Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1876-06-16

SUED FOR THE ARREST OF A RESPECT
ABLE PHYSICIAN FOR VIOLATING THE
PERSON OF A YOUNG LADY-HER DEATH
RUIN OF ANOTHER YOUNG GIRL
FLIGHT OF THE ACCUsED-CITIzENs
SEARCHING FOR HIM,
One of the most terrible stories of crime
ever told in jury room in Augusta county,
was given to the Grand Jury of the Cir
cult Court, last week. The party upon
WHOM all the evidence centered as the
guilty one is Dr. James A. Wilson, sue
cessful physician of extensive practice and
most respectable family connections, re-
siding at Churchville, about eight miles
from Stanton. He is about thirty years
of age, and studied at the University OF
Va. and afterwards at a Northern medi-
cal college. He established himself in
large practice at Churchville, near which
village his estimab BILE old father lives, and
marriedthe daughter Of one of the wealth.
lest citizens in the county. Until about
two years ago, when the affair which has
ended in his ruin took place, he was without
suspicion, and no man bore a higher char
acter, or had to greater degree the conf
dence of the people, both as man and a
physician. One of the victims was Miss
Susan Fannie Manuel. daughter of citl-
zen of high standing, of Newtown, Fred
erick CO., Va. a young lady, about twenty
two years old. who came to Augusta county
in 1874, on a visit to her sister, the wife of
Rev. ]. w. Wolfe, pastor of the Methodist
Church, at Churchville. She was suffer
ing from tubercular consumption, and DR..
Wilson was called in as her attending
physician. She was also afflicted with
neuralgia, for which DR.. w. administered
chloroform, and when she was under the
influence of which, it is charged be &C.
complished her ruin. She is in her grave,
having died month af ter giving birth to
child. The other victim is a young girl
of fifteen, named Fannie Humphreys, the
orphan OF Confederate soldier. She was
taken by widowed sister, Mrs. Lizzie
Collins, at Churchville, and educated at
the graded school there and then went
into service at DR.. Wilson's house, where
he seduced her, and then concealed her
in a house at jennings Gap, where she
was discovered few day since. Upon be-
ing taken home by her friends. she told
the whole story of her ruin. DIR. Wilson
fled on this discovery, as he did on the dis
covery of the Manuel affair, though in that
case he returned after short absence,
and resumed the practice of medicine.
Last Monday night squad of citizens
near Churchville, who do not believe he
has left the. State. though he purchased a
ticket for New York, in Staunton, We're
securing the woods to capture him. Had
he been prosecuted at the time of the first
offence the little girl, Humphreys, might
have been saved. The following is
THE DREADFUL STORY AS TOLD IN THE
GRAND JURY ROOM.
In March, 1874, Miss Manuel came from
Newtown, Frederick CO., Va, being then
an invalid from consumption, on visit to
her sister, the wife of Rev. J. W. Wolfe,
then stationed on Churchyille Circuit. She
also suffered from neuralgia. DR.. Wilson
was called in, and became her attending
physician, sometimes administering chic
reform to deaden the neuralglc pain. There
was always some other person in the room,
except on one occasion, In May, when lie
was alone with her about half an hour,
and when upon Mrs. Wolfe entering the
room she found him ''excited, confused
and fatigued." 1t was on that occasion
the offence is charged to have been COM
nitted, while Miss Manuel was insensible
from chloroform. AS Miss Manuel's health
did not improve under DR.. Wilson's charge,
and she had new and strange symptoms,
she and her sister and Mr.. Wolfe insisted
on having consulting physician. Wilson
objected for some time to calling in another
physician, but seeing resistance useless
was forced to call in Dr.W.S McChesney.
OF S.aunton, well-known physician. Dr.
McChesney was told by W. that the pa
tent had the consumption. When making
diagnosis, Wilson beng in another room.
DR.. McChesney made the
TERRIBLE DISCOVERY
that Miss Manuel was pregnant. The
young lady answered all his questions with
simplicity and frankness, evidently having
nothing to conceal and not Knowing the
meaning of the symptoms she was disclos-
ing. lie said nothing to her of his discov-
cry, but on going into the next room where
Wilson was, told him that the young lady
was pregnant. He replied 81 reckon she
is; what shall 1 do ?" DIR. McChesney
told him the only thing that could be done
was to find the author of this misery and
make him marry her. Wilson replied that
couldn't be done as the author was already
married. DIR. Nee. then told him it was
his duty as the family physician to COM
municate the fact to the young lady's
friends. He asked of Wilson if Miss Man.
uel knew her condition, to which Wilson
replied 81 don't know" The doctor then
asked if the family knew anything of it, to
which Wilson replied, ''no; not breath
of 1T" and then added. eIt'is no use going
around the matter, she is pregnant and 1
am the author of it; what shall do :? She
is to blame-no I take that back--I am
wholly to blame" DR.. McChesney ex-
pressed his horror at the revelation and his
sense of Wilson's conduct to which Wilson
replied ''what shall I do ?'' The doctor
replied "My God can't tell. 1t is the
worst thing ever heard off my life. You
have not only ruined her and disgraced
yourself. but you have brought shame on
the profession which will always be felts
There is nothing for you to do that know
Of but to confess to Mr.. Wolfe anu advise
with him." Wilson said he would do so if
he would give him little time to reflect,