Lancaster is Appointed in Place of |>r, Rnhcock? ' < No New Assistant Yet. , (!ot. P.lease Friday accepted the \ resignation of Dr. James \V. Habcock j as superintendent of the State IIos- ( pital for the Insane, and appointed in his stead Dr. T. J. Strait of Lancaster, j This turn in tho evens of the asylum came as a climax to tho two-clays' session of the; board of regents. Dr. Babcock became superintendent of the usylum by appointment of (Jov. Tillman August 13, 181)1. Dr. Strait is the senator from Lancaster county ( and was a member of the legislative committee that conducted the recent investigation into the affairs at tho i State hospital. ( (Jo v. Dlease was asked whether he ( had any statement to make with re- , gard to the asylum situation. He ^ said he had none, but would be glad to furnish copies of the othcial cor- . re.spondcnco between himself and ^ tliose at the asylum, since tho letters < arc a public record whicli any one is entitled to see. His secretary fur- ? nished the copies of tho otlicial cor- . respondence and the official notice to , tho secretary of state indicating the j appointment of Dr. Strait as the now > superintendent. Dr. J. L. Thompson, the first as- ( sistant physician at tho asylum, will , have temporary charge of the institu- f tion until l)r. Strait qualifies as superintendent. \ Dr. Bahcock's Ijetter. Dr. Babcock's letter to Gov. IMease ( was as follows: ( "Columbia, S. 0., March 12, 1914. r "The Hon. Cole L. Dlease, Gov- f eruor, Columbia, S. C.?Dear Sir: 1 f desire to acknowledge receipt of your i letter of March 12 requesting me 'to c i put in writing what you have stated f to me verbally in reference to your t resignation in order that I may take l it up with the hoard of regents of the State Hospital for 'lie Insane at 4 ( o'clock this afternoon.' It is rather t difficult, as, of course, you must ap- t predate, to he entirely accurate as to i what transpired In my several talks i with jo uas to my resignation. The f substance of it, however, is this: That c on account of the lack of harmony at i the State Hospital for the Insane the j patients must necessarily suffer, and i rather than ho a party to such coiuli- c tions I would prefer to resign. "This morning I expressed my will- <i ingness to the board of regents to co- s operate with them for the good of the c institution, and it is now for thorn to ^ say whether we can unite our efforts , to this end. If there is not to be co- f operation, then I desiro to resign , from the superintendency of the lios- j pital for tlie Insane. Yours very re- F spectfully, t (Signed) "J. W. Babcock." r Gov. Bleaso's reply follows: c "Columbia, S. C., March 13, 1914. c "Dr. J. W. Ilabcock, Superintend- ( ont State Hospital for the Insano, f Columbia, S. C.?Dear Sir: Your resignation, tendered verbally on the 16th day of September, 1913, also through Senators T. J. Mauldin and t T. J. Strait, and your written reslgna- s tion, bearing date March 12, 19 14, have been received. After duly and ? s carefully considering the saino your { resignation as superintendent of the r State Hospital for the Insane is hereby accepted, to tako effect this day. Very respectfully, "Cole Ij. Blease, Governor." ^ Dr. Saunders Leaves Also. c Dr. Kleanora Saunders, woman i physician at the Stato Hospital for { the Insane, resigned to the board of regents this afternoon and her resignation was accepted. She will remain at the institution for a few ^ days until her successor is chosen. , No action was taken as to the State , rarK. it was announced tuat sue and _ [)r. Babcock will open a private sani- | tarium in Columbia for the treatment t of nervous diseases. ( C.ov. Bleaso has written Dr. Tliomp- ( son a letter, and also one to Capt. j B<unch, secretary of the hoard of re- t Rents. The letters follow: ( "Columbia, P. C., March 13, 1914. ; "Dr. J. D. Thompson, First Assist- t ant Physician, Stato Hospital for the ( Insane?Dear Sir: Dr. J. W. Bab- < cock having resigned as superintend- j ent of the State Hospital for the In- | sane, and his resignation having been j accepted this day, you arc hereby in- i structed and requested to take temporary charge as acting superintendent of said institution, to serve until j a permanent superintendent is appointed. You will please advise this day with the board of regents in ref- j erence to your work, and any in for- i ination or advice which I can give \ you in reference to rttiy matters con- i nected therewith you aro at liberty to ask, and it will bo my pleasure to comply. Yours respectfully, "Cole \j. Blease, Governor." "Columbia, S. C., March 13, 1914. "Capt J. W. Brunch, Secretary V GENRAL ASSEMBLY ENDS ? NOT A RIPPLE REMAINS TO INDICATE HECK NT STOKM. As House Waited for Senate to Adjourn Legislators Lather Together and Sing Familiar Songs. Th0 general assembly ended its 1914 session in the early hours of Saturday mornln,T The House finished its business and adjourned sine ilie at 1:25 and the Senate followed suit at 2:15. The upper branch spent several hours behind locked iloors debating whether or not to confirm the nomination of Dr. W. L. Settiemeyer, of flaffney to he a member of th" board ot regents of the >tato Hospital for the Insane. Final Adjournment was reached without taking a voto and Dr. Settlemeyer will hold as ad interim appointee and ome before the Senate of 1915 for ouurmauon or rejection. The Senate on Wednesday night refused to confirm the appointment )f Dr. Settlemcyer, but Gov. Hlease promptly nominated him again and jent the nomination back to the Senite Friday. That body spent several tours debating the matter, for a de.ermined fight was made to prevent confirmation, and the Senate seeing hat no action could bo reached adjourned sine dio. The close of the session was calm md peaceful, not even a ripple appearing 011 tho surface after the stormy scenes of the previous night luring tlie delivery of tho message >y Gov. Hlease in person to the House md tho near-difliculty between the governor and Representatives N. R. Barnwell and W. F. Stevenson. While the House waited for tho S0111 to to get through the members gathered in a group near the door and nade the echoes ring with hymns and aniiliar songs. The usual resolutions of thanks vero passed. Everybody was happy md every 0110 shared in tho felicitaions. Members parted with one anptlior with regret, for friendships ire formed which last through life, md it's always sad to part with a riend. Many of the members will lot. come back. S01110 will run for >ther offices and sonio will not offer or re-election, and there is always he tinge of sadness hanging over the ireaking up of any gathering. Tho senators shook hands Satur- , lay morning as they passed through he lobby of the capltol to return to heir homes, and they included the lewspaper reporters who had been Kindling the session in their list of riends. Warm friendships are formal between the newspaper men and nany of tho lawmakers, for the close lersonal contact of day after day nat irally brings them to know each otli)T wcii. Probably for the last time Speaker J. Ti. Smith of the House of ltepreicntatives and Lieutenant Governor Smith of tho Senate wielded the gavels in tho two bodies and anlounced sine die adjournment, lloth >f theso officials are candidates for governor and next year new presidng oillcers will hold sway on both ddes of the capitol. This fact was in he minds of the members and lawnakers wrung tho hands of Speaker Smith and Lieutenant Governor Smith at parting, thanked them for heir fairness and uniform courtesy tnd wished them God-speed. Cop Shoots Negro Burglar. Seeing a negro climbing in through he transom of a Spartanburg grocery ttore, who refused to come down as ordered, a Spartanburg policeman ihot him through tho foot, receiving he laconic reply: "All right, cap, I'm icoming." ? Snoring Caused Itiot. Because Joseph Post, a sleeper in a Patterson, N. J. mission home, snored 50 loud tho other sleepers rose up in -evolt. Pest was taken to a hospital is tho result of injuries received. Negro Killed by a Train. A negro section hand of Central, vhilft wnrldnc r?n thr> rnHrnnU troplr was hit by a train Wednesday and van fatally injured. Hoard of Regents, State Hospital for he Insane?Dear Sir: I have accepted tho resignation of Dr. J. W. Ra.l>^ock as superintendent of the Hospital for the Insane, to take effect :his day, and have instructed and requested I)r. J. L. Thompson, the tlrst assistant physician to take charge of he Institution until the appointment if a permanent superintendent. You will please govern yourself accordingly and consult with Dr. Thompson in regard to such matters as the duties of your oflice may require. Very respectfully, "Colo L. Rlease, Governor." The letter to the secretary of state Is as follows: "Columbia, S. 0., March 13, 1914. "Hon. R. M. McCown, Secretary of State Dear Sir: Gov. Rlease has this day appointed the Hon. T. J. Strait, of Lancaster, S. C., as superintendent of the Stnto Hospital for the Insano for tho term provided by law, vice Dr. J. W. R.abcoek, sesigncd. "You will pleaso send notice as provided by law. Respectfully, "John K. Aull, "Private Secretary." I MAN IS SHI) I DOWN ? WIIILIO SHAKlNCi HANDS SLAVKH I'SKS PISTOL IN LKPT. CLAIMS UNWRITTEN LAW ( rcciivillo is Scnu< <?f Shooting Affray?Accused Man Says Home Was Huinoil, Doth Ilis Wife and Daughter Doing Involved in its Destruction. Calling Emmet Walker from his office at (Ireenville Thursday morning about 1 0 o'clock, (leorgo \V. Tidwell, representing an advertising agency at Clinton, shook hands with the young man, pulled a pistol from his pocket with his left hand and tired five shots into Walker's body. Their right hands were clasped as Tidwell lired, and Walker had his left arm about Tidwell's neck, as if to protect himself. Mr. Tidwell engaged a public service automobile a few minutes after 1) o'clock, and drove immediately to the Carolina mill olllce, and was met in tho hall by Mr. Walker. While shaking hands with Walker lie began firing from a 3S-calibre revolver, held In his left hand, and the victim fell limp to the floor, his face tit Mr. Tid well's feet. Maintaining his silence, Tidwell entered the automobile and drove direct to the sheriff's oflicc, approaching Deputy Sheriff Keller, exclaiming passionately, "I've killed Walker and am now ready to surrender." Sheriff Rector immediately took Tidwell into custody and carried him to the county jail. There lie made this statement to a reporter: "I killed him because he and a Mr. Wood invaded my home, seduced my wife and daughter and ruined them and me forever. 1 have no denial to make and I only took the course that most any other fair-minded man would have pursued. 1 could stand the mortfication no longer. 1 would have resorted to the white slave law, and mado the young men suffering for their wrong-doing, but simply for the sake of my wife, my children and my grandchldren T could not undergo the terrible exposure that would result. "Walker was not alone in his evil practice, for he and William (5. Woods even took it upon themselves to go to my home in Clinton and wrecked my home in my absence. These two men also induced my wife and my daughter to Greenville and sent them money with which to come hero. "1 hoard about them being in this city last Friday night in company with Walker and Woods, while I was in Cheraw. 1 came at once to Greenville, arriving here Saturday. And to my great sorrow I learned they had been arrested. There were two things for me to do. To resort to the white slave law or to demand that Walker marrv mv daughter. I chose the lat ter and when I put tlio proposition up to him Sunday afternoon in my room at the Ottaray hotel, ho stated emphatically that such a course would ho impossible, as the girl was out of his class. While in my room he appeared indifferent and was impudent and insulting. 1 then told him that this meeting had been friendly, hut that the next time it would ho different. "When T first called for Mr. Walker, he would not come to the hotel hut sent his best friend to see me. I told the caller that it was not an occasion for a middleman, that it was solely up to Mr. Walker and that he desired to see him would meet him in a friendly way and would promise not to molest him. Walker later came to my room. "I came to Cireenville last night, arriving here at 0:10 from Anderson, where I had been on business. 1 stopped at the Ottaray hotel. Having made up my mind previously to settle the matter in the manner in which I did. 1 left this morning to go out to the mill, knowing that it would mean death for either him or mo. Ilefore leaving the hotel I pin ned a noto to my son in Clinton, sealed it and addressed it to Sheriff Hector to be delivered to my son in the event that I was killed, for I knew it would bo found on my person." (Ho withdrew tho letter from his Inside coat pocket but would not permit it to be opened.) Mr. Tidwell appeared cool and unexcited when ho was approached at tho county jail by a reporter. He said he had no denial to make, but he hoped tho papers would suppress the ndws as much as possible because tho facts in tho case wero so revolting. Tho first information Mr. Tidwell's wife and family received of the homicide was from Mr. Tidwell himself, who called them up at Chiton Thursday morning, shortly after the tragedy, and in a quiet way ho "broke" the news, begging that Bho not become excited over the affair; that he was all Hght, and asked that she stay at homo and not come to Greenville under any circumstances. Ho later called up his son at his place of business at Clinton and informed him of tho tragedy, asking HOUSE BEGINS ACTION ?? FIHST STEPS TAKEN ON TOLLS KKPE \L LEGISLATION. +. House Commerce Committee Favorably lteports Measure l'latly lb4-! pealing Free Tolls Provision. Initial steps to repeal the exemption clause of tho Panama canal act as requested by President Wilson were taken in congress Saturday when the House committee on interstate commerce reported favorably a bill to strike out the provision. In tho Senate tho committee on interoceanic canals decided to meet to consider the appeal of tho president for a reversal of policy in the controversy which involves tho HayPauncefote treaty, and in the opin ion or i no president the general foreign relations policy of the administration. While the House Is debating (ho issue the Senate committee will consider what course to pursue: whether (o recommend a Hat repeal bill or to urgo the compromise hill offered by Senator Chilton, a member of the committee, which authorizes the president to regulate tolls and assess charges at his discretion wherever exemption is provided in the canal act. In the House there was quick response to the president's address, the committee voting 13 to 3 to favorably report the Sims repeal hill. Absent members who were recorded made tho vote 17 to 4. Chairman Adamson had already a draft of the report when the committee met. It based approval of the Sims bill on two broad grounds set forth in the president's message?general international comity and the immediate foreign situation confronting the country. Representative Adamson will take charge of tho situation in the House, as Majority Header Underwood, for tho first time during the administration, finds himself on the anti-administration side of the question. Representative Underwood has announced his intention of not only voting against tho bill, but also of making a speech against it. Despite this, how over, the loaders of the repeal forces declare they are assured of a substantial majority to carry out the president's will. In its report tho committee, which provided for uniform tolls in the canal act, as originally reported, reiterated its position. (MIjIJK 1I1.M IT. Magistrate Kirby Refuses to (.'<> to (.'overnor's Office. Maj. Augustus II. Kirby, Spartanburg's 8 1 -year-old magistrate, received a letter from (iov. Colo L. Bleaso informing him that certain charges havo been preferred against him and directing him to appear in the governor's office at 1 o'clock Saturday afternoon and show cause why ho should not be suspended. One of the charges is that Major Kirby released on payment of a $10 fine a negro accused of housebreaking and larceny. Major Kirby said that ho would answer the charges, but would not appear before the governor. Clov. Bloase has tried more than once during the last three years to oust Major Kirby from office. On one occasion tho governor declared Major Kirby's commission as magistrate null and void and appointed J. M. Bowden to the place. Major Kirby refused to quit, and the result was that both men for about one year performed tho duties of tho office. The supremo court then sustained Major Kirby and removed Bowden, finding that the governor had acted without authority. ? .? Buby Killed by Powder Blast. George Seno, a three-year-old boy of Punxsutawney, Pa., heated a poker and placed It In a keg of powder. The explosion wrecked tlie house and killed the child. Tho mother, who was upstairs, was badly burned. ? Chester Child Ruined to Death. Tho child of Sam Rainey, a negro of Chester, was found dead by its motiier on her return homo Tuesday afternoon. It had fallen among tho blazing wood fire and was horribly burned. delay brought about by tho tactics of that he go homo and stay with his sister and motiier, and not to mistreat them in anyway. Tho first information 111o county officials received about tho relationslip that was alleged to exist between Mr. Tidwell's wifo and daughter and tho two young men, was heard Saturday morning when Deputy Sheriff Keller was informed over the telephone that two wlito women had gone to a negro assignation house in flower street, and had been visited during tlie night by two young men. Deputy Sheriff Keller went immediately to the house and found tho negro woman, Mary Worn, and tlie two wliito women who later proved to bo Mrs. Tidwell and her stepdaughter. They were arrested but later released on bond. The nicnt were not in tho house at the time, but their identity was made | known by the woman who called to the young men for assistance. I FtAK WILD MAN' i .? <;iii:i:n\ ili.k sm:mrr \sui:i> to 1>11iytt him away. ? JOKE HAS GONE TOO EAR ? Many of tin* Inhabitants of tin Tlgervillo Soot Inn of (I't'cenvillo County Said to lla\'o Horn Alarinod Over Supposed Presence of a Desperate Wild Man?\ Prohaldo Solut ion. The (Ireenville Pally News of Thursday carried (he following story: Making tl?c swamps of north tlreenvlllo county iiis headquarters and showing himself only in the vicinity of dense sections of the "jungles", a "wild man" lias so frightened many of the inhabitants of tile Tigerville community th.it. they are afraid to leave their homes ut night without being armed. This "wild man", it is said, has been seen by many of the residents of that section and, according to their description, he is the wildest looking being i magina hie. With long. dishevelled hair and painted face the "wild man" has been seen crossing from one swamp to another. Several times he has been surprised by residents of the neighborhood while in quest of water and food and on these occasions ho will give a wierd howl and llee like 111 ad into some nearby thicket. Some of the inhabitants say the man has the appearance of an Indian chief, while others describe him as being tall and gaunt and dressed in the cost ume of a westerner. The f?*ar of a few residents of the community became so great recently that they notified Sheriff Rector to come to their aid with a posse of ofllcers. The sheriff is ill, having several days ago been seized with an attack of grippe. Kven if ho was in the best of health, though, it is not likely that he would set out on such a wild gooso chase. He has pooh-hood the idea of a "wild man", but the bearer of the request that he cotno and make a search was in earnest and would not listen to any argument put up by the county authorities. The "wild man" is a joke. That goes without saying and it appears to many, especially those of the Tigcrvillo section, that the joke has gone far aplenty. Ono resident of that section, who was a visitor to C.reonvillo Wednesday, said many of the inhabitants had gotten wise to the affair. Ho stated, though, that many of the people still believed a "wild man" is at large and are afraid to go about alone. It seems a certain resident of that section, who went west several years ago to make his fortune, has returned to his native heath and to have some fun with his neighbors is stalkI 1 i i l- i ? * iiik iiuwuL iih! uarK piaces in swamps in Western garb. On some occasions lie will dress himself as an Indian chief, and when seen by any of his neighbors will givo a fierce; war hoop and vanish into the thicket. The neighbor who witnessed this extraordinary feat will soon spread the report over the community that tlio "wild man" has been seen. The young westerner will then slip back to his home, put on ordinary clothes and jon his frightened neighbors in tip. search for the "wild man". Humors of every kind imaginable have been circulated through the neighborhood, many of them describing tbo so-called "wild man" as the most dreadful object imaginable, and in this manner somo of the inhabitants have been led to believe that some fearful being has come to prey upon them. The "wild man" is the topic discussed about the gflresido at night, and many a youngster crawls far beneath tho cover after going t< bed, hiding his face from the sight of tho imaginable "wild man". I'niquo Distillery Destroyed. Revenue officers of Oconee recently found and destroyed a still in a barn, which had a trap door, ingeniously devised, leading from the loft to the cellar. A flue from the barn to a hillside nearbly prevented the smoke being seen. ? Spinster Sorry for Iter Vow. Miss Letitia Rider, 4 8 years old, aC DVillnrlolnlila 1 S V... I - \yl i iiiiiiii<:i|iiii(i, 1%/wrv iidi lilt; II y 111hallng Illuminating gas after having brooded for months over a girlhond vow never to marry, which she had kept too well. ? Orchard Purchase Causes Bloodshed. After quarrelling with Marks Skarloh over the sale of an orchard Tony Kllclnovltch, of San Francisco, shot him and his wifo and then committed suicide last Saturday. Dog Gives Life for Boy. Arthur Potts, aged thirteen of Tlris tol, Va., owes his life to the braverj of his dog, who gave fight when a fe roctous panther attacked them Frl day. Will Probably Iteninln. A dispatch from Columbia Thurs day says that both Dr. Babccck an< Dr. Saunders will remain at the asy lum. , . K U J WILL CUT OUT SMOKING TILLMAN'S KKSOLt TION PA8SKS AI iM < )ST IN A NIMOISLY. (iallcriCN CliOfr Speaker mm Mr Mnkrs Addri'ss Promising Mis <olleag*^ 1 ii I/Oliver Life. hi railing up his resolution to prohibit smoking during the oxn sessions of t!i?> Sennie, in th? rooms, Senator Tillman Mondn noon made explanatory coiuuwhich interested and amused the gailerles to sueli an extent that the icepresident had to ciieck their applause The resolution was adopted almost unanimously without a roll call. The Senator addressed his colleagues for perhaps fifteen minutes, explaining that previous to lila illness four years ago the smell of to baero had not affected his health, but that ever since then lie had boon unable to endure it. Among other things ho said: "A majority of the Senators ar?' smokers, and unfortunately, a vicious habit has so mastered them that they are nervous and miserable when they do not get. the nicotine poison which soothes their nerves. 1 have found my Democratic colloaguos so intent on gratifying their feverish desire to smoke that they feel compelled to light cigars In the caucus, so that I have almost had to leave or sit by an open window, for my very life depends IIDOIl a full Hlioolv of r?nr? nlr So I am besot, with the danger of being driven ont of the party and of the Senate itself, and I do not know where to turn. "I believe I would lengthen the life of every man in this chamber from six to fiftien years if I could only get them to believe what 1 tell them and follow my advice. 1 owe what d?gre< of recovery 1 have made?and I am constantly being told that I look a great deal better, and 1 know it In no to will-power and self-control in eating. "Since I was paralyzed four years ago, and read my own obituary twenty-one senators, including Vice President Sherman, most of them younger than I, have died. Just for the sake of refreshing your minds, and impressing you, I give you the list as copied from tho Record. No wonder, as 1 look around the chamber and see the changes that have come and miss the many old familiar face*, I feel as though I wore serving with ghosts as well as living men. "There is no doubt in the world to my mind that this great mortality among us is due to the way we liv?? in Washington. A fitting epitaph f t most of tho senators who have died in service would he: 'Ho lived not wisely hut to well, and killed himself eating.' Indeed, that, can .bo Raid about most men and women in oM cial life in Washington." PRKSKNT ROVING CUP. 4 Indies of Columbia Honor I>r. lOlcxnora H. Saunders. A handsome, silver loving cup gold-lined, was sent Thursday afternoon to Dr. Kleanora II. Saunders, the woman physican at the State Hospital "by ihe women of Columbia, as a tok en of their admiration for her ability, their confidence in her an a woman, their faith in her integrity of purpose and her unselfish devotion to duty." i That was the inscription which the cup boro engraved upon one of it* chaste, plain sides. i The cup is about ten inches high with a bowl shaped vessel about 24 inches in circumference and stand* upon a silver banded mirror. The wo' men of Columbia were deeply inter' osted in the part Dr. Saunders played . in the recent asylum investigation i and numbers of individuals, clubs > and committees addressed to her lot tors of indorsement and of sympathy, before tho committee made its report giving her comploto vindication. Ilia/lug Meteor Shakes Albuquerque, i A blazing meteor of largo size sped through the sky near Albuquor que, N. M., and struck the mountains > about 15 miles away. Tho meteor ? hit with n terrific detonation and shook tho city. Scalded by Steam. * # Engineer R. C. Carter, of tho Southern railroad was severely burn ed Saturday afternoon at Newberry, when a bolt 011 hla engine blow off enveloping him In released steam. Robbers Kill Railroad Cop. When Michael (luerin, a railroad noli CO Til n n rf??iatnrl rnliKnro ?!> - -? , , . - W.WVV-X4 I VWI/VI n fV I1U til" tempted to board a Southern Pacific . passenger train near San Joso, Cal,, 1 Thursday, he was shot to death. ? ? T.lvo Wire Hums Knginecr, Whilo working near a live wire at - Chester Robert Hell accidentally hit ' It. All his clothing was burned off his - body and ho was seriously hurt, his - hands necessitating amputation. ? ? Greenville Hoy Palls off Hoof. While playing on the second story - of a houso under construction Wed1 nesday at Greenville Frank Howell, - aged three, fell to the ground, and: was killed instantly.