Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-12-21
SUED FOR $4,000.
DR.. Austin Of Clinton Charged
With Malpractice.
Furnishes $4,000 Bonds After Pass
ing Day in Confinement.
Central Maine Medical Society Condemns
His Commitment.

Linton, We, Dec. Iu.-tSpeclai).--
The town of Clinton is greatly worked
up over the suit against DR. Lewis
doctor here and in his short residence
here has made many friends by his
faithful performance of his duties
They are also greatly incensed over
his incarceration in Kennebec jall for
the greater part of Monday while wait
ing for $4,000 bond to cover his ap-
pearance at the Knox county supreme
court in answer to a suit for $4,000 for
malpractice
DR.. Austin was called in July. to re-
duce fracture of the right forearm
of Hattie ", the 2-year-old daughter
of Theodore c. Cole of Burnham DR.
Austin reduced the fracture, admins
tering ether alone to save expense TO
Mr.. Cole, who is a poor man. 1t is
claimed that good arm resulted but
the child was SO young that the hand
did not have sufficient exercise and as
result the fingers are stiff, but DIR. f.
c. Thayer. DR.. J. +. Hill of Wa'terville
DR.. e. a. Porter of Pittsfieid. DR.. A. A
Shaw of Clinton, who have seen the
arm say that in a short time the stiff
ness will so away and the child will
have as good an arm as anyone when
5 years old.
When Deputy Sheriff Colby Getchell
Of Waterville. called on DIR. Austin
Monday morning, and told him that
unless ne had $1,000 worth of real es-
tate to attach he would have to take
him to Jail in answer to q writ pro-
cured by Dunton & Dunton of Belfast,
attorneys for Cole, charging malprac
tice, he was thunderstruck.
The amaZement was caused mostly
from the fact that only short time
previously the father of the child had
seen the doctor and told him that he
was hard up but when his son came
home, at Christmas. from Belfast. ne
would pay part of the bill.
DR.. Austin was very sick, last
spring, and has not recovered his usual
good health and the shame of beng
taken to Jail and kept there for cay
weighed heavily on him.
He sent word to Drs. Abbott and
Thayer of Waterville. as soon as he
arrived at Augusta, Monday morning.
and they sent Charles W. Johnson.
Esq. down on the first train and gave
bonds in the sum of $4,000 for the doc
tors appearance at the next term of
the Knox county supreme court.
DR.. Austin returned home on the
morning Pullman. today, and feels
very keenly over the affair although he
has very little anxiety over the out
come of the case. as the several doc
tors who have examined the chil1 all
say it will have a good arm in a short
time.
DR.. Austin is a member of the Wa
terville Clinical Society, Maine Medi-
cal Society, kennebec Medical Society
and Massachusetts Medical Society
and is "a very bright young man and
devoted to mis- profession.
This suit is said to have aroused the
doctors throughout the county and
they will endeavor to secure some leg
isation at the coming session of the
Legislature to protect doctors from
such affairs. The old bill that a per-
son suing a malpractice case will have
to deposit bond equal to the amount
sued for before the suit can COM
mence, it is thought, will be resur-
rected and presented to the Legislature
for action.
The Central Maine Medical Society
at their regular meeting in Water
vile, Monday evening. at which u |
physicians were present, passed reso-
buttons condemning the action whereby
Dr. Austin was arrested and placed IN
jail without a hearing before any trial |
justice.