The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-12-11
SETTLE HICKS'S CASE
TAKE M. DIS RESIGNATION
AFTER VACATION.
Three Months Leave, with Salary, Rec
ommendation to Freeholders' Board.
Eaton's Fling at Dr.. CASTOR.

After a lively meeting of the Free
holders hospital committee last night,
during which the resignation of DR.. Will
lam Fl. Hicks as chief of the medical staff
Of the County Hospital for the Insane In
South Orange avenue, was a bone of CON
tention between the members, Il finally de-
cided to recommend to the Board of Free
holders that DR.. Hicks be given a three
months vacation, to date from December
j.. with full pay. and at the expiration of
that time to accept his resignation. Those
IN favor of that plan were Freeholders
Scanlon, Barry, Haskell and Stock; OPP
posed were Freeholders Kenny, Eaton and
Ward.
Supervisor otterbein did not vote. When
DIR. Hicks offered his resignation he stated
that be intended to go abroad and study
and ON ais return establish a private prac-
tise.
When Dr. Hicks's resignation was
handed to the committee 1t was decided to
recommend to the board that 1t be ac-
cepted, but when it was presented to the
board some OF the members of the hospital
committee moved that It be laid on the
table. and the committee was instructed
to try to get the physician to reconsider,
II possible. or see If a vacation for several
months would suffice. The committee did
as requested, but the physician refused to
reconsider his resignation.
a few lays later 1t was minated that
DR.. John o. CASTOR. an inferno at the
hospital. was in a measure responsible for
DIR. ticks %resigning, as it was alleged
that he had said something which did
not please the chief of the medical staff,
and the latter decided to make DIR. Gas
ton prove his assertions.
An executive session of the committee
was held last week. 1t was learned that,
| while some of the members were not In
sympathy with DIR. Gaston's attitude. the
| majority were. and the matter. was APP
p~arently dropped.
A tentative agreement was arrived at
with DR.. Hicks, it was said, that he
would withdraw his resignation and ac-
cept a leave of absence. That was the
condition of affairs when the meeting was
held yesterday.
Freebooter Kenny offered a motion that
the committee recommend to the board
that DR.. Hicks be given a three months
leave of absence. dating from December
Is, instead of January !.
Freebooter Eaton said he understood
that DR.. Payne, of the Overlook Asy-
ium, was to be called to South Orange
avenue to fill DR.. Hicks's place.
This county cannot get a man to re-
place DR.. Hicks said Freebooter Eaton.
What assurances have we that DR..
J Hicks will remain when he comes back II
we decide to give him a vacation?" asked
Director Barry. 1T is an injustice to any
physician to ask him to come here for
three months"
Il don't think that DR.. Hicks ought to
lead this committee around by the nose. ;
remarked Freebooter Scanlon.
And / don't think DR.. Castor ought to,
either" said Supervisor Otterbeln. AT the
last meeting u member of the committee
was willing to give DR.. Hicks five months
vacation"
Yes, l said that" replied Freeholder
Scanlon. but with the understanding that
he was not to come back"
why. yes. we could afford to give him
five years vacation with that understand
ing said Director Barry.
Il do not propose to let any physician
run this committee or board said Free
holder Scanlon. Finally the motion 10 re-
consider was adopted by a vote of 4 TO 3.
II sy~mpathize with DR.. Hicks" said
Freebooter Haskell. land ] think he should
be allowed to go abroad and study"
Freebooter Eaton said he knew that DIR.
Hicks wanted to go away to study, and
he knew DR.. Hicks could get a man to
fill his place while he was away.
This county" said the Freebooter,
cannot produce a man the equal Of DR..
Hicks for 100000, and he should be
allowed to have a vacation, so that he
can come back to us a stronger and better
man. and DR.. CASTOR should not be al
lowed to drive him away"
The Freebooter emphasized his remarks
by pounding the table with his right fist.
Freeholder Haskell said tina DR.. CASTOR
did not enter into the controversy al all.
Freeholder Kenny wanted to know If DIR.
CASTOR was going to be carried on the
books.
why, there is no charge against DR..
CASTOR replied Freebooter Scanlon.
The I move that we investigate DIR.
CASTOR" said Freebooter Eaton.
Director Barry remarked that no in
vestigation could be held until some one
preferred charges.
Supervisor Otterbein said it would not
be a bad idea to start an Investigation
and let the whole matter be made public,
no matter who was hurt, as 1t would
benefit the hospital a whole lot.
"Oh, what is the use of starting an In
vestigation? When DR.. CASTOR was before
us last week he said that he would not say
anything against DR.. Hicks" observed Mr..
Kenny.
When DIR. Hicks was asked, after the
meeting, what he intended to do in re-
gard to action OF the committee, he re-
piled that he had nothing to say.
Freebooter Kenny said after the meet
ing that he would bet So hat the Board
Of Freeholders would not accept the com
mittee's recommendations.