The San Francisco call., 1909-11-20
LIVELY ROW IS ON
AT NAPA ASYLUM
Board of Managers Summarily
Removes DR.. S. Mel. Doherty,
First Assistant Physician
Especial Dispatch TO The Call

NAPA, Nov. 1s.-The Napa state hos
pital for the. insane. scene of so many
disturbances in the past, was thrown
into an uproar again last night, when
the board of managers, Governor Gill
letts appointees, summarily ordered
the dismissal of DR.. S. Mel. Doherty,
first assistant physician, after he had
refused to hand in his resignation. Do
herty is personal friend of Governor
Gillett and was considered in line for
|7the position of superintendent, now
held by DIR. Elmer E Stone, who has
weathered two state administrations
and is the center of the present con-
f1ict. Charges and counter charges are
flying fast and the issue will be taken
to the governor himself
All the manage declare that they
removed Doherty for incompetency,
but Doherty retorts by demanding the
reason why, if they consider him in
competent. they advanced him in rank
last June. He lays the blame for his
removal on DR.. Stone and promises to
cause an upheaval November 30, when
the board will grant him hearing.
HASTEN TO GOVERNOR
Alarmed at the official war they have
aroused, Doctor Stone. Thomas B. Do
zier, president of the board of man
ayers; Emmett Phillips of Sacramento
and R. NJ. Belcher of Marysville, MEM
bers of the board, left tonight to find
Governor Gillett and pour their side
of the story into his ear before his de-
posed friend, Doherty, has an oppor-
tunity to see him. Doherty watched
their hurried departure with quizzi-
cal smile and solemnly declared:
Stone has them hypnotized.'
Doctor Doherty came to the hospital
from Eureka, Gillett's home, April,
1907, and accepted the position of third
assistant physician. He built up a
large private practice, being regarded
as the most prominent physician in the
countryside, and was advanced to the
post of second assistant. A few months
ago the board of managers. the men
who last night removed him, made Do
herty first assistant. Behind his dis
mfssal. therefore, his friends declare
they find political jealousy, plots and
plans, not the allegations of incompe-
tency made openly.
SUPERINTENDENT RESPONSIBLE
stone is responsible for this
Doherty said Il have seen 1T comm g
for several months, for he has sue
ceeded In hypnotizing the board. I do
not care for the position, but what do
care about is the fact that these men
have dismissed me in this manner No
vember % there will be a ventilating
of affairs at the state hospital, and
then the reason for this move may be-
come clear. / refused to humble my
self to Stone as, he demanded, and my
assertion of manhood has resulted in
this method of revenge
Il have nothing to do with this ac-
tion,', Stone isisted. "The managers
have! taken what steps they believed
best for the hospital, that is ALL
"Doherty did not come up to our ex-
peetations," declare the five mana gers.
He was not big enough for; the posi-
ti0Rs and we were forced to remove
him.
DR.. 7. II. Stice, second assistant sur
sgeon, clashed with Stone in June of
n190S and was removed. Stice was a
democrat. Doctor Doherty, then third
assistant, was advanced notch to
Stice's place:
DIR! L. NJ. Pulsifer, first assistant ply
sician, was reduced to the rank of sec
Doctor Doherty advanced to the berth.
Then Doctor Pulsifer handed in his res
aignation, under pressure, last Septem-
ber. At the same time Miss Ivy Kings
bury, matron at the hospital, and sister
of Surveyor General w. S. Kingsbury,
was removed, as was A. r. Talmadge,
inspector of construction.
Followers of the tangled history of
the hospital aver they see i'm Doherty' 5
removal the working of long cher
ished grudges. They state that
Thomas Dozier's father was head
of the hospital some years ago,
Eand that he was removed through
the influence of DR.. E. H. Hennessey,
then president of the board of man
ayers. Hennessey later lost his head
and Dozier, ii is declared, has found
that Doherty was Hennesseys friend.
Therefore Dozier is declared TO have
sought Doherty's scalp.