The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-06-11
Bogus Medical Diplomas.
PHILADELPHIA swINDLERs BROUGHT TO I'll
BAR OF JUSTICE BY A NEWSPAPER.

PHILADELPHIA SWTNDLERS BROUGHT TO The
BAR OF JUSTICE BY NEWSPAPER.
PHILADELPHIA, June 9.-For twelve or
fifteen years Philadelphia has been the seal
Of number Of medical colleges that flood
ed the country with bogus diplomas. The
Legislature Of Pennsylvania tried In 1872
to suppress the institutions, but failed, and
they have been run ever since on legally
issued charters. The authorities declared
themselves powerless to stop it. Six months
ago the Record called the attention OF At
torney. General Palmer to these concerns
and the grave necessity for their suppress
sion. But the State had no evidence
against them, and the Attorney. General
had no money with which to pro-
coed. Then the Record offered to ad-
vance the funds to the Commonwealth upon
promise Of reimbursement by the State Lee
gislature, and the work commenced. To-day
1t eliminated in proceedings which Will
wipe out five bogus medical colleges, and
in the arrest OF John Buchanan, dean OF
the American University OF Philadelphia
and the Eclectic Medical College OF Penn
syIyania. lie was also president OF the Ma
tioual Eclectic Medical Association, which
issued diplomas, and under the alias OF
James Murray, ID. D.. he acted as dean OF q
ston University OF America. Two others
OF the faculty-Cbarles s. Polk and John j.
Sggins-were arrested, while six others Of
the faculty are still at large, apparently out
OF the reach Of the police. Evidence is
ready which, it is alleged, will show the
sales of forty-two diplomas to various per-
sons. Eleven others are named 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 S75 be OBJ
tanned three medical diplOmas-on in Eng
lish from the Eclectic Medical College Of
PENNSYLVANIA, regularly chartered institu
ton; one from the American University OF
Philadelphia, in English, and another from
the National Eclectic Medical Association.
One feature Of the proceeding Is that while
the last-named concern was organized in
1879 its diploma to the newspaper-man is
dated 1878. All purported to show that the
newspaper-man, under the name OF DR..
John Tanning, OF Tippecanoe City, Ohio,
studied medicine for three years, had at
tended two full courses OF lectures, and bad
passed satisfactory examination In each OF
the seven branches OF medicine.
Not satisfied with this evidence, he sent
letters, under the name OF DR.. George A.
Dawson, apparently belonging TO Chester
Courthouse, S. c., asking for degrees. For
$3.50 he obtained five degrees-two OF doc
tor Of medicine, one OF doctor OF divinity,
one OF doctor OF laws, and one Of doctor OF
civil law. The first letter in this trausac-
ton passed through the mail, DR.. Buchanan
receipting for 1t. He also deposited the
diplomas in the mail, TO be delivered to the
spurious doctor In South Carolina.
Special Postal-Agent Barrett, Chlei-of.
Police Given, a deputy United States mar
shal, and the newspaper-man walked into
Buchansn's place this afternoon, arrested
him, and then captured about half ton OF
bogus diplomas, with a mass Of correspon-
dence, showing the traffic In diplomas and
the sale OF about 1900 sheeoskins. Hearings
will DO held tomorrow. and proceedings
will be started By the Record, through the
Attorney.General, to wipe out i've Of the
colleges. ra