The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-11-28
CORONER RUSSUM WILL QUESTION .HOSPITALlTERNE Dr. T. s. Trice To Be
 Quizzed Regarding Death Certificate FORMAL INQUEST
 TO OPEN TODAY Dr. Irons Explains Why
 He Refused Patient Admittance

| Dr. 5. T. Irlce, alIlHan nOS- pital interne, who signed the death certificate of J. B. Per kerson, alias H. Claude Per- kins, alias H. c. Parkinson, will be the first man called Friday morning by Coroner J. ID. Russum, when he opens a formal inquest into the cir cumstances surrounding the death of Perkerson at the hos pital early Tuesday morning.
 Perkerson's death caused the suspen- sion of Dr. Robert A. Irons Wednesday night for alleged neglect of duty. Be. sides Dr. Price, Coroner Russom wil! call several other persons before him to 1 testify.
 Dr. Trice will be asked to explain why | he signed the certificate, acute alocohol- ism," when the body of the man was covered with bruises, Coroner Russom said Thursday night.
 "With the certificate so signed l would have probably overlooked what might have been q serious crime against the state of Alabama, if the rndertakers who received the body had not called my attention to it's battered condition. There appears to be more underneath I than is shown on the surface," the cor oner said.
 ] "I intend to go into the matter as thoroughly as possible, and investigate every angle of the case. This will prob ably take several days and am unable at the present time to say whether an Iautopsy will be held or not" Will Gail Others Besides the interne who signed the death certificate, three members of the city jail staff, Dr. r. B. Sutton, night warden: Patrol Drivers Joe Cobb and l W. A. little, and prisoner by the name of Gluick, will be called to testi- fy. The inquest is slated 10 begin at s o'clock.
 It developed Thursday that the dead man had been sent to the hospital three times instead of twice. R. N. Randall, warden at the jail, said that he sent the man to the hospital :35 o'clock Monday afternoon.
 Tnterne Questioned Dr. E. P. Hogan questioned the interne on duty at that hour, he stated, Thursday afternoon. The interne, he said had received a patient brought in | by two officers. The story he told Dr. Hogan tallied with the story told by the officers, and leads tc the belief that it was the same man. Dr. Hogan request ed the interne to look at the body Fri day so that he could be sure. Practically the whole staff of internes at the hospital are greatly upset by | the incident Tuesday morning, Dr ! Hogan stated. One, apparently express ing the opinion of all, stated Thursday night that he was ready to quit" They are placed in a peculiar position. i Dr. Hogan said, as they want to do what is right and some times find it hard to do sc under the circumstances, as the crowded conditions of the hospital will not permit them to admit every pa l tient.
 Irons Issues Statement Dr. Irons, the suspended interne, in an interview with an Age-Herald repre- sentative Thursday night, set forth his reasons for refusing to admit PerkersOn as patient. He said that after making an examination he was convinced that the man was intoxicated, and for that reason refused to permit him to be ad- mitted.
 "1t was my impression the interne in charge had the option of refusing admittance in intoxication cases, if he so desired" Dr. Irons said. However. Dr. Hogan takes an opposite view of this matter, and if am reinstated will admit all such cases with ques- tion."
 Explaining his action, Dr. Irons said ] that he examined Perkerson physically as fully as the case warranted. He also talked with the man and said he did not appear to be in a delirious condition. During this conversation Perkerson told him that he had been drinking. After applying several tests, l diagnosed him as intoxicated. I al- lowed him to remain on q cot and in- stru"ted that he be watched When I returned from an exami- nation of another patient again came to see Perkerson. His condition seemed to be improved, and after several more tests, decided that he was intoxicated and that his condition did not indicate ! that he should be admitted" Dr. Irons said.
 Case Diagnosed
 "He was diagnosed intoxicated by another doctor before I released him. He was also diagnosed intoxicated by third doctor when admitted the sec Continued On Page TwO.)