The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-09-06
DIPLOMA VENDER M'GEE.
HE IS SILENT, HE CANNOT ANSWER;
1T IS ENOUGH.
j. L. Haberling Makes Statement OF
His Participation of the Affair, and
Touches Up Capt oHaver-Mr.
Charles B. Lacey Exonerated.

The APPEALS report of his exploits. The
opposite has been the course Of the man in
nearly every case where he has heretofore
been given publicity.
The medical fraternity will probably
take some decisive step in the case, but rs
yet it cannot be said when it will be done
or what it will be.
Before eiIecting the loan Of DR.. Voor-
heis' diploma, DR.. MCGEE attempted to
secure Mr.. George Hessen's His story in
the latter case was that he wanted to make
out one for a young man who was a grad
uate, but lacked $40 of the amount neces-
sary to secure one legitimately.
MR.. HABERLING's STATEMENT.
Yesterday Mr.. j. l.. Haberling, on being
asked by an APPEAL reporter to make n
statement of what he knew about the Nc
Gee matter, declined to do so, not fully
realizing the Importance Of the reporters
mission, The reporter was thus left to
make up the account from the statements
of the detectives and others. Mr.. Haber.
ling now thinks that some injustice was
done him, and TIE APPEAL is glad to
publish today the statement he declined
10 give Tuesday, because it embodics an
eXoneration OF Mr.. Haberling from any
completely in DIR. McGee's sCandalous adj
Vcnture
TO the Editor Of The Appeal
Sir--My side of the matter is simply rs
follows. About three or four weeks ago
Dr. McGee came into my office and asked
me whether it was not my business to
make seals for lodges, societies, etc.
said that il was, and he then said he had
business for me. Several days later he
retained, bringing with him diploma OF
the Memphis Medical college, and asked
me TO make a duplicate OF that seal.
felt from the manner Of the man and from
the request that he made OF me that he
could not want the seal for proper pur-
poses. | said TO him: doctor, you had
better let this matter go; IL will get YOU
into trouble" and something more 10 the
same effect Customers came in, or
something else occurred; at any rate, the
doctor went out while | was otherwise
engaged and left the diploma. Two
or three days aiterward he came
in again and got the diploma
from me, ! again advising him TO
let the matter 20. This | supposed to
be an absolute ending TO the whole matter,
and II was my opinion that the advice
which had gwen him had decided him
not 10 prosecute his intentions any further.
In spell OF illness which had, was at
tended by DIR. Simms, member OF the
faculty. TO whom | might have told the
matter, and in whose presence the matter
came 10 my mind; yet did not speak OF il
because ! felt that DIR. Niece had proba-
bly, thought the matter over, and that il
would he an unnecessary thing for me 10
cause him 10 be punished for crime that
he had simply contemplated committing.
After DR.. McGee left my office, Capt.
Ollaver came 10 see me, and after being
taken 10 the private part Of my office,
asked me whether i knew anything about
party who was wanting 10 get n seal
made. ut once understood that Capt.
O'llaver was on DIR. Mcjee's track, and /
told him what had occurred. lie express
ed great regret that | had not made the
seal for the doctor, saying nj the same
time: 81 have good fee in this" Capt:
O'llayer went on 10 ask me whether |
thought il likely that DIR. McGee would
return, 10 which answered that thought
lac would be fool II he did return after
what hal said 10 him. Capt. O'Ilaycr
then suggested that | should go down
town and meet Dr. Niece "a iiin casual
way, suggesting 10 him that | was willing
nov 10 make the seal. | replied that /
would not do any such thing, for consid-
cred that Il would be an attempt ON my
part 10 induce another man TO commit
crime. But ! promised Capt. O'llaycr
that II DR.. MCGEE again came into my Of
flee and asked me 90 make this seal for
him that | would inform him Of Il, and be
governed by his suggestions. ] realized
that II Dr. Niece returned 10 my office
after the repeated advice had given him
Il was q proof that he intended 10 get the
seal in some way or other, and that my
duty 10 the community then would com
pei me 20 do what would otherwise not
have done. met Capt. O'llavcr several
times after this, and as DR.. McGec had
not come 10 my office | supposed that lac
had indeed taken my advice; however,
about week ago Dr. Niece came
aeniu into my office, bringing back the
diploma and asking me again 20 make
seal, aiiiX II TO the diploma, roll Il up
and have IL ready tot him. was very
busy Jus, then and had little conversation
with him. O'llaycr Jaw him come In and
.. sent me n note W come over and sec him
across the street. Capt O'llaycr then
asked me II had the diploma, b. which
answered that did not have IL. lie then
asked whether IL was signed, and said
That il wns. lie asked 10 see Il aud ! said
war perfectly willing TO show It TO him.
Ilr asked me 10 take II up 10 the station.
house. The same day Chief Davis spoke
10 me about this matter and stated that
Capt. O'llnv, WIS waiting foe met nj the
staiion.huu-c. had been thinking over
this matter aud itoccurfcd 10 me that II
would BE- dangerous 10 take the diploma
a. the stati0n.hUusc, because DR.. McGeo
might see inc upon tie street, and II lac
saw me- with the diploma would probably
follow the and would be put upon the scent
Of the whole matter, and told Chief
Davis this. After convcning with Chief
Davis ! went down 10 my store 20 get the
diploma aud bring IL 10 where lac was, but
before left my store he came IN and lelc.
phoncd a. Capt O'llayer 10 come down
sccondstrcct Then Chief nayisand myself
walked up 10 Nick Williams store, whore
gave him the diploma ont Of my um.
hrcla where had Il concealed. ! walked
on up 10 the corner Of Madison street
when Dr. Rogers spoke 10 me. At the
same time % llayor was coming down the
street and We ~ went into DR.. Rogers
ohicc. Several friends on the street had
noticed the fact that Chief Davis and
O'Ilaycr had been having conversations
with me and asked me questions concerning
Il. II any one is 10 blame for DR.. McGcc's
getting wind Of this matter, Il Is certainly
the uncautious way In which Capt
O'lIaycr visited my place Of business.
certainly have never mentioned this mat.