National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1880-06-10
Half n To-. of Bogus Diplomas.


PHILADELPHIA, June 9.--For twelve or ff-
teen years Philadelphia has beon tho seat of q
humber of medical colleges that flood the
country with bogus diplomas The legisla-
tule OF Pennsylvania tried in 1872 to suppress
the institutions, but failed, and they lave
been run ever since ON legally issued charters
The authorities declared themselves power
less 10 stop it, Six mouths ago tho city edi-
tor of the Record John Norris, called tho at
tention of Attorney. .Genoral Palmer to these
concerns, and tho grave necessity for their
suppression. But the state hnd no evidence
against them, and tho attorney. had no
money to proceed. Then the Record offered to
advance the funds 10 tho commonwealth upon
promise of reimbursement by the state logis-
lature, aud the work commenced. To-day it
eliminated in proceedings which will wipo
out five bogus medical colleges, aud IN the ur-
rest of John Buchanan, dean OF the American
university and the Eclectic medical college
OF Pennsylvania. He was also president of
tho National Eclectic medical association
which issued diplomas, and under the
alias Of james Murray, ID. d., he acted
rs Cean of u concern iSsusug its diplomas as
the Livingstone university Of America. Two
others Of the faculty, Charles $. Beck and
john j. Siggins, were arrested while six others
OF tho faculty uro still at large. apparently OUT
OF reach OF the police. The Record Of to.mor-
row morning will publish full expose. Its
city editor has prepared evidence which il is
alleged Will show tho sales of forty.twU diplo-
mas to various p'rsons. Ho gives the names
of eleven others to whom diplomas wcro
offered, and the names of eleven agents who
were acting for Buchanan, Tho Record man
himself set tho trap which secured Bu-
chanan. ForS75 he obtained three medical
diplomas, ono in English from the Eclectic
medical college Of Pennsylvania, regularly
chartered iustitutiOni one from tho AmoricaH
university OF Philadelphia in English, aud
another from the National Eclectic medical
association. One feature of tho proceeding
is that while the last.namcd concern
was organized in 1879, its diploma 10
tho newspaper man is dated 1873. All
purportod 10 show that the newspaper man,
under the name Of DIR. John Tanning Of
Tippecanoe city, Ohio, studied medicine for
three years. had attended two full course Of
lectures, and had passed satisfactory exani-
nation in each OF the seven branches OF mcdi-
cine. Not satisfied with this evidence, ho
sent letters uudcr the namo of Dr. George A.
Dawson. apparently belonging 10 Chester
Court'llousc, y. e., asking for degrees. For
$50 he obtained i've degrees, two OF doctor Of
medicine, one doctor of divinity, one doctor OF
laws and ono doctor OF civil law. The final
lettcr in this transaction passed through tho
mail, Dr. Buchanan receipting for it, lie also
deposited the diplomas in tho mail, 10 bo de-
liyered 10 The spurious doctor in South Caro-
iina. Special Postal Agent Barrett, Chief OF
Police Given, deputy United States marshal
aud tho newspaper man walked into Buchan-
ans place this afternoon, arrested him and
then captured about half n ton of bogus di-
plonils, with a mass Of correspondence, show
ing the traffic in diplomas aud tho sale Of
about 5000 shcepskins. Hearings will be held
tomorrow and proceedings will be started by
the record through tho attorney general 10
wipo out five Of tho colleges.