St. Paul daily globe., 1892-07-02
BASSETT'S RECORD.
A Farm Laborer's Attempt to En-
ter the Medical Profession.

Ter the MeulCai PROCESSION.
Eugene A. Bassett has quite strong
array of witnesses and documentary
evidence 70 confront III his trial before
Judge Edgerton and jury in the Unit
ed States district court. At the open
ing of the case yesterday. Attorney
Lane moved dismissal of the case on
the theory that the Indictment does not
allege that the indecent and immoral
circulars had been sent to any particular
person by means of the federal mails.
This motion was overruled. Assistant
United States Attorney Edgerton
stand. Mr.. Lane objected on the
ground that he is jointly indicted with
Bassett, and the government was not at
liberty to put him on the stand to prove
his case. 1t was also urged by Lane
that he had been appointed by the court
to defend the case. and had not asked
for severance, and technically might
be considered the attorney of Weimbeck
also. The district attorney stated that
he would dismiss the case as to Weim-
beck, and had already moved for the
trial of Bassett. After some discussion
it was conceded by Mr.. Lane that the
witness might proceed with his testi-
mony. ar
Weimbeck stated that he had entered
into an agreement with BaSSett in May,
1891. to the e fleet that he would put $3.50
at the disposal of Basset. in considera-
tioa of a note for the amount, properly
indorSed. In turn for this he was to be
instructed in medicine and the method Of
treating diseases by BaSSett. He was
a farm laborer, and hffad come to St.
Panf from the country to business
college and tit himself to go into a
wholesale house and work himself up.
He met BaSSett at a boarding house on
Tenth street, and was told by him that
he would teach him how totreat dis
eases. The business was honorable
and the witness thought he would be-
come physician so that he could get
rich. Weimbeck went into the office
and addressed several hundred envel-
opes into which he placed the circulars
that purported to give criminal infOrma-
ton and placed them in the mail under
instructions from Bassett. Two of the
printed circulars of DR.. and Mrs.
Mantoi were identified as being sent
through tie mails. Bassett had fur
nished him il list of names to whom the
circulars were to be sent. The circulars
themselves gave instructions for pro-
curing capsules to be use,l for criminal
purposes and represented that they
could be had hy writing or applying to
DR.. Mantol at st. Paul.
Detective Mason testified that Bassett
had showed him the capsules and told
him of his plans OF sending out circu-
lars.
Bassett took the stand and stated that
he was only the agent for DR.. and Mrs.
Mantol, who lived in Chicago, and who
visited his office several times. He told
Weimbeck not to send the circulars out
after DIR. Mantol left the city, as they
belonged to Mrs. MaptOl. On cross
examination, he asked the protection of
the court when asked how many times
he had been in the penitentiarv, but
being informed that he must answer,
said he had ueen in the Saltwater peni-
tentiary and the Iowa penitentiary. He
denied telling Mason anything about
the circulars or the capsules.
The sheriff of Howard county, In
diana, the assistant postmaster and
county attorney of Cresco, Ind. as well
as several other persons from abroad
are here as witnesses in the case.
Mr.. Edgerton had several letters that
had been sent by Mantel containing
circulars, and had them on exhibition
in the court room, but had not intro
duced them in evidence. In gathering
up the papers when court adjourned
these letters were missing. Bassett
was asked to look in his pockets and see
if he had the letters. This angered the
man, and ne demanded to know if he
was accused of stealing the letters.
The district attorney said he did
not SO charge. Bassett emptied his
pockets, but the missing letters were
not produced, neither were they found.