Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1880-05-11
More Millerite Rascality.

DR.. J. I. Ballou, an old gentleman
living in Wise county, and also Mrs.
Thomas Strong of Scott county, who
claim to have learned the secret from
DR.. Miller, are now practicing, and pro-
fess to effect cures by the laying.on of
hands. DIR. Ballou will travel and hum
bug all who apply to him. 1t is a dis
grace to the age, and humiliation to
Virginia, that such creatures should be
able to find silly dupes who will apply
to them for ministration. They should
be ducked in the nearest pond, or sub
jected to worse treatment. They deA
serve either the straight jacket for their
insanity, or. severer punishment for
their rascality.
We believe that they are more knaves
than fools, and expect to make their
living from the credulity Of fools.
DIR. Miller has succeeded so well in
imposing upon the credulous, that 9TH
ers are induced to follow in his footsteps
that they, like him, may fill their pock-
cts at the expense of the credulous and
afflicted. These impostors deserve to
have their ears cropped. An example
should be made of them, that others
may be deferred from playing similar
trieks, end impoalng upon weak mlind-
ed, but honest. people who have the
misfortune to be afflicted with disease.
We feel 1t to be our duty In behalf of
the afflicted to expose such palpable ab-
surdity, and, as we believe, such merce-
nary rascality and devilish hypocrisy
on the part of these protested miracu-
lqps dealers. They pocket the money
and laugh ct the eFedulliy ana folly of
their dupes.
Since the above was written, we have
received the Salem Conservative, which
says
doctor Miller, so called, is receiving
at the hands of the press, aud we are not
so sure but that they are we'll deserved.
| There is positively no grounds whatever
for any belief in the theory of his di-
vine agency in healing diseases. Thou
sands of persons have visited him for
treatment since he came to Roanoke; of
all these not one has been restored to
health, or relieved in such manner as
to show that Ged had any hand in the
work. IT, indeed. any really afflicted
person has been healed by his manipu-
lations we do not know of it. Some
have doubtless experienced degree of
relief at his hands, either real or imag-
mary, but to say that he can heal dis
eases is saying too much, and we think
it is time the public should be advised
of it. Let no one visit Miller under
the impression that he is exercising any
other than 2 natural gift possessed by
many other men, in equal DR. less degree.
The man is unquestionably highly
charged with electricity, and by dex-
trous application of his hands upon his
patients he is often enabled to palliate
or relieve pain. And this Is the extent
of the powers of the noted Doctor Mil
Ter. Many persons believe he is per-
fectly honest in setting up the claim he
does to divine agency in the matter, but
on the other hand there are those who
DOUBT his sincerity. If he is really sim
cere, ne is G vaIitahls monomaniac on
| Lne SuOJect OF meaning II ne Is not SIM
cere, he is as gross and cunning hypo-
critic as ever deceived too credulous
people.
We deem it our duty to the public to
| make this statement"
The tinoaatie Herald, of eth inst,
says -
THE furore about the famous DIR.
Miller, who is now at the Roanoke Red
Sulphur Springs, still continues, and
hundreds are being duped by him.
From what we hear we are disposed to
believe Mr.. Miller is innocent of any
deliberate intention to deceive, but he
is daily deceiving the people, neverthe-
less. It is now high time the press
were exposing this bFepqsterous Super
stition, and assisting to educate people
up to better things"