Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1920-01-13

that . Dot for mo 70 AZ" Msttier
answered.
rs this man nader arrest" At
t0Snsy McCaskrin asked Of Or.
Mueller. . 10 pointed to Msttler?
he II not under arrest, but 10 nm
der quarantine" DR.. Mueller an
svered. '-Thsn come with me-"
McCaskrin said to Mettler ~ be
started out Of the court room. Met
tier followed the attorney, who
called back: Anyone who tries to
stop him will get into trouble"
Mettler and the attorney went
out to the curb. where the formers
automobile was parked. As Nett
Ter was about to start the car Act
ing Health Ofhcer Eihl rushed out
Of the police station and demanded
them to wait. He beckoned to
Mettler to leave the car and come
with him.
What do you want with him.
| the attorney questioned. :.
He is under arrested" Eihl an
answered.
The attorney demanded to see
the warrant and Eihl replied that
there were plenty that could be
sworn out inside the court room.
Get your warrant and then
come after him." the attorney re-
piled, as he told Mettler to drive
away. Eihl made no further at
tempt to take Mettler.
City Attorney Scott pointed out
afterward that as Mettler was not
suffering from smallpox he could
no be placed under quarantine I'M
der city laws, but the matter OF
either vaccination or quarantine
was up to the state.
| DIR. Mueller and Mr.. Eihl then
went to see States Attorney Ben
jamin S. Bell. After scanning the
state booklet of regulations States
Attorney Bell sought the statute
in support Of the same. He assert
ed after a search OF the statutes
that the law provides that prose-
cution of all such cases shall only
come under the jurisdiction Of the
executive officer of the state board
of health. He then said that he
would take the matter UP with DR.
lC. st. Claire Drake, secretary OF
the board. The law provides a PEN
atty in such cases in case the state
board proves a violation OF the
Quarantine regulation.
| Mueller's Statement.
| DR.. Mueller said today that he
has left the case in the hands OF
States Attorney Bell. He said that
the states attorney will take III
the quarantine case together with
charges Of Mettler practicing with
out a state license. The case Of the
alleged non-reporting OF smallpox
vas continued in police court until
Jan. 20.
| In the meantime four homes have
been placed under quarantine in
the east end district. -Four per
sons are down with smallpox in
one home and one person in eaci
OF three other homes.
Mettler Makes Statement.
/. Relative to the charges against
him Mettler made the following
statement today:
"In explanation of the charge
preferred against me by the city
health otficexs l desire to say thai
was not in the home of the fam
lily in question at any time that any
member was suffering from small
pox.
Il did adjust a member Of thu
family on a few occasions prior II
: Christmas day. but there were NJ
symptoms Of smallpox.
Not wanting outside calls l sug
gested that the family call in a To-
cal physician in this case. and was
not in the house after Christina
day.
II have positive information tina
the physician consulted in the CASE
directly after l suggested that {
physician be called, diagnosed thu
case as a disease other than small
pox.
II do not consider myself respon
l sible for the spread of smallpox o.
: any epidemic in the east part 0
: the city, or any other part"
!