Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-06-12
ASSAULTED HIS PATIENT
Dr. Thacker Lee Goes to Jail for Too
Much Familiarity.
Mrs. EcklOn Objected to His Methods
of Fixing Teeth-Judge Mil
lcr's Caustic Comments.


| engaged in the practice Of dentistry. at his
office on 18th street. was in Judge Miller's
court this afternoon as a defendant in q
| case involving a charge of assault The
defendant was a member of the police force
| for several years, and soon after ne re-
| signed he entered upon the practice of his
| profession. That was seven years ago, and
| today was the first time he has appeared
| in court since he severed his connection
with the force. The charge against hira
was simple assault, although the prosecut-
ing witness alleged that the assault charged
was of an indecent character.
! The prosecuting witness was Mrs. Annie
Eckloff wife of Mr. Harry Eckloff and
! daughter-n-law of eX-I.ieut. Eckloff of
| the police force. Lawyer Shillington rep
resented the defendant. and Mr.. Mullowney
prosecuted the case.
Mr.. Eckloff was the first witness ex-
amined. and he testified that he and DIR.
| Lee had been good friends for some time.
The doctor had complained of hard times,
he said and witness had told him that he
would throw in his way all the work he
could. Last Friday he went to the dem
| lists office, intI oduced his wife to the doc
tor. and left her there. as ne had to go to
| work. When he got homeS that evening
his wife made complaint to him about what
had taken place In the dentists office.
Mrs. Eckloff testified that she went to
the dentists. as she wanted to have a plate
.
chair, and when other patients came in she
stepped aside at the doctors request and
| waited till he waited on them. He spoke
to her about her weight and appearance.
and she told him that she weighed 154
pounds while her husband weighed more
than 200 pounds. When she first sat in the
chair. she said. the defendant smoothed her
hair. but she overlooked this and really
paid no attention to It, Later. she said, he
pushed against her Even then she said
nothing. although she did not like his ac-
lions. Then, she said, he put his hand on
her knee, and moved it In the direction OF
| her body, pressing against her leg with his
hand. as though he wanted to attract her
attention.
she was almost as heavy as her husband.
and witness then made known to the de-
PENDANT her objection to his conduct.
| I'm a lady" she told him, land will
| submit to no such conduct"
The defendant. she said. then told her that
he meant nothing by what he had done.
| 81 did 1t In weak moment he said to
me-" said witness. 1t was an act of my
| head and not of my heart
| The defendant, she said. then went on to
| gay that her husband thought he was a
| gentleman. and asked If she did not think
| So She replied that she did not. Defend
| ant told her that he was a gentleman, that
he was man of family, and had a sick
wife. adding: II have never troubled any
| other woman"
| Witness said she told him she Was sorry
| that she was the first victim.
DR.. Lee asked her about returning, and
| she told him she would not return alone.
because she was afraid. H, then begged
| her not to tell her husband, ard said he
was Willing 10 get on his knees and apollo
gize. for he know II she told her hush and
| the latter woul1 knock his head Off
| The doctor asked her If she had ever
studied doctors books. and she told him
she had not.
IF you do" he said. 1T will prove that
| the man Is the weaker of TIE two sexes :"
/ Witness hl,S hxn M
| of what had happened.
Defendants Story.
The defendant then took the stand in his
own behalf, and gave himself a good char
acter saying he had served in the navy. and
| had also served on the police force five
1 years. and made an honorable record
How long have you lived here7' he was
asked.
Seventeen years"
He started out by telling the court that
| the woman's husband and himself were
mutual friends.
There was a mutual admiration existing
| between u.s." he said, and l certainly
| saulted his wife"
He said he had an extended converse ton
| WITH her concerning her teeth, and told of
tean.g the compound with which to take
the impression. He had no recollection of
| having smoothed her head, but said II was
| not only customary, but was necessary, to
arrange patients head. Defendant said
he talked to her about the weight Of her
husband, and my right hand. with ma
licious intent. but thoughtlessly. fell upon
her knee. and l said. You are almost as
stout as your husband"
mo. amt" Mrs. Eckloff said. Don't
| touch me-"
Later they talked about a deposit being
made for the work. and when she got ready
| to leave defendant asked her about her next
visit Then 1t was. he said. that she made
complaint, and said she would be afraid to
return alone.
Defendant said he told her then that he
| man, and had worked for some Of the best
people in Washington. Since she felt Of
Tended. however. he said to her that he was
| willing to beg her pardon, and on his knees
II necessary.
III that is an assault" he said to the
court. then 1 am willing to stand the pun
ishment." ..
What was your purpose?" inquired Judge
Miller.
Il had no purpose" he answered, II did
1t thoughtlessly and without regard to her
sex
Was any part of fixing the teeth neces-
sary to put your hand on her you did?'
/ mo, sir" he responded and then he told
the court that there was a feeling between
dentist or doctor and patient which did not
exist between others and sometimes the
former is little more familiar than he
ought to be.
A number of witnesses were called to give
| evidence as to the good reputation Of the
defendant.
l Sent to Jail.
The reputation of a man in a case like
this. Judge Miller said, amounts to very lit
tie. Any one with any common sense
knows that a man of bad reputation has no
such opportunities. He has to assault peo-
pie on the highways, where there are usual
ly persons who will knock him down The
| familiarity that grows out of the profess
| sion as related by the defendant, the judge
said, he was happy to say did not exist
| among the dentists generally, for he knew
| the dentists generally are honorable men.
l when 1t does exist said the judge,
ut Is the duty Of the court to lay hands
on the defendant in a manner that will
put an end to such conduct for long
| time"
Judge Miller praised Mrs Eckloff for hav-
ing the courage to bring the case to the
attention Of the court, and after further
comments said that the imposition of a
fine would not answer in such case, and
following in the line of the plea of Mr..
Mullowney, he said: THE sentence of the
court Is that the defendant be confined in
the county jail for period Of three
months"
The defendants wife, who was in court.
tainted and had to be carried from the
court room.
Later in the afternoon the doctor went to
Jail.
4 TOmOrrow's Card.