The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1891-10-23
A DOCTORS DILEMMA.
Arrested for Issuing an Alleged Fraud
uent Medical Certificate.
TWENTY OTHER CASES ALLEGED.
A Bill OF Good Health for Man Dying I'm
the Rhode Island Hospital-The De-
fendant Alleges Conspiracy; but Wants
10 Settle.

A large framed, tall and good-looking
man sat in the Sixth District Court this
morning. He was nervous. Now and
then he took piece Of paper from his
pocket and made voluminous notes upon il.
Everybody took him for an addition TO the
newspaperial force. But he wasn't. He
had been apprehended on a privately is
sued warrant and was waiting 10 plead to
serious charge although the instrument
alleged that which on the face involved the
wrongful conversion only of twenty-five
cents.
Some time in July last there came to
this city from Lynn physician who gave
his name as Everett Il. Adams, NJ. ID. He
brought with him certificates of charac-
ter which secured for him the position of
medical examiner of the Peoples Indus
trial Insurance Company, whose general
agent for Rhode Island is James w. Stain
ton, having an office in the What Cheer
building.
In September man residing in East
Providence fell from tree, and was so
severely injured that he had to be taken
to the Rhode Island hospital. Contempt
raneously certificate was returned to
Agent Stanton, alleging that one Timothy
Coughlin OF East Providence, had applied
for insurance and that DR.. Adams had ex-
amined him and found him to be salts
factory risk.
Agent Stanton would have issued the
policy were il not that he received timely
Information that Coughlin, at the time of
the alleged examination, was at the hos
pital, and near deaths door. DR.. Adams
was called upon to explain, and claimed
that If he had not examined the real Tim
othy Coughlin, that some person pretend
ing to be that individual had been pre-
sented as d~dummy" This case is still
under an investigation.
Mr.. Stanton felt impelled TO make an
examination of Dr. Adams's work for the
company, and he has found, as he claims
to-day, twenty certificates of medical ex-
aminations that are crooked. The major
portion of these bear the X mark of the
applicants, witnessed by DIR. Adams. The
other signatures are asserted TO be forge
Mr. Stanton says that the method of
the company is to send out solicitors, who
fill out the applications and leave them at
the office. These he gives to the medical
examiner, who, after inspecting the
would-be risk, makes report on blank
provided for that purpose.
He says that DR.. Adams has not seen
any of the twenty applicants whose pa
pers are under inspection. and that the
doctor, instead of doing his duty, has
forged every portion of the certificates,
inclnding the action of the heart, lungs,
etc.
When arraigned to-day DIR. Adams
pleaded not guilty and he will be tried
next week If he does not waive an exam
ination in the lower court. Before he was
arraigned he offered TO pay the newspaper
reporters If they would suppress the news
OF his arrest, and he also offered to settle
the case with Mr.. Stanton, but the latter
declined to interfere with the operations
of the law. DR.. Adams office is at No. 5
Ninton street, this city.
Doyune du Comice