Los Angeles daily herald., 1890-01-13
NEWS ABOUT TOWN.
An Attempted Blackmail on
a Physician.
THE SCHEME FAILED TO WORK
A Stabbing ARRAY Over a Letter
Other Items of an Interest
ing Character.

A few days ago very ladylike an
extremely well.dressed woman called a
the office of prominent physician OF
Main street and introduced herself as th,
wife of gentleman whose name wa,
well known by repute to the man o
medicine. Seating herself in the doctor'l
private office, she engaged him in con
versation for some minutes, during which
she took pains to impress upon her host
who was somewhat at a loss to determine
upon the object of her visit, that she had
heard a great deal about his treatment o.
certain cases, and that she was
imbued with the belief that he
had no equal in the profession. So
much did she dwell upon this topic that
the physician came to the conclusion
that his fair visitor had some sinister OBJ
iect in view, and his suspicious being
once aroused, he determined to take a
few precautionary measures in case OF
accident. Accordingly he excused him
SELF momentarily on the plea that pa
tient awaited him in the ante-room
speedily explained the situation to an
assistant, who noiselessly giided into q
closet which opened into both rooms.
The physician then returned to bis
visitor, apologized for having 70 leave
her 80 abruptly, and blandly intimated
that he was anxious to learn for what
purpose his fattering visitor had sought
the interview. Being thus challenged
the lady stated that she was suffering
from peculiar disease, and acting upon
the advice of friends, had come to him,
as an expert, for treatment. At her re.
quest the doctor made an examination
but his suspicious were redoubled on
finding that her alleged illness was q
complete falsenood. He informed her,
however, that sfter careful examina-
ton he was unable to discover the cause
OF her complaint, and gave her
to understand that she was in
perfect health in his opinion. She
insisted upon differing from him, and,
as she rose to take her leave, intimated
that she would return on the next day.
when he might make more searching
examination and reverse his somewhat
hasty opinion. She then left, with pro.
fuse apologies for OBTAINING him for such
length of time; and after her departure
the doctor was more than ever convinced
that she was practising some duplicity.
he could not, however, guess at her
motive, and determined that should she
keep her promise and return next day
his lliiss1 sattepdant n should ha- nrAsant at tho
An after thought, however, occurred
to him, and when his strange, but
lovely, would-be patient arrived
punctually at the appointed time next
day, his attendant was secreted as before
in the dual closet, 60 that he could over
hear all that passed between his superior
and the lady. After few moments con-
versation on general topics, the woman's
ladylike demeanor vanished like fash,
and turning to the doctor she said
abruptly II suppose you are curious to
know what l am here for. Well, want
$500! Do you underestimate" The
physician was considerably taken aback,
in spite of his suspicious OF the day
before, but he coolly replied that
he was wholly at loss to COM
prehend the lady's meaning. She
promptly proceeded to inform him
in the most matter of fact way, that un.
less he at once paid her $500, she would
inform her husband that the doctor had
taken undue liberties with her; and that
as she had taken pains to have witnesses
both to her having entered the office and
left it an hour later, on the day before,
it would be impossible for him to refute
the charge. The doctor about this time
was white with suppressed passion, and
walking over to the closet, he called
Upon his assistant, who stepped into the
room, and told him to at once telephone
for an officer, as he intended to have 80
dangerous woman sent to the peni-
tentiary. On hearing this, and at once
divining that third party had heard all
that transpired, the woman fell upon
ber knees at the DOCTORS feet,
and clasping his knees, begged
for mercy, and beseeched him in his
wife's name to spare her such ignominy
Moved by her tears and distress, the
physician ordered her to rise, and after
exacting promise that she would leave
the city and never return allowed her tc
depart, considerably relieved. The doc
tors nerves, strong as they are, were
badly strung and even yet he cannot
hear the name of his fair visitor men,
toned without repressing a shudder. As
the woman has not since been seen it il
safe to assume that she kept her word
and will trOuhla him no mira