Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1880-12-10

Grant, the only majority President, got it
on his war record.
sDr." Miller, the Healer. in Court.
From, the Harrisonburg Register.
On Saturday last, considerable excite
ment was created in our town by the ar
rest of DIR. John Miller, the Healer. who
has gained so much notoriety in various
portions of Virginia during the past
twelve months, by claiming to have spe-
cial power to heal the sick by the simple
"laying on of hands,
DR.. Miller arrived in Harrisonburg on
Saturday. Nov. 9th, and took rooms at
the Revere House, and as wonderful re-
ports of his power to heal had preceded
him, his apartments were thronged to
greater or less extent, throughout the
whole of last week.
Mr. Levi S. Byrd, the Commissioner of
the Revenue for this district, deeming it
his duty to assess him for license as pTac-
ticing physician, visited him on Saturday
last, and after making the assessment,
placed it in the hands of the County Treas
urer for collection. When the assessment
was presented by the treasurer for pay
ment, DR.. Miller refused to pay it, and as
he had no property out of which the mon
ey could be made, he was arrested. He
Immediately applied for writ of habeas
corpus. and was at once brought before the
Circuit Court Then in SESSION. for trial,
Col. Chas. T. O'Ferrall and Capt. B. e.
Patterson appearing as his counsel.
AS the case was not concluded on Sat-
urday, the Doctor was admitted to bail in
the sum of SIS for his appearance at Court
on Monday morning.
The courtroom on Monday was crowded
with persons who were anxious to see the
Doctor and hear what he might have to
say when put upon the stand. He made
his appearance before the Court was open
ed, and took bis seat inside the bar, ard
seemed to observe everything that trans
pired in close and scrutinizing way.
When put upon the stand aud question
ed. he stated that he had never studied
medicine, knew nothing of the human
system, but had been close student of
human nature for a number of years. He
claimed to be doing what he was because
he thought it his duty. and he had never
IN his life charged a man fee for any
thing he had done. Drew Bible from his
pocket. and read several verses, showing
his authority for healing by the ''laying on
of hands," Referred to the Apostle Paul
having been brought before a judge for do
ing his duty, and he was glad that he was
made thus to suffer for his Masters sake.
He spoke fluentiy and we'll, with the ex-
ception of some slight discrepancies in the
way of grammar. 1t was charged that
Mr.. Woodrum, DR.. Miller's agent, made
charges fol treatment of subjects, but the
| Doctor stated that if it was done he knew
nothing of it.
The following is copy of notice,
which has been kept prominently posted in
| the Office of the agent during the stay of
| the Doctor here, which Commonwealth 3
Attorney, G. G.. Grattan, claimed was a
polite invitation to pay:
DIR. MILLER'S OFFICE.
All applications for special visits to the city must
be made to the Clerk.
CHARGEs.-Dr Miller makes no charges. He does
whathe considers to be his duty to suffering human
| isy; and leaves the PAY with them.
He invites no one; they must come voluntarily,
walk os II
ARE NOT DOING THEIR DUTY, AND THEY
| KNOW IT. Bills are settled with the Clerk.
Several witnesses were introduced, who
testified that they had been. treated by DR..
| Miller, and that no charge, or mention OF
| charge, had been made. and that they had
| given him nothing. Mr.. VIM. Gay, was
| put upon the stand and testified that he
| had called to see the Doctor, for the pur-
| pose of getting him to treat his wife, and
! he had seen Mr.. Woodrum, the agent, and
/ that he had made an agreement with him
| to pay him S. if the Doctor would 90 to
his house and see his wife. Mr.. j. T. Lo-
| gan, also testified that the agent had init
mated to him that the Doctor could not go
| away from his room to visit persons with
out charging.
After the evidence was all in, and the
counsel for the defense and prosecution
had made short speeches, the matter was
| referred to the judge, who decided that
\ DR.. Miller was following the healing bus
mess" as vocation, and did receive remu-
neration for his services, and while he
| might claim that he had been commission
| ed by GOD to do this work, he had not pre-
| sented his credentials, and he decided that
| the assessment was correct, and that the
Treasurer only did his duty in arresting
the Doctor when he refused to pay.
This lays the Doctor liable tv indict-
ment, but whether or not it will be don't
we do not know.
If DR.. Miller has improved any person
by his treatment during his stay In Harri-
sonburg, we do NOT know it. We have
heard OF several, however, who have been
made much worse by exposing themselves
while on their way to visit him. We be-
lieve the day of miracles are oyer, and
that the same power that would heal the
sick by the simple laying on of hands, y
would raise the dead, and certainly if the
Doctor has the POWER, he could as effectu-
ally cure one disease as another, and his
universal failure here would be changed to
unfailing s1ecess. The Doctor may think
he has the power, butt We do pot.