, 1863-02-16
Tho Alleged 1kape Case.
EditorH Chfrarn F,rtht1ra.

As my name has, Of late, been paradctl quite con-
eplt uoltly in the COLUMNS OF yonr haper vel A.
fhs es q tnf IT. atss rsn IN
am branded with A0ying committed one Of tho
fouleat and blaclscst Of crimes, made to appear
OH 1,se charged nga5nrt me and therefore, mort-
irg the lctcetation and abhorrecc Of the commit
nifty. I feel constrained, Ill behalf Of myself, my
pend their Judgment until thc charge asainat INC
can he exa.nned and passed upon by a Jury Of ny
eountTJmcn: feel that great wrong and i1lnstce
etargc made against me has bcen conmcntcd
uroh, md It looks like attempt to prejudsc my
cage, and to crcuio such prejudice against nc as
presumed 10 Ic INNOCENT until tried and con
xIeted but such has not been tho esec with me.
dcnancd ns ..i!ty OF tho Infamous crime Of rape.
nioSry n,a ie bazonaa forth IL tic Columns of t
Rnl RtenJ..ly leit withheid: The articles sram to have
bfcn wljttcn with tho full object aid Intent to
*:cslsc public Indignation against mt, and 10 hay.
prblic guilty, beyond pcsatverture, Of tic i'll
famous crime charged. No ellusion was r.lls to
Inc circumstances Of the case, which, If publish
al, Elsht show doubt Oh the base charge; but It
wHs simply set forth that The evidence OF nj; guilt
was direct and positive. complain OF this as =
monssTous wrong. Ny reputation ia a. dear to
nnsrllied by any actor deed, aud eau plaInjy ray
that thousands Of my former patients 'setiI live
and will bear testimony to the fa1hfalucss, watch
fulness, eEill and Encccss with which they were
ten years. and get in order still more to injure my
Standing as physician, am charged in four pa
pe5E viii hayInE been in the "gsoccEy business"
grocery wa. to exchange come real estate for
stork Of groceries AID liquors, which again toou
disposed Of all The time psacticing my profession.
t!e circumstances Of the alleged rape. It was Sta
ted In the papers that the offence was perpetrated
NJ private Office, upon m Invalid girl. leaving
ont he fact thst se vailed to and from my house
leaving It to bc inferred that my private office was
In some locality where such an offence could be
committed with impunity. But what will, and
c!ous charge, when 1t IL known that the alleged
rape WIS sworn 10 have been committed at al ear
y hour in the evening, in the sitting-room Of my
locked doore, one opening into the apartments Of
my wife, who was in there at tue time, another
opening Into the hall through which people were
opening Tito tie ifont room Which use as an oce,
ard in which three ladies were sitting during the
whole time. Nay, more! 4 family has aud Is lir-
asbeen and i in tie room Immediately beneath.
and tho building fsdMts Oh one Of the busiest and
most thronged streets in the city. These rooms,
teo. occupied By nyaelf and family in common,
where VIC were constantly receiving calls as every
one knows who has called ut MY house.
IhS girIs evidence as to 1he crime Itself Is
equally a"sunt. She testified that while I was
making examination to satisfy n,yse1f as to her
complaint, Que Of tho three ladies sitting In the
rext room opened the door and looked in and that
when tlc closed the door again. took the COM
plniunnt by one arm. aud pushed her against the
side Of tic room. In answer to questions put to
her by my attorney ehe swore that she pushed me
ftcm her as coon As che eomp!eheuded what was
doing that che did rot rush from the room. and
IVES unat1c to scream. though sue had sufficient
strength to push mc from her, and that asked her
to take scat and compose herself. aud come and
sec INT often. This statement was sworn to By
hetaff.
Now, I submit to auy medical man, and to every
rrr:on Of common sense, whether any sane man,
much less physician In full practice md respect.
able standing. could or would attempt to commit
= rape, or any act Of the Kind or If attempted
could possibly l.c accomplished under the c;rcuna:
Stances as detailed BY the witness? dccase he.
fore God, am entirely innocent OF the crime
charged against me! l have been rcmorseleesy
aud cansclessly wrongcd and outraged, and Il
Code justice prevails ehall Jet he fully vinlica
ted, and Just Tetrihution fnll upon my 1evers and
Prosecutors, and those who have instigatsl this
1noet infamous clar,e against me-a charge ha;-
ing 10 foundation whatever. and made with mo.
tivce and designs known only to Themselves and
their God. EZRA n. WInrpLc.
CHICAGO, Feb. 18th, 1893.