Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-01-17
SEE POLITICAL
PLOT IN EFFORTS
TO GUST DR. DILL
Suggestion Is Made That Va
cancy Is Badly Needed for
Certain Office-Seeker.
SAY ERRORS ARE REALLY
DUE 2 FREEHOLDERS
Removal OF Asylum Superintend.
emf Would Not Mean Complete
Reform, Friends Declare.


Many leading citizens are rushing tn
the defense of DR.. Daniel NJ. Dill wiz
Is threatened with decapitation as su-
perintendent Of the County Insane Asy-
iuni, due to alleged mismanagement OF
the institution, growing out of the find
ing OF charred skeleton in the old
South Orange avenue asylum. While
tlese citizens do not attempt to excuse
DR.. Dill for some OF the conditions
which existed at the asylum. they de-
clare that DR.. Dill was severely handi-
capped In his management of the insti-
tuition: that he never was really the
head Of the institution; that he had 10
take orders and place men under him
who got their positions through polit-
ical influence; that as result of this he
was only a figurehead, ard was not per-
mitted to exercise the authority he
should as head of the institution.
1t is also claimed by the defenders %
DR.. Dill that the undue haste to con-
denim him is in measure due to the
fact that a certain politician is out OF
a job. and the suspension OF DR.. Dill
would give the powers that be a chance
to place him. They say that if the tree
holders are sincere in their efforts to
reform" the conditions at the institu-
ton, they should go further than DR..
Dill and make O sweeping change, a
chaf.es which would forever place the
institution beyond the influence of poll
tics.
mot man who knows DIR. Dill will
question his honesty and straightfor-
wardness," said ore man today, land I
think that the public should withhold
judgment on him until he has an eppor.
tnnity of telling his side.
"OnIy Tisurehcad..
lit is simple natter to Condemn
DR.. Dill offhand, but tho public should
know that he was merely a flg-
urehead, and that he was not per-
nitted to act as lie felt he should
1t is a well-knoWn fact that places foi.
political favorites We're provided by the
Board of Freeholders at the insane
asylum and that these men. relying On
the pull behind them, were in a position
to snap their fingers at Dr. Dill. 1t is
not fair to make DIR. Dill the only goat
In this matter. Why should he be
singled out, when he was only cipher
In the management. If the grand Jury
and the Board Of F'reeholders want to
get the complete history OF misman-
agement why don't they go deeper?
Some of the freeholders must have
known of the lax discipline. A COM
mittee of the freeholders has direct,
charge of this institution. If there was
mismanagement they are fully as much
TO blame as DR.. Dill.
TT will not do this man went on,
ito make DIR. Dill the only sufferer as
O result of this investigation. There
are others more guilty than he. II
there is a demand for reform at the
asylum, then let us have complete re-.
form. and not a half-hearted attempt,
such as an attack ON an old man who
always has been well regarded in the
community and against whom a finger
never had been pointed until this in-
vestigation started. I think that tho
condition has been shown which should
result in taking the entire homogeneous
of the asylum away from the Board
of Freeholders. II DIR. Din is incou1-
petent, then the freeholders who are
supposed to look after the institution +.
are more SO. Not only are they incoih-
petent, but. they are to blame for tying
the hands of DR.. Dill and surrounding
him with q lot of men who were ever
ready to laugh defiance at any efforts
he might have made to effect reforms
at the institution.
Others Equally to Blame.
"Why pillory DR. Dill alone? Are not
others equally or more to blame?
do hope that DR.. Din may be led to tell
some of the severe handicaps he was
working under in his management OF
the institution. III wager that he al
ways was fearful of offending some pet
of this or that freeholder. / think
enough has been shown to warrant
taking the management of the asylum
from the F'reeholders. The remedy
would be to place il under the care OF
a board, say of six men, three OF them
laymen and three medical men. This,
board could make the institution wi1ac
Il should be. But To uucereinoniously
fire. Dr. Dill to provide a berth for
some other officeseeker and to leave ull-
disturbed others equally as guilty is
nc fair, and the public will not sanc-
ton IT," p
The grand jury, when it meets toincri
row afternoon. will resume its investi
cation Of the asylum affairs. Mrs.
Francisco HinlSel. who declares that
the skeleton may be that of Mrs. Cath
crime Lindner, who, she says, died fol-
lowing q beating by attendants. will be
,,,aa ,,f f11a x,ifiaaaSes The gran nd iuYv.