Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1880-06-16
Descent OH Bogus Medical
Colleges.
AN ENTERPRISING CITY EDITOR
STRIKES A sENSATIoN-AR-
REST'oF SPURIOUS PRO.
FESSoRS, ETC.

PHILADELPHIA, June 9.-For II or
Is years Philadelphia has been the seat
of a number Of medical colleges that
flooded the country with bogus diplo'
mas. The Legislature Of Penusylva-
MA tried IN 1872 to suppress the insti.
tullons, but failed, and they have been
run ever since on legally issued char
tcrs. The authorities declared them
selves powerless to stop it. Six
months ago the city editor of the Re.
cord, John Morris, called tie attention
of Acknowledgement Palmer to these
concerns and the grave necessity for
their suppression. But the State had
no evidence against them and the attor-
ney-goneral had no money with which
TO proceed. Then the Record offered
TO advance the funds TO the Common.
wealth upon promise Of reimbursement
bv the State Legislature, and the work
commenced. Tosaay it eliminated in
proceedings which will wipe out five
bogus medical colleges, and in the ar
rest of John Buchanan, dean of the
American University, of Philadelphia,
and the Eclectic Medical College OF
Pennsylvania. He was also president
of the National Eclectic Medical As,
ISOLATION, which issued diplomas, and,
under the alias of James Murray, D.
D.. he acted as dean OF a concern issur
ing its diplomas as the Livingston Uni
versitv OF America. Two others Of the
faculty, Chas, S. Polk and John j.
Seggins, were arrested, while six others
of the faculty are still at large, appar-
emily out OF the reach Of the police.
The city editor of the Record has
prepared evidence which ii is alleged
will show the sales of forty-two diplo-
mas 10 various persons. He gives the
names Of eleven others to whom the
diplomas were offered, and the names
OF eleven agents who were acting for
Buchanan. The Record man himself
set the Trap which secured Buchanan.
For SIS he obtained three medical di-
plomas, one in English, from the Eclec.
tic Medical College Of Pennsylvania, a
regularly chartered Institution; one
from the American University OF Phil
adelphia, in English, and another from
the National Eclectic Medical Associa-
lion.
One feature of the proceeding is that
while the ast-named concern was orga-
nized in 1879, Its diploma to the news
paper man is dated 1878. All purpor-
ted to show that the newspaper man,
under the name of DR.. John flaming,
of Tlppccanoe City, Ohio, studied medi-
cine Tor three years, had attended two
lull courses OF lectures, and had passed
a satisfactory examination in each ot the
seven branches OF medicine. Not salts
fed with this evidence, he sent letters
under the name Of DR.. Geo. a. Daw-
son, apparently belonging 10 Chester
Courthouse, >. c., asking for degrees.
For $3.50 sc obtained five degrees, two
OF doctor OF medicine, Onc doctor Of
divinity, one doctor of law, and one
doctor Of civil law.
The final letter in this transaction
passed through the mail, DE-. BUCHANAN
recelpting for 1t. He also deposited
the diplomas in the mail 10 be delivered
10 the spurious doctor in South Carolina.
Special Postal Agent Barrett, Chief OF
Police Given, a depsty United States
marshal and tie newspaper man walked
INTO Buchanau's place this afternoon,
arrested him, anu then captured about
halla ton oI bogus diplomas, with u
mass OF correspondence, showing the
traffic in diplomas aud the sale Of about
5, 900 sheepskins.
Hearings will be held and proceed
ugs Will be started by the Record,
Though the at,orney-seneral, to wipe
out five of the colleges.