Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-08-12
DISMISSAL OF DR..
DILL IS ILLEGAL,
CLAIMS COUNSEL
Chandler w. Riker Says Free
holders Ignore Law Applying
to Removal of Veterans.
OUSTED OVERLOOK HEAD
WILL FIGHT TO FINISH.
RsDlic Opinion Will Favor Phy-
sician When the Facts Are
Known, Lawyer Declares.

tiC nAilOa VI thS lOOdIa
e9 Freeholders yesterday when Dr.
Daniel NJ. Dill was summarily dis
charged from the position OF medical
superintendent of the Essex County
Hospital for the Insane at Overlook,
Chandler w. Riker. counsel for Dr.
Dill. said today that the action of the
board was illegal, and that the mat
ter would be fought to the bitter end.
II don't see where they have a leg
to stand on said Mr. Ril1er after he
had quoted the laws of 1900 applying
to the removal from office of veterans.
The resolution which called for DR..
Dilrs discharge was not adopted until
after ii had been strenuously opposed
by Freeholders Haskell and Ward.
The resolution, which was introduced
by Mr.. Haskell at the request of the
other members OF the hospital COM
mittee. was as follows:
Original Motion.
Whereas The committee on County
Eospital for the Insane, after a
thorough and painstaking investigation
into the affairs of the County Hospital
at Overlook, was convinced that a
change in the medical superintendent
wss Necessary, and
Whereas. The recent Grand Juries,
after an Independent investigation,
have reached the same conclusion, and
Whereas, The County Hospital COM
nittee at regular meeting held at
Overlook on Tuesday, August 2. 1910,
reached the conclusion that an imme-
date change was necessary to restore
public confidence. and in accordance
with that sentiment passed a resolution
recommending to the Board of Chosen
Freehoiders that DR. Daniel NJ Dill be
discharged from the position of medi-
cal superintendent; now. therefore,
be ii
Resolved, That the board approves OF
and concurs in this action, and that the
said DIR. Daniel M. Dill be and is hereby
discharged from his position as medi-
cal superintendent of the Essex County
Hospital for the Insane, to take effect
immediately
Immediately following the introduc-
ton of this resolution Mr.. Haskell
caused something of sensation by Of
fering the following substitute resolu-
ton:
Whereas, Chapter 81 of the laws OF
the year 1900 explicitly directs that no
honorable discharged soldier of the
army of the United States of the War
of the Rebellion shall be discharged
from any office he may hold unless he
first be tried by the courts. and
Whereas, Dr. Daniel NJ. Dill served
four years in the War of the Rebellion
and was honorably discharged from the
army of the United States and was
breveted major by the President of
the United States for meritorious con-
duct, and
Whereas this Board of Chosen
Freeholders. desirous always to abide
by the law, be 1t therefore
Resolved, That this board will not
dismiss the said DR.. Daniel NJ. Dill from
the Office of medical superintendent un-
I'll he shall first be fairly tried by the
courts. with opportunity to defend him
self from any charges that may be
made against him"
In introducing his substitute Mr..
Haskell said
Deny Him Defense.
"Dr. Dill wants an opportunity to de-
given him. This Is the only reason
why I oppose the passage of the reso-
luton just introduced"
The substitute motion was seconded
by Freeholder Ward.
''I hope the substitute resolution
will not prevail" said Freeholder Mat
tia. 'The eyes of the public are on us
and friendship should not count in a
case OF this kind. know that DIR. Dill
is an old soldier, but there are things
that are more serious. and that is the
honor and the>welfare of our unfortu-
mates at Overlook.
1.-THE Board of Freeholders is being
condemned by the public and the press
Just because there is someone at fault
in the management of the institution.
The members of the board are trying
their best and want to do what is right
and l know that there is no politics in
this boardY
DR.. Dill was served with a copy of
the original resolution today, but that
the action of the freeholders will be
contested was made evident by Chand-
Ter w. Riker, counsel for DR.. Dill, who
said today 1--WE will by no means ac-
cept the action of the Board of Free
holders as Anal. The whole affair looks
to me very much like violation of the
law, and we will want some things ex-
planned before the matter goes much
further. The law very clearly states
that veteran cannot be removed from
office unless charges have been pre-
ferred and a hearing is given the ac-
cused party. The defendant is also
entitled to be represented by counsel
at such hearing, yet the freeholders
apparently ignored these important de-
tails. They talk at great length upon
the alleged immoral phases of the case
that has been built up against DR. Dill.
AS a matter OF fact. the conditions at
Overlook in this particular respect
are better than in the majority Of sim
liar institutions in this country. and a
fair comparison of records shows that
under DR.. Dill the institution has not
only been unusually free from the very
<~~~ss..waa .n senoma paae.A