Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-09-14
A DOCTORS DOWNFALL.
FROM WEAL7H ANN PROSP
TO OPOvERTYa DE8R TfON.

A short History of Poor "Doc." white
hcad-Loss Of Hearing and Disappoint
e msnt In Love the Cause of His Downfall
"A Few of Ills Pscuiiar,,is-.
lfrOm Morning tditionl
There now lauguishcs behind the bars q
the spring street station house, a man, nc
old in years, and who twelve years ago wa
promising physician. No one apparent
had n brighter future before him. He ha,
money, friends, finely ftted-up Office, an,
large and lucrative practice. Those VIII,
have lived in Springfield for thu
past twelve years, would know
without seeing his name here, tha
this man Is no other than the now notoriou,
DR.. A. NJ. Whitehead. more familiarity knowr
~ "Doc' Whitehead. His friends of ter
years ago, who have not seen him for many
years, would not know him now, and many
who were his friends in prosperity would no,
recognize him in his poverty and degrada-
tion, even If they did remember him. When
the writer came to Springfield in
1867, DE-. Whitehead was a
young man OF twenty. y.three years,
rather handsome, of fine address and very
| popular. He had but graduated with high
honors at medical college, and coming
| here, he erected an office on the souihwes,
| corner Of High and Market streets. Unlik,
most yOung physicians, he soon had paving
practice. lie DRESSED well, had his own horse
9hnd buggy and boarded at the then best hotel
in the city, now the st. James Hotel, but st
hat inn
Lagonda house was opened few years later.
DR.. Whitehead was among the first to change
to better quarters. Nothing occurred to mar
his prosperity until about 1873, when he be-
gan to lose his hearing. This weighed on
his mind great deal. 1t continued to get
worse, and OF course his patients began to
drop Off. Both his hearing and his practice
became worse and he became DISCOURAGED.
Matters ran on in this way tor several
months, when another incident occurred
which added to his discouragemen,, and
brought on his present mental condition,
which is little better than lunatic. DR.,
Whitehead became enamored OF younp
lady, the daughter OF wealthy parents, aud
who still lives here. Here, it is said, he first
acquired a taste Tor drink. During his calls
at the residence OF the young lady wine was
frequently brought out and served |
The doctor finally got to drinking
at saloons, and his friends became fearful !
that he would soon go to ruin unless he |
could be persuaded TO stop drinking. At |
this time the doctor and the young lady re- |
ierred to were engaged to be married. He |
continued his dissipations until finally the |
lady broke the engagement and refused to
have anything further to do with Kim. This.
together with the loss OF his hearing, affected
his brain. From this time his downfall
was very rapid. He drank harder and
harder, and BY 1879, six years later he was
a total wreck His practice was all gone and
ne gave up his office. About this time he
was arres ted for the first time but since then
he has been prisoner at the station house
abant six months "t the year. About three
years ago, Ofcer Dave Croft filed an affidavit
against him in the probate court.
and on examination he was committed
to the Insane Asylum a, Dayton. He was
never regularly discharged, but was released
10 short time on promise OF good be-
havior. Since then no one has taken any
interest in his welfare and he has been al
lowed to roam the streets of this city, a fear
ful example OF the result of s,ro1g drink.
"Doc' has many peculiarities He is
al ways "going to have things arranged in
a few days, 30 that he will be ali right" He
Will accept nothing but money as charity.
Time and again he has been offered clothing.
shoes, hats, and other articles OF wearing ap-
pHrel, by people who were his friends in |
and still desire to be, in adversely,
but he will accept nothing OF the kind The
,oldest days in winter he wanders
around wearing a thin coat and pants
and straw hat. Last winter a
gentleman offered him a good overcoat, but
ne refused to take ii. 1t was then given to
Inspector Boyd by the gentleman, who
hought that perhaps "Doc" would accept it
rom him. But when approached on the sub
ect, "Doc" said, "No, thank you | will have
matters arranged in few days so that will
'ave one of my own" But that day has
,ever come. He has no regular
'lace OF residence, sleeping in
tables, Railways, or any other place where he
an gain admittance. Last winter he played
rather slick trick on the proprietors OF the
Western and American Houses. Late at
light he would quietly slip into the hotel, 90
ip stairs, and finding an empty room, lie
iown and go to sleep. He played this trick
It the American House every night
or three weeks before he was
House in the same manner TOR almost as long
time.
He usually has little money, given him
" friends, and with this he purchases
iquor, and then: makes his meal from the
Zee lunch table. "Doc" has relatives in
ienton. Ohio. who have several times
romised to take care of him it he would
% to that place. They have also
ent orders to have him provided
With clo'hicg, but he will accept nothing =
rom them. He has habit OF going about
he streets mumbling to himself and gesticu-
itlng with his hands and head Last Thurs
ay, the day he was arrested, he was drunk, .
nd walking along Liberty street, stopped in
ront OF Chief OF Police Schuchman's house.
lie stood there for several minutes shaking his
st and talking to himself An almost end
ess number Of anecdotes could be told about
i'm. Something certainly ought to he done to
ave him confined in the proper place, as it
Gems shame that a man OF fne talents and
duca,ion should be allowed to ''go to the
ogs," as poor "Doc" Whitehead is certainly
Ding
URBANA NOTES.