Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-02-15
1T WAS A QUEER SCHEME.
A Chicago Doctor Secures Many Ply
sicians' Certificates From Holland.

Chicago Doctor Secures Many Phy-
sicians' Certificates From Holland.
CHICAGO. Feb. ia scheme has just
been unearthed in Chicago which. had 1t
run Its course. would have deprived half a
hundred physicians in Holland of their
right to practice medicine in their native
land. The whole thing originated in the
fertile brain Of Holland doctor of the
name Of Won Noppen. formerly an employee
in the physicians Office at Siegel. Cooper &
Co.'S. and his little scheme may yet get him
into trouble with the home government IL
his dupcs are inclined 20 push the matter.
While in the employ of the firm the doc
tori formed the acquaintance of fellow
countryman named Zuidema, who gave him
permission to use his name in an advertise
ment. which, Won Noppen said, was to be
inserted In a medical journal in Holland.
A few weeks ago the advertisement made
it's appearance in a foreign medical journal
and 1t has apparently created a great stir
among the fraternity of the whole country.
The advertisement reads:
"Wanted-A physician who has graduated
from Holland medical college to locate in
Pennsylvania, United States America Free
transportation Will be FINISHED. free house
and stable rent. and an income of $1,000 per
annum guaranteed by the government. In
answering please send your diploma. Mr..
Zuidema. No. 100 Ferdinand street, Chica-
go, ulipo.s. u. S. A"
. Large, fat, registered letters. covered with
foreign stamps. began to arrive almost i'm
mediatsly, and these were turned over to
Won -Noppen. This was continued for sew
eral days. when Zuidema became suspicious.
and, opening one of them, found doctors
certificate and a copy of the advertisement
cut from the paper. He was now thoroughly
alarmed, and taking all the letters which
had arrived that day, he called on Mr.. Geo.
Birkhof, jr., consul of the Netherlands, be-
fore whom he laid the case.
Won Noppen was Immediately summoned.
and, under threat of prosecution, gave up
the letters which had been delivered to him.
He admitted that the advertisement was a
fake and the reason he gave for having in
serted 1t was that when he had emigrated
to this country an article appeared in Hol-
land papers stating that only the least sue
cessful physicians found 1t necessary to
leave the mother country, and to prove that
this was false he wanted to get a list OF
those who were only awaiting an oppor-
tunity.
Mr. Birkhoff was seen. and when asked
as to the truth of the matter said: Yes,
unfortunately. Ii is true. Thirty answers
have been received up to date and more are
coming every day. Only yesterday one ply
sician sent a cablegram which must have
cost at least $40 Most of these letters con-
tain all the papers which give the sender a
right to practice medicine. and In many in
stances they could not be replaced should
they have been lost. L am returning them
as rapidly possible, with an explanation
which will probably make them more care
full about parting with these documents in
the future"
What Won Noppen expected to gain Is not
known. II he has no certificate for prac-
this way to obtain one for himself. Or 1t
may have been his design to extort money
from his victims, or, possibly, to sell these
diplomas to those who were without them.