The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-03-27
THE DOCTOR IN COURT.
TRIAL or THE BOSTON PHYsrCIhy.
The Case Against DIR. Flower in tb. Hust-
ing's Court Was Postponed Until To-
Morrow-Interestings Facts.

G. Flower. of Boston. charging him with prac-
tlcing medicine without license. is creating
good deal Of attention. and the announcement
that there were additional warrants against
him to be tried in the police court attracted
large crowd there yesterday morning. Seyen
warrants. each charging him with practicing
medicine and surgery for compensation with
out having obtained q certificate from the
Board of Medical Examiners and caused the
same to lie recorded as prescribed by law,
were presented
The Doctor occupied q seat behind the bar
with his counsel. Hon. George H. Christian,
and his bondsman, Mr. Edgar d. Taylor.
His was the last case called and while wait
ing he listened with evident interest at tina
manner in which the docket was disposed of
by Justice John. DR.. Flower has large.
round, closely -shaven face aud wears eye
glasses of large size. His long upper lip
turned back frequently when the Justice
made hit and showed very largo set Of
white teeth. He appeared not greatly con-
cerned, and awaited the issue with COM
posure.
Judge Christian asked the Court 10 post
pone the trial Of the warrants until the case
in the upper court was heard. and said he
had no doubt about his client being acquitted,
hS IL VIII ne hlpWu -OucluSlNeif iuhl Nis DldC-
tee does not come within the puryiew OF the
law.
THE COMMONWEALTH.
Commonwealth Attorney II. NJ Smith.
Jr.. objected to pOstpOnement. unless Judge
Christian would assure him that DR.. Flower
would not continue the treatment OF patients
while the charges against him are pending.
This was readily agreed TO and the inyesti-
CATION was postponed until Monday at
o'clock. Dr. Flower was admitted 10 bail IN
the sum Of $500 in each case which with the
$500 already given in the hastings count
made $4,000. Mr. T. ID. Taylor became his
security in all these cases.
N THE HUsTINGs COURT.
Curiosity had reached a high pitch at
o'clock in the afternoon. when the case first
referred b. above came up for trial. Before
the hour named the courtroom was filled and
the number OF physicians scattered through
the crowd indicated the great interest taken
by them IN the case When the case was
called only eight of the twelve Jurors responded
10 the call and Judge Witt stated that the
proceedings would have to be delayed until
the number requisite could be summoned.
One of the Jurors then stated that he had
already expressed his opinion or the matter
and did not think he was eligible. lie was
excused and the Sergeant ordered to sum-
mon five more instead OF four.
Christian and Mr.. Frank Christian and Mr.
+. II. Mosher. who is his secretary and
stenographer. The proceedings he took IN
shorthand
Judge Christian asked for the information
in the case. and AS soon as he had read the in
dictment asked permission to enter demur-
rer on the ground that the statute was not
applicable to his client. who had practiced
his profession for fifteen 10 twenty years. as
was well known to persons In Richmc nd
Mr.. Smith, Commonwealth attorney OBJ
iected and appealed 10 the Court not TO dis
pose OF the case until time could De had 10
give it fuller consideration. lie said that 1t
was o new case and one that concerned the
entire medical profession, and should not he
disposed of on "a technical objection.
NOT TECHNICAL.
Mr.. Frank Christian replied that they were
not fighting on technIcallty, but on the
broad grounds Of truth. honesty and justice.
and that no physician, no matter from what
State he came who bad practlced previous to
the lst OF January. 1892 came under the
operation of the law. lie then read section
j75O as re-enacted by the last Legislature, as
follows -,
No person who shall have commenced the
practice of medicine or surgery since the trst
day of January. eighteen hundred and ninety
two or who shall hereafter commence the
nractice of the same shall practice as ply
stefan or surgeon. for compensation, without
having first obtained certificate and caused
the same TO be recorded as aforesaid. Any
nersou violating the provisions OF this sec
ton shall be fined not less than fifty nor
more than five hundred dollars for each
oifense. and be debarred from receiving
any compensation for services rendered
as such physician or surgeon. Any person
who shall have been assessed with license
tax as a physician or surgeon by any com
missioner OF the revenue il this State at any
time prior 10 the passage OF this act shall be
taken as having commenced the practice OF
medicine or surgery prior TO that date Out
any persOn who shall not have been so as
sessed shall be taken as not having com
menced such practice prior to that date.
TO POSTPONE.
Mr.. Smith then asked that as the demurrer
struck at the foundation of the law. and If
tbis case was thus disposed of the other cases
in the police court would also fall through,
that the case be postponed until Monday at .
r. Nj.
After some discussion this was agreed to
bv DIR. Flowers counsel with the under
standing that the cases in the police court
lie over until this case IS decided
Mr. George W. Dresser. broker from Bos-
Ton. arrived in the city yesterday and was
present in court. lie was asked by TIE lines
reporter if he knew DR.. Flower. and replied
that he had known him intimately Tor twelve
years, and that lie stood well as physician
in Boston.
DIR. Flower occupies q handsome suite of
perlors at the Exchange. and has two ladies'
m his party He will not attempt TO practice
while his case Is pending IN court, ana the
DELAY here will cause him TO cancel his en-
gagement at Wilmington.
lie Wanted n Pension.
nostmaster of city like Richmond is the
.ll;,,r, o,r4 ;dant of many of the troubles