Iowa territorial gazette and advertiser. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa Territory [Iowa]) 1840-1846, 1846-03-28


ing sketcl, Of the history and last moments
Of this remarkable man, from the Pittsbnrg
Journal, which will be read with much
interest:
Den Of Dr.. Praddee, the Null Robber.
On Friday night, this notorious and in
many respects remarkable man, died in his
cell, in the Western Penitentiary. He was
convicted of robbing the mails and impris-
oned it will be remembered, in lS4l, pur-
snant to sentence by Judge Baldwin, for
ten years. Shortly after his incarceration
he conceived the idea Of procuring his lib
Grafton. BY Stimulating decline Of health.
For this purpose, he would prick his gums
with the avis which were supplied to him
in the vocation he had chosen, that Of shoe
maker, and having saturated his towel
with blood, was always prepared for the
stated visit of physician or chaplain, with
this evidence Of dangerous hemorrhage
from the lungs, to which he was always
careful to add, difficult and painful respi
ration. His physic was able sometimes,
te engage the suffering doctor in conversa-
tons, in which he would become sufficient
" animated to forget his painful breathing;
but, on the instant that lie would recollect
himself, the difficulty would return. These
practices, it Is believed, brought on the dis
ease which terminated his life, and he died
at last OF a pulmonary affection.
Until two weeks before his death his
h,.l e. 1,bl fur
but then, he began to sink rapidly. Up
TO this period he had steadily and yehe-
mently asserted his innocence OF the crimes
imputed 10 him, but so soon as he became
convinced that his recovery was impossi-
bic, he confessed his guilt, and although
we are restrained By prudential considera-
tons, from further allusion to this point,
we may venture to add, that in his confess
sion he has implicated several persons who
had not been suspected Of participating in
his crimes.
! II is worthy Of remark also that the doc
tor who had gained amastonishing reputa
ton as physician determining or preten-
ding to determine, the precise symptom in
any case Of disease, BY an examination Of
the patients urinary discharges, felt con-
strained BY approaching death to confess
that his system was nothing but humbug.
His success in This humbug is another evil
drnuc Of hi, remarkable shrewdness Of
character. He stated that il was his prac-
tice, on making a professional visit, TO
which he usually rode on horseback many
miles to hear the first representations about
I hn Ct of Of he ,nd tboy, h.. ts.n,ll
decline making an examination, or prescrip-
ton, on the plea of fatigue or hunger, or
both. until lie should have rested and
eaten.
| It never failed, he said, that during the
interval Of preparing the meal, and loung-
ing about for repose he could gather from
the inmates tolerably full history Of The
case 10 which he was called, SO that when
he came to an examination Of the ST. MS IN a
ressel, he was generally able TO read back
pretty full ana accurate account of the
several symptoms which distressed his
patient. This gave him tremendous rep
u,ation at once, although his cures were not
astonishing. The vast income he derived
from his dupes, is well known.
1t IS known that Braddee's wife who
chung to him during his trial, and suggest
ed BY her presence and the signs Of allie
ton, that beautiful apostrophe to love in
anguish, with which Mr.. Biddle, in Brad
dee's defence, electrified the crowded au-
ditory, had been untailhful to her vows and
married another during Braddee's impris-
onment. He was not made acquainted
with the fact, and for the five years he was
in confinement. he was fond of an opportu-
nifty Of talking about his wife and children.
He spoke Of them in terms OF warm affec-
ton; and undoubtedly his desire torecover
his liberty was stimulated by attachment
to them even after he became aware that
he must soon die; he desired to be at lib
erty, even it it were to die in a barn, to the
end, that he might not die prisoner. But
50 soon as he learned the conduct of his
wife, he Instantly cease / to wish for free
dom. II was the final blow to the poor
convict, the unexpected thrust like that
which extorted the memorable ct tn Frute,
commanding surrender; aud poor fellow,
he gave up at once. He never after mem
toned wife or child, or desired to move
beyond the limits Of his cell. The name
Of his wife was avoided with an iron v ill,
although for the previous years Of his con
fnement it had been q pleasant and hope
full theme.
A question was long time existing,
whethel Braddee could read or write. In
his last illness, it was satisfactorily ascer-
,ained that he could do neither, although
every effort in the earlier part Of his i'm
prisonment to determine the question was
unsuccessful. * 1870
/ Braddee died penitent, it is believed:
we do know that he has got his discharge
Ii he was very great villain, lie seems to
have had, nevertheless, room in his heart
for some afEec,ionate impulses; and we can
not record his fidelity to his wife, without
feeling regret that she proved uniaithfuI.
Misery and scnnt IL The Quaker city
The Police Reporter of the Philadelphia
Ledger, gives an account OF visit through
the novels of Kensington, which discloses
fearful amount Of suffering and wretch
edness: children and aged people dying
with hunger, Or freezing to death, in sight
Of luxurious abundance youth burrowing
( n A. 4