The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-11-27
ACTION FOLLOWS DEATH OF PERKERSON Ousted Physician Refuses To Talk At Present
 Time LEGAL ACTION
 MAY BE TAKEN Dr. Irons Says He May Make Statement By
 Attorney

Dr. E. P. Hogan, superin- tendent of the Hillman hos pital, Wednesday night sus- pended from duty for an in definite period Dr. Robert c. Irons, interne, following an in. vestigation into the death of JIG. Perkerson, at the hospital Tuesday morning. Coroner J. D. Russum Friday will be. gin an investigation into the circumstances surrounolng Perkerson's death.
 Dr. Hogan in a statement made to a representative of The Age-Herald said he based his action upon disclosures made by nurses and internes, who at tended Perkerson when he was brougnt to the hospital for admittance. This questioning brought out the fact that an argument had ensued between two internes whether or not the man should be admitted.
 "I disapprove of the attitude taken by the interne in the matter sunday night when he countermanded the or ders of another interne and nurse who had gone over the man and had al- ready admitted him." Dr. Hogan sad.
 "In the first place I believe that pr. Irons assumed too much authority when he countermanded the order. Tn the second place l do not approve ol his attitude in calling the poilce ana having the man sent to jail. lie should have called an ambulance and had nm carried back to his rooms" the doctor said. sal
 Positive orders have been issued te all the staff that all patients should be given the benefit of the doubt. Ther- was doubt in the minds of two attend ants and he was admitted. Dr. Irons made a mistake in countermandlng tniS admittance."
 The order of suspension was sent to Dr. Irons in a letter Wednesday night, Dr. Hogan stated. When he talked with The Age Herald representative he had been unable to see the interne, he said.
 Refuses to Talk
 When an Age-Herald representative locoted Dr. Irons at his residence, 90o Georgia avenue, he had not been notl- fled of his suspension, he stated. He refused to discuss the matter, saying, II have nothing to say until after l have seen Dr. Hogan. Il will then probably make my statement in le- gal way"
 A. K. Patterson, proprietor of the White House hotel, where the man was first picked up by the ambulance and taken to the Hillman, declared that the man was not drinking at the time he registered at the hotek Sunday after noon. After he had been removed there was nothing found in his room to indi- cate that he had been drinking while alone, the innkeeper stated.
 The internes and nurses at the hos pital who thought that the man should be admitted, however declared that there was every indication that he had been drinking One of the nurses de- clared that she could smell it on his breath.
 Sent to Hospital
 Dr. F. B. Sutton, morning warden at the city jail, who ordered the man sent to the hospital for the second time, de- clared Wednesday night that when he looked at the sick man he impressed him as one who was suffering with de- lirium.
 Perkerson is alleged to have told the innkeeper, who remarked on his sober ness, that he had quit drinking.
 II joked him about being sober, and he answered that he had quit fighting the booze" Patterson declared.
 Dr. Trice, interne who treated Perker- son, told Dr. Hogan that the mans face was stained with blood. He added that he admitted him on account of standing orders that patients shall be given the benefit of the doubt" this statement indicating the intern's be- lief that the patient was intoxicated. Trice said his examination of Perker- son included only the head.
 Irons In Charge
 Dr. R. c. Irons, who was in charge at the hospital for the night, and who is said to have given the order that sent Perkerson to jail, examined the patient while he was being prepared by Trice for admission to ward, the investiga- ton showed.
 After the patrol wagon removed Perk- erson, his admittance card, which Trice had filled out, was torn up, New ad- mission papers were prepared when he was returned Monday night in criti- cal condition. He died an hour and forty-five minutes after his arrival, and the hospital diagnosis gave the cause of death as ''acute alcoholism"
 Perkerson's body is being held at Lige Loy's Undertaking parlors pend ing the outcome of the investigation and the locating of his relatives.