The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-02-08

DR.. j. B. RUSSELL, so called, for some
time has figured in our city as a specialist,
with an office on North Court street, and
residing periodically with his wife and
daughter ut one or the other of the leading
hotels. By liberal advertising this worthy
had secured IN extensive practice, and WAS
making considerable money, which he not
only sQuandered, but he went into debt
besides, SO that there are parties left to
mourn his loss to the amount of several
thousand dollars.
An interesting history has this eminent
disciple Of Galen, if we are rightly inform
cd. AT or about the breaking out of the
war he was Il resident Of the classic purlicus
OF Woodbury., n. j., Of which place his wife
is a native, respectfully connected. His
right name is Richard ). Hewitt. Convict.
ed Of horSe-stealIng about that time, he was
lodged in the county Jail, from which he
broke, some time in 1861. Making his way
to Baltimore he established himself in IN
Office and engaged in business as DR.. Beck.
Here he was soon joined by his family. Fail
ing to impress the good people of the Monu-
mental city with his genius, and getting into
trouble besides, he quietly slid out with
his family one morning, and next turned
llp in the same line Of business ut New Or
leans, soon after the occupation of that
place by tie national army. In New Or
leans he found Il wide field for the exercise
of his genius, the chaotic state of society
produced by the war being favorable, and
soon was in the enjoyment of an extensive
practice, though, TO tell the truth, he had
not received the first elements of the edu-
cation Of a physician. What he knew, or
pretended to know, in the line of practice
he followed he acquired from observa-
nlmnDIefS-
which, perhaps, may be added some
personal experience i'll what he pre-
tended to cure. Getting into trouble,
! lie found it convenient to leave the CreS-
cent City, and one day, in 1.66, the emf
nent and enterpri>ng gentleman, with his
carpet-bag. case of instruments, and roll OF
plasters and bandages, turned up in Men,
phiS, where he opened an Office and adver-
tised us "Dr. Russell, established ten years
in Memphis" etc. vi his operations here,
except that hc put on style. lived fast, and
yictimiZed all whom he could, and worked
up il practice among the depraved of both
sexes, little is known. Some two weeks ago
a brother-in-law Of the worthy Doctor drop
ned down flom the clouds, or somewhere
else, and gently reminded him of an old debt
of 5000, which must be paid instanter. Doc
torrepudiated, then demonstrated. Brother
in-law furious; must have money, or there
would be the devil to pay. Doctor, out of
funds and credit exhausted, could not COM
ply, and the result was that, after some le-
cal advice, brother-in-law telegraphed to
the Governor of New Jersey for a requisi-
ton for the festive doctor; hearing of
which, the latter disappeared with his
worldly effects, some days ago, and was
soon followed by his family. Where they
have gone is unknown. 1t is reported,
however, that Hewitt alias Beck, alias
Russell, has since been seen in Bolivar,
Tenn. Creditors in the sum Of three thou
sand dollars are known of, and it is posi-
BILE this amount does not half cover his
debts. His wife borrowed forty dollars
from an acquaintance the day before leav-
ing, and forgot to pay it. The brother-in.
law, whose presence here has brought all
these facts to light, is named ". Il. Ches-
ter, and his wife is sister of DR.. Russell,
so called, whom Chester does not hesitate
to say is .first-class rascal, in every sense OF
the word .-Men1phis Aralanche.