The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-05-16
SHOCKS EXONERATFD
AFTER STORM OF TALK
City Home Investigation Turns Into Unendinp
Argument, and Now 1t Is Said That Another
Inquiry w i'll Soon Be Ordered

William II. Shocks, first assistant SUI
perlntcndent and pharmacist OF the
City Homo, was exonerated last night
by tho Council Committee on Relief of
the Poor OF any Intentional mistake In
compromising prescriptions for patients
IN the hospital and almshouse. Charges
OF negligence and inoompetency against
tho assistant superintendent were filed
by Councilman John Hirschbcrg. They
We're frankly admitted by tho accused
and substantinted by witnesses, but
MIR. HirschberG pronounced himself
amply satisfied that the committee
should clear Mr.. Shocks when the lat
ter admitted his mistakes and declared
! them 70 be entirely uninten,lonal
Last nights netting, which. took
place in the home. continued for four
Mr., IIirschherg had the rules suspended
and made the formal charges against
Mr.. Shocks.
IIirschherR Allegations.
His allegations were as follows
That Mr.. Shocks substituted snloi
when strychnine was ordered. -
That he supplied n rheumatic com
pound when n mouth wash had been
prescribed.
That tho dispensary In Mr. Snooks's
charge. was In dcplorably bad condi-
tiSH from IL SthHupOlnt OIL cleanliness. .
Mr.. Snooks vas called before the
committee and the accusations read to
hum. He admitted them. but declared
them TO be errors which any one would
make. and admitted that the instances
referred to were correct. Concerning
the condition OF his quarters. no said
that he had not been employed as a
mental to scrub floors and wash bottles.
Misc W. W. Atkinson, head nurse Of
the home. was called as Il witness. She
said that Alr Shocks had made mis-
takes and was aware Of the errors re-
ferrcd to by Mr. Hlrschberg She had
shc told the committee. experienced diff
ilculty in obtaining needs for the op-
Grating room, which II was the duty
of the assistant superintendent to or
der and keep on hand.
DIR. r. G. Cabell. superintendent OF tho
home. was the second witness. Ife was
questioned concerning tho competency
OF his assistant as a pharma cist. lilo
said frankly that no was not capt bl G
of passing upon tho question.
Got II From thurman.
Dr. thurman. ono of the internes OF
the home. corroborated the testimony
of Miss Atkinson. he having discovered
tho errors In prescriptions brought out
by Mr. Hirschbcrg.
DR.. thurman admitted that Mr. Hirsch-
berg gained the information from him
concerning the mistakes OF Mr.. Shocks.
The entire proceeding was marked by
n large volume OF talk. Alderman John
j. Mitchell championed the cause OF
Mr.. Snooks. and he frequently passed
heated words with Mr.. Hirschberg
Alderman Jacob Umlauf and Council
man Saunders were also upon tho side
of tho accused. MIR Saundera. who is
n druggist, declared that errors such rs
those brought out against Mr. Shocks
occurred daily In all drug stores.
The thing which most OF the COM
mitteemen did not appear TO like was
the manner In which Mr.. HlrschberS
obtained his Information He staunch-
~ refused to divulgc the source until
It was finally brought out by Mr..
Mitchell from DR.. Truman, the former
questioning each witness upon that
point HI
May Investigate Some More.
The committee devoted considerable
time to the workings of the home In
his testimony, Mr.. Shocks said that
there was no cooperation between the
various members OF the stan OF the
hospital, but that there was no fric.
tlon.
This statement aroused the interest