New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-02-12

! ing that the accounts were three months oe-
hind, and that the book debts could not DC co'-
| ected until after Christmas, and reiteratlng 'le
statement that the profits had averaged po'o%'
annually for three years before DR.. EdwaFdeS
purchased an interest DR.. Whitmarsh, more
over did not hesitate to renew scahdaoUs
charge, which would have ruined MS COL
leagues reputation if it had been substantiateu'
This charge originally made by Mrs. BiSheu'
enc of DR.. EdwaIdes's patients, had peen re-
tracted. DR.. Whitmarsh, perceivlng the use
he could make of this stale calumny, rehilhueu
his partner of the discredit brought upon TIE
practice by the circulation OF the scandalouS
reports in the village. He told DR.. EdwafdeS
that. notwithstanding the woman's denial, ne
was inclined to believe the charge lie con
yeyed to outsiders the impression that inc
original statement might have been true. 10
one man he declared that Dr. Edwardes ough'
IN he borsewbippcd He held consultations
with the Bignels and employed their lawyer 10
represent him in the negotiations when ne WIS
conducting for the purchase OF his partner
share in the business Or. Edwardes, bnding
himself entangled in Il tangled web OF caluihny
and treachery, made one final effort to ilght MS
way out. He charged DR.. Whitmarsh with
eyging on Mrs Bgne to bring false charge
against him, and ordered his solicitor to prose-
cute for conspiracy to extOrt money from MN.
He was however, too distracted in mind To await
tba action of the courts He felt himself 70 he
the dupe of his troacherous partner. lie told
his wife that his peace of mind had gone, that
he was being bounded on to his grave. lie
showed evidence Of mental depression ana ex-
element, and finally committed suicide, after
writing a letter in which he described himself
rs a victim of organized calumny on the part OF
DR.. Whitmarsh and Mrs. Blgnell.
Curiousy enough, public sentiment in the
village was wholly enlisted on the side OF the
dead physician. The contents of the letter con-
WINGED everybody that the scandal0us charge
was foul calumny, aud so intense was the
feeling of Indignation that DIR. Whitmarsho
house was attacked by a mob and Mrs. Bignell
lite was threatened. The villagers were so eX-
asperated that a strong body OF police had 10
he posted in Iounsow to maintain public order
and to prevent the recurrence OF scenes OF moD
violence. The Coroner being required 10y VII
lage sentiment to vindlcate the Judgment OF the
mob as we'll "a to investigate the cause OF death,
held a most searching inquiry respecting the
b Isiness relations Of the two practitioners and
the scandalous charge made 1Y the woman
Bignel, the five days proceedings being
marked by some disgraceful exhibitions of VIII
lage excitement. The result was an emphatic
expression of opinion on the part OF the jury
that the unhappy physician d" had been driven
to his death 10y the pressure brought to bear
"by his partner, DR.. Whitmarsh, using the
IL fa
"drive him to n dishonorable dissolution OF
"partnership." With this explicit statement
Of the calurlniators' responsibility for the sui
eide. Hounslow will be forced 10 content itself,
for criminal charges cannot be lodged against
either Dr. Whitmarsh or his accomplice.
Dr. Edwardes was exceedingly fortunate, all
things being considered. in acquiring popular
itv in the village. If he had not been so well
liked, his suicide would have been accepted as
n pruof of the foul charge made against him.
As it was, public sentiment not only acquitted
him of guilt but forced the Coroner to vlndl-
cate his reputation 10y means of "A thorough in
ycstiyation Even with this fortunate result,
the case serves as melancholy illustration OF
1--WE of the dangers to which physicians are ex-
oscd-profcssonal Jealousy and the reckless
ness OF "A woman's tongue. I hat this was not
the only instance in which Dr. Whltmnrsh bad
slandered his professional brethren WAS shown
during the inquest lie had imputed to another
physcian neglect carelessness, ignorance and
improper treatment in q confinement case, and
had asserted that If he had been called in he
could have saved the patients life. he post
mortem examination proved that he had been
misled by hearsay evidence of women-goSslps
and he had been compelled to publish an apol-
ocy in various Journals. Physicians are often
laughed at for the niceties of their etiquette
but there is no other profession IN which re-
Gnements OF punctilio are SC essential. Amerl-
can physicians as rule have avoided the sys-
TEN of medical partnerships so common III Eug-
land. This tragic occurrence at Hounsow in
dicates that in this respect their instinct 10 true.