The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1875-11-19


freight it is the duty of our merchants
THE JOHN WATERMAN CASE.
Interview with d.. Mckinney.
The following appeared in the Union Of
yesterday Thursday morning:
MOLINE, Nov Il, 49,.
TO the Editor of the Union
The report comes to me this morning that ore
who has for years been considered insane on re-
llgiOus subjects but perfectly harmless. while suffer
ing from cancer which Is certain to prove tai.
shivcrs over stove in his own house from lack Of
while woman is paid ten dollars Il week
TO cook and wash for him ard carries his meals
him, and one of our prominent physicians pays
visits three or four times week to him. though lie
never gives him any medicine, both drawing pay
from conservator appointed by the court. who
now refuses to allow any one to visit the old man
and threatens the neghbors with the police if they
attempt to do So The funds from which the ply
stefan and woman receive their pay, and h: con-
SCI vator his are unders God to have been derived
from the sale of a portion of this mans lands on
the bluff; could not the money to be paid for 1he
useless visits OF physician, who. If he had any
self respect would not make Wis Is where he Can do
10 good,.be dispensed with and the IN neg APPLIED
to buying the old man dc ,ent suit Of clothes to
keep him warm while he lives, and bury him when
dead? And why may not he harmless gossip of
kindly hearted neighbors cheer his lonely heart
and last hours? Y Y,
Eugene Lewis, Esq, is the conservator
referred to; DR.. Mckinnie the ply stefan;
Mrs. Mcdonald the lady attendant, and
John Waterman the patient referred 70 in
the above communication.
As soon as your reporter was satisfied
as to whom Xxx referred he proceeded to
hunt up Mr. Lewis, vino denied the
charges and stated that the author Of the
article was well-known and would no doubt
be fully ventilated but that he (Lewis) de-
clined to have anything to say publicly
about the matter. and referred to DR.. Z.
L. McKinnie, who was at first disposed to
pass uun0ticed the slanderous com4nunica-
ton, bat, as it soon became the general
conversation of the gossips, Dr. Mckiunie
finally consented to be interviewed this
morning, the text of which will be found
below. DR. Mex is one Of the very best
physicians i'll the county, beside being
kind hearted, whole souled man, and
universally regarded as incapable of dis
honorable action. Under the circum-
stances he felt keenly the malicious attack
of XX.
Below will be found the interview
| between your Local and Dr. Mckinnie
Reporter-Iou are the physician referr-
ed to in the article of Xxx in the Union OF
Thursday?
McKinnie-I am.
| R-What foundation, if ant, exists fol
the charges contained therein?
! Mex. None whatever. MIR. Water
man receives all the care that can be ex
! tended, in his mental condition, which at
times assumes a wild form of insanity
which is aggravated bv the visits of hi.
own family, and necessitates the procuring
of such attendants as he will accept Hi,
family are ready and willing 10 help him
in any manner calculated to alleviate hi:
sufer;ngs, but their efforts and attentions
are uniformly refused. Mrs. Mcdonald
i the lady inquestion, is whole souled
generous hearted woman and is untiring il
her attention to the wants of the INVALID.
R.-Have the neighbors been forbidden
to visit Mr.. Waterman, by you or Lewis
Mex NO person has been forbidden
to visit Mr.. W. except one-that rersol
being monomaniac on religious matters
one of his illusions being that he IS pro
phet and is specially directed to make re
velations to Mr.. W. which has influence,
Mr.. w. to the performance OF acts pre-
judicial to his health or comfort.
r. Have the neighborS ever been invit
ed to visit Mr. w?
| Mex they have-frequentIy, | hay
taken persons there myself: The neigh
bors would visit them more frequently
were it not for the offensive nature Of tn
disease. the effiuvia arising therefrom be
ing almost uncomfortable, especially wit
persons not accustomed to such cases.
! R-What have you to say relative to tn
charge in the article that no good arise
from your visits, etc?
McK-The prescriptions | have give
and which are on file. subject to public il
spection, are my only record and defens
against that charge
R-Who is the author of the articl
signed XX.?
McK-Maroni Wheeler,
R-What reason, ii any, has Mr.. Vince
Tor making the charges which reflect o
you and those associated with you in thi
case.
Mck-I know Of no reason-unless it
a morbid desire to assoil men whom b
owes, under cover Of i nom de plume,
a. he has various others; he being indeh'
ed to me for professional services and f
which | was Compelled to sue him.
R-Were these services rendered
, himself or his family?
Mck-I decline to state anything COZ
e corning that matter.
R-Do you know Of any reason Why N
4 Wheeler assalls you over nom de PIN
a in preference to his own name?
y Mex For the reason that what lit
t influence the article might have over
a fictitious signature would be wholly dostr,,
$ ed by the authors real name being givci
a which We (Mr. Lewis and myself consi
cred a sufficient defense in this morning
r Union; his known aptitude at the maliciol
: arraignment of some of our best men b
ing sufficiently established to command I
credence or respect.
), R.-EIave you anything further to 81
+ on this subject?
;, McK-Nothing except to say that | r
: greet very much the seeming necessity tn;
: compels me to drag professional matte
s before the public which should be left
y those whom they concern, undisturbed
: idle meddlers who pollute whatever tn,
]. touch.
0 The course of the Union in allowing Il
publication of an anonymous commune
g ton, OF this nature, places that paper
an unenviable position in this communit