New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-02-13
IMPRISONED IN PANAMA.
NDIGNITIES TO WHICH TWO AMERICAN
PHYSICIANS WERE SUBJECTED.
DIR. PURDY, OF SENECA FALLS, DIES SOON AFTER
HIS IMPRISONMENT BY THE PANAMA

AUTHORITIES.
IBr TELEGRAPH TO TIE TRBUSE.l


Auburn, Feb ia story IS told here to-day giving
history Of the persecution visited upon two Amer
lean physicians at Panama, which ended In the death
of Dr. H. j. Purdy, OF Seneca Falls DR.. Purdy had
prescribed medicine for patient in Panama who died
In two hours and the authorities arrested Dr. Puldy
and his partner Dr. Charles H. Utter former Auburn
man. and imprisoned them. DR.. Purdy while in prison
taken III with yellow fever and died DR.. Leroy
Lewis. Of this CITY, friend OF Dr. PuIdy has In his
possession letters from DR.. Utter and copy OF
letter written By Consul General Thomas Adamson. at
Panama, to Mr.. Rvos, Assistant Secretary Of State,
that give full history of the experience Of these two
men. Consult General Adamson, who was instructed
by the State Department TO investigate wrote that he
finds no evidence that Purdy's illness caused
by his imprisonment and that on an occasion when
Dr. Purdy presented petition TO be released on ball
he declared that he was a British subject
Under dato OF January 0, DR.. Utter wrote from
prison letter to DIR. Lewis Of this city giving full
details OF his and Dr. Purdy's experience. The fol
lowing arc extracts from this letter:
Over two years ago, DR.. Purdy came here expecting
to do business with what is known tho American
Dredging Company" but could make the necessary
arrangements 10 his satisfaction had large practice
In Asplnwa and Dr. Purdy said he would like to form
a eopartnershp with told him II he wished 10 no
was at liberty do The evening Of October 0,
1888 he arrived In Panama but In Aspinwal
but got back TO Panama next morning. and found DR.
Purdy in the ONCE attending 70 business. On the
iith there three men brought to the Office In
cart ell suffering from rheumatism and blood poisoning
The Doctor examined hem then asked examine them
He their names and gavo them all the kind Of
they away On the morning Of the I4th
OF the captains Of tho police in ami said he had
a sick man that needed attendance. The Doctor
with tho police They took him 70 the ealaboose
then the same oneer back after me. Ho said Dr.
Purdy wanted nc. 1 put my coat and went At once
Wei, the police landed in the calaboose also. They
would not let me see Dr. Purdy or talk 70 any
Well, L mystihed. In the evening they took me
before the Alealde. When asked him why was de-
sncd said there were charges p5erred against for
poisoning man. I saw there bottle OF medicine
e Acaldes desk and they said that the medicine was
poison, aud asked mo what knew about IT, so 1 told
them what IN the medicine, and also drank little Of
the medicine. After they had taken evidence they
puS Dr. Purdy and myself in room together where wo
locked up. The Doctors evidence the same as
my and he drank portion OF the medicine also The
next day they dug the dead and had an exsnna-
ton. took stomach liver and kidneys etc, TO the Gov
chemist together with the medicine. He anal
yzed it and found poison In the and poison in
the medicine. All he found IN the medicine was little
lodlO po,assa They said they did not know how much
IOdo poassa IL took until sent 70 my Office and got Van
Burcn authority and showed TO them whore man had
taken oG0 grains In twenty-four hours and DEATH
whereas the patient taking only about twenty-four
grains. We were kept in prison about four weeks
The letter goes on 10 say that DIR. Purdy caught
yellow fever IN the prison. He suffered there for
1ve days, when he was taken 10 hospital, where he
died. Utter says he has yet had no trial