Thibodaux minerva. [volume] (Thibodaux, La.) 18??-1858, 1854-12-30
The Case of DR.. Eeals.

more perplexiue and extraordinary case tha
that Of Dir. Beae has probably never occureo
| Let Us briefly reeaptuiate the leading facts
| Dr. Beale IS d highly respectable Dentist III til
! city Of Phiadeipha-s married man, with
| large family. and has ever borne all un0lemlsh
ed reputation. Some months ago Miss Mude
a young lady of spotless character and ex
eellent feaiily-eaIed at Dr.. Beaie's 10 hav
a tooth extracted. The operation Was pertornaot
while Hiss Nudge was laboring under the in
fuence Of ehloroform. At its Termination sh,
arose, went away very quietly, stopped on he
way home, and eat iee-cream, finally reached
her house, and then informed her parents tina
Or. Beale had taken advantages OF the lethargit
condition produced by the chlorof3rni, to commit
the toulest of outrages upon her person. Tae
accused was arrested, and in due season brought
to trial, and convicted upon the exclusive testi-
mony Of Miss Nudge. whose evidence was q
clear, consistent and connected narrative. The
counter testimony established the uniform good
character Of the accused his high standing ex-
tenslye practice, position as a married man.
and all the collateral circumstances which would
tend 10 throw improbability upon tho char;rc,
Dir. Beate was sentenced to imprisonment for d
term Of years, .he meanwhile III the most affect
ing manner protesting his utter innocence OF
the foul deed imputed to him.
The sequel to this singular drama is most
surprising. First, the wife Of the condemned
addresses a petition to the Executive OF Penn
sFlvana, setting forth her absolute belief in tire
innocence OF her husband, and entire confidence
in his morality, rectitude and honor. Next
the public at large are 50 completely convinced
that Or. t}eatc was more sinned against than
shining, that they sign by thousands petition
to Gov Blgier praying for the pardon of the
prisoner. Third, Mr.. Throekmorton, who was
engaged to Miss Nudge at the time of the
alleged crime, and who has since married her.
publicly declares that the charge must have
originated in error, gnd that Dr. Deae is
guiltless. These several occurrences are of a
nature to shake the confidence CT tue community
in the business of the verdict out as we shall
see, medical experience and observation have
that Dr. BeaIe has befn the victim Of an hallu-
cination on the part Of Mss Nudge, which
however strange, is far more frequent than the
might imagine
Meetings of physicians and dentist have been
held III New York and PHILADELPHIA convened
for the express purpose of bringing the lights of
medicine to bear upon the obscure question in
volyed in the case Of DR.. Beale At these
attAUSl every rtDiS0S.t}dl ttHiIt-
man had one or more cases TO relate. occurring
in his own practice. Illustrative Of The dreams
and delusions which take firm possession of the
minds eff ndiv;duals-especiaIly women in
whom the nervous element largely predominates
when subjected to the power OF an;esthct;c
agents. The incidents narrated are scarcely Of
a character to warrant their detailed pubIiea-
ton. Let it suffice, that i'll many instances
young ladies, accompanied by their parents.
having had ether or chloroform administered
prior to dental operation, have manifested
erotic feelings, and when recosering from the
Of the drug, have been with great
difficulty persuaded that the operator did not
take improper liberties with them. One young
ady- though in the presence Of her father. who
repeatedly assured her of her error loudly
accused the dentist of taking advantage Of her
situation TO kiss her; another was so fully con
'inced that she had been insrlted and outraged
Turing her somnolenee, that. though tie ope-
'ator was the family dentist, and continued Tor
many years to enjoy the confidence and pat
'onage Of her parents, she could never bear 10
ook upon him again. A third. a married lady,
vas aelirious during the period Of etherization, |
md imagining that her husband was present. !
ddiessed him with the utmost tenderness.
alling him by endearing names and carressing |
i'm fondly. On recovering. she seemed con- |
cious of what had passed, thanked the dentist |
or his Kindness. and left the Office. Soon
forwards she began to recall her dreams, and |
eeame greatly distressed, sunnosing she mad
assed the whole time alone with the dentist I
fhich was not the case, ard believing firmly |
nd truly that all her hallueinations were reaIi-
les; that she had actually passed though these
Genes with the dentist, she divuiged all to her
usband and friends. They were of course
licensed, lodged an accusation against the
perator, and were on the point Of having lin
rrested, when eminent medical counsel was
onsulted, an interview with the dentist had.
nd such eireumstantial evidence addueed, rs to
rove that the whole was an utter delusioa ON
re part of the lady.
We might cite dozen similar exenspIifeations
the effect of chloroform in creating the
.rongest impressions, and in provoking the
aimal propensities, but the Illustrations given
re quite sufficient to satisfy any thoughtful
ind that the guilt of DR.. BeaIe is moro than
oubtful. It is a terrible thing for the reputa-
on of q gentleman to be utterly blasted his
prospects overthrow: himself torn
ON his family. and immured in a dungeon for
ears upon a charge which the highest medical
lthority declares to be in all probability IN
unded. The injury suffered by DR.. Beale is
d certain extent irreparable. Il has been
sgraeed by an accusation of felony, dragged
fore criminal court, subjected to the indig- /:
ty Of trial, conviction, sentence and imprison-
ent, his feelings and those of his helpless
mily utterly wounded and laeerates Aiithis,
ongh inevitable, would not be deplorable in
e event of well ascertained guilt, for sin must
rrysits punishment, and part of the retribution
the law consists in that deep seated shame
id infany which are the conconitants Of a t
lblie trial. But how lamentable must it be. Il
len we reflect that Dr. Beale is almost une-
liyoeally innocent, and has only been con-
mned through the unskillfulness or ignorance
his counsel, in emitting to bring forward
csc results Of medical experience in the adj
Of chloroforin Let us trust that 9 !,
ompt and unconditional pardon will in some I
aasnre expiate the cruel wrong he has suffered.
Il reiastate him in the position previously :
cupied by him as yirtuous and honorable
izen,-N @. Bee II
An ASEcDoTE OF THE CzaR.-At q recent /,
,eting held at Pittsburg. Judge Wilkins. who 1 ,
i formerly Minister to Russia, thus alluded d
q scene in the palace of the Car on a gala 7
y. He said that the bearded serf. the haugh- I L
noble, rich and poor, were alike admitted to i
presence Of the Emperor on that day, and 7
1t consequently a large body Of armed men a
re necessary to preserve order. He said that tt
lie leaning over the gideti railing of tie
4 Z II 4