The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1875-06-10
QUEER QUACKERY.
JERSEYS NEW SCHOOL OF MEDI-
CINE

JERSEYS NEW SCHOOL OF MEDI-
CINE.
A NEGRO BLACKSMITH SACRIFICES HIS PA
TIENTs-GoRY SIGNS OF THE CRoss-LoNG
PRAYERS, BLOOD, AND INcARNATIoN.
OF all tho aggravated cases of qnackerv,
and they are many, the following, described
by the New York Mercury, is probably the
worst: The oft-repsated saying that "sllthe
fools are not dead yet" now finds exemplih-
cation in the homage that many well-to-do
f4miles in West Hoboken, and for
colored man, benjamin. franklin
Gennette by name, who assumes that he IS
disciple of Christ, and has power TO heal the
sick. The incantations and mummerles or
Gannette leaked out upon the death or Mr.
Christave Haag, wealthy citizen OF west
Hoboken, enc of his patients. Mr.. Hsag
had long be5n suffering with consumption,
and was given up by his doctors. W nile
confined to his house, patiently awaiting
the coming of the dread messenger, ne re-
ceiyed a visit from Gennette, who, for the
sum of $50, said he would restore him to
perfect health. Gennette proclaimed him
self a seventh son." also a disciple of
Christ, and, like the Great Master, gifted
with healing power by the simple laying on
OF hands. With peculiar righteousness of
the New Testament, and finally induced
Hssg to believe that he could really cure
him. Gennette informed Mr.. Haag that 1t
was not his mission to interfere with the
works of men, and that he should not have
called unless he knew that Mr.. III. had been
given up by the doctors. He then said that
his charge would be Sl50,s25 in advance, and
he balance when cure was effected. Inc
required amount was paid, when Gennette
at once went to work. He began by scarity,
ing Haag with some sort OF sharp and
peculiarly. pointed instrument. Commencing
at the neck, he rapidly made a large number
OF crosses in the shape of an \ over the en-
tire chest OF his patient, from many OF which
cuts or scratches the blood flowed freely,
causing some alarm in Mr.. Hasg's mind.
Gennette's next procedure was to
RUB THE WOUNDS WITH VINEGAR,
the smarting OF which set the poor man
half wild. Then he knelt beside the sick
man and offered long, rambling prayer, in
the course of which he recited many pas
sages Of Scripture. At subsequent visits the
disciple 1--WE his patient so:ne sort of lotion
wherewith to annoint his body and limbs,
and a mixture, the smell of which was
almost intolerable, to be taken internally.
He made daily visits 10 Mr.. Haag, who be-
came so in Infatuated with him that, believing
himself in fair way of recovery, he paid
GenRette $50 more, and offered to give MIN
an additional $50 to the price hrst
glee, and assured the family that
Mr.. Haag would be walking about
well man on the 1st of June On the night
OF the date mentioned he called at the house
and asked to see Mr.. Hasg, when he was
told that Mr.. Haag was dead and that his
body was up stairs on ice, and that he had
better go away. MutteTing something
about the poor man having been poisoned
or killed by the doctors Gennette left the
premises. Decomposition having set in
very rapidly, it was found impossible to
nave kept the body as long as the family
desired, and Mr.. Haag's funeral accordingly
took place or Wednesday last. DIR. Stout,
the county physician, was called upon to
give a certificate of burial, and the treat
msnt under which Mr. Haag died, has since
called forth much discussion in West Hobo
n. A Mercury reporter yesterday called
upon Mr.. Dens, a near neighbor and intimate
friend of the late Mr.. Haag. In the course
of conversation on the subject Of his friends
death he said: "Last Tuesday morning, Mrs
Hsag came running over to me TO come and
ses her husband, and wanted to know if
did not think he was better, as he was rest
ing so quietly. told her 1t was my opinion
that he would not live the day out, and only
few hours afterwards he was dead" what
did Gennette do for Mr.. Haag?" .sDoi what
you wouldn't do TO horse. He
CUT CROSSES ALL OVER HIS BREAST,
and then rubbed him with vinegar. After
that he prayed, and prayed, and prayed for
him to get well. But Mr.. Hasg had conf
dence in him, and really thought that he
was doing him good" ibid you see Gen
nette cut him?" 81 did not, but 1 saw the
crosses all over his breast about an hour af-
| terward. The cuts or scratches were deep
enough to draw blood. Genpette SAID he
never would handle any patients until they
were given up by the doctors. ""What kind OF
medicine did Gennette give him?" That's
what don't know. He brought it already
made in a champagne bottle, and you
couldn't stay in the room for the stencil.
1t was horrible! The smell of it was enough
| to make a man sick for eight daysi And |
wonder Haag stood it as long he did"
In the second OF row of small frame houses
opposite the silk factory at West Hoboken,
the writer found Charles Schoepf, who
acknowledged himself a patient of Gem
nette's. Schoepf occupied scantily furnished
room on the second floor, and near the win
dow was large roll of lustrous black silk,
upon which he was at work, clipping in
qualities in the fabric. He said that he had
consumption and rheumatism, and was not
able to do much work at a time. His legs,
he said, were so swollen that he could
scarcely walk. lis Frank Gennette
doctoring your" queried the writer.
| les; s6nI lOI ulm dDOuI seVon
weeks ago, and ne comes to see me
nearly every day, though have never paid
him anything" "What did he do
when he first came TO see you?''
'He cut me all over the breast and on
my legs from the knees down. He used
some sort of aqueer-shaped knife. You can
see the marks YETI Here the poor fellow
barred his neck and breast, which were COW
cred with crosses in the shape of an x, and
also exhibited his legs, which were similarly
marked. "What did he do them" "He
gave me some sort of tea and
/ sAssAFRAs AND WHISKY,
and washed me with vinegar. Then be
prayed, sour Father who art in heaven
and "Praise be to God" and lots of Other
things. He told me ought to read the
Bible, that it was the best book out, and
could get Bible for eighty cents, ana ought
to have one, and so on" "Do Won feel bet