Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-08-21
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LOCAL NE w q.
BLACK MAIL.

ExtOPtIen Practiced ON q Physician
By n PoIiceman-ExP0sur and Dis
charge OF the Latter.
A case Of outrageous extortion praeticed
upon a physician of this city by police
officer, has recently come to our knowl-
edge. As the affair has, however appar-
emily terminated without public prosecu-
tion, we forbear mentioning the names OF
parties, and give merely an outline OF the
principal facts as warning to police off,
GERS aud detectives, who may be tempted
to similar abuse OF power.
Some time In February last, a young
woman called upon practlcing physician
in the city, and desired his services rs an
abortionist. He Indignantly refused to per-
form any such service. The woman per-
sisted In her request; but the Doctor was
inexorable. She at length declared that
she had been taking medicines and using
other violent means to produce the result
she desired, and Inquired If she should sue
ceed, and BE- in peril. whether the Doctor,
If sent for, would administer to her needs.
He replied that he never fused to obey a
call to save human life or relieve suffering.
The physician saw or heard nothing more
of his female visitor till some six weeks
ago, when she sent for him in great haste.
He found she had succeeded In her efforts
and was in a dangerous condition. He
prescribed for her, and she recovered. o
One day last week, the Doctor was abb
ruptly called upon by police officer, who
desired private interview with him. This
was granted. The officer told him he had
come to arrest him for procuring an abor-
ton on the woman referred to above. The
Doctor affirmed his innocence of the foul
charge The officer said it was a sure
thing on him; the woman herself, and 9th
ers equally desperate, would swear to it.
The Doctor was indignant. The policeman
said it could be settled for three hundred
dollars-the least sum he could possibly
take, and that If the Doctor did not pay
him that amount, he would expose him,
and forthwith take him to the station house
and lock him up. The physician said he
would like to have counsel in the affair, as
he was unacquainted with legal proceed
ings, and proposed to the officer to go with
him to lawyers Office. This the officer
peremptorily refused to do, and said he
would give the Doctor five minutes to make
I'D his mind, as to whether he would pay
over the three hundred dollars or 60 to the
lookup. ..
The physician began to reflect. He was
in this mans power. He knew not to what
extent desperate persons in conspiracy to
extort money, might perjure themselves.
He had recently established himself in
practice here, and of all things dreaded any
notoriety of the sort likely to arise, from
his arrest on the alleged false charge. At
length he told the officer he had not the
money at command. The policeman see
ing he had an elegant gold watch on his
person worth the amount or over, proposed
to take it for two hundred dollars, and the
Doctors notes OF hand for the balance. The
Doctor, accordingly, to save himself from
immediate arrest and Imprisonment, de-
livered the officer his watch, and gave him
his two prommissory notes for fifty dollars
each.
The Doctor consulted with his friends
and took legal advice. He traced out the
woman, in whose name the charge against
him was made, and in the presence of
witness, she signed a certificate stating that
the charge was utterly groundless and
false. Steps were Immediately taken for
the arrest of the extortionate policeman and
the recovery of the watch and notes. For
some time he succeeded in keeping out of
the way, but was at length cornered and
placed under arrest. The thing was too
palpable for him to deny or evade the
charge against him. The watch and the
notes were returned to the Doctor, and the
policeman was, by the authorities over him,
forthwith discharged from the services of
the city. ss
The policeman's excuse or apology for
the foul game he played on the Doctor is
that he was inveigled into it by another
physician, whom we will call DR.. x. DIR.
X. met him one day, and told him he (Dr.
X had such thing on the other physician;
that it could be proved; that he (the Off
cer) might make handsome sum out of it,
and that as he was poorly paid by the city,
it would be right for him to do it. DR.. X.
said he would furnish the names and proof,
and go halves with him in whatever money
should be made by the operation. The po-
licemau bit at the bait, and hence fell into
disgrace which, if his story is true, should