The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-03-31

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{ have are enough - disgrace YOU and
drive you out Of town. and I viii II you
refuse me this money
The doctor says that Wilson has be-
come alarmed and has made clean
breast Of the crime and sworn 20 an afii-
dsvit ernbodying the facts Of the case.
Or" Piouff was formerly resident 90
Seattle He came here about the time of
the great fire Of June sth. lSSS tie had
been bartender in St Paul. II Is said.
soon after his advent IN this city he op-
ened Offices in rooms in the Seattle block.
These he fitted up IN the most elegant
style. He was essentially a auaek. ana
adopted the methods of a chariafan In
order 10 secure business. He was always
atttred In the finest garments that money
could buy, and. indeed. was oyer-dresSed.
He always wore a plug hat. and his
trousers and vests were very showy. He
was the owner OF the largest mastiff in
the city. and was the observed Of all Oh
servers when he appeared on the streets.
as despite his loud dress. he was rather
Nne-looktng man. In short time he
had. by adopting methods which are con-
trary TO the ethics o. the medical pro-
fession, built Up large practise. This
called the attention of the King County
Mefical Society 10 him and his methods.
The society Investigated him, with the
result that IL was learned that he had
never graduated from a medical school;
that he held no diploma and had never
been granted a license TO practice mesii-
cine. The doctor was arrested and the
case was taken 70 the superior court,
where IL lay for a year without action.
Then the case was reopened and the or
iginal complaint was found 10 have been
lost, and the action was dismissed on
Shat account. A short time after this
he was again arrested. and was dismissed
because the statute OF limitation ran
f<s hsa .
made through the effort of the medical
society, caused people TO lose faith in the
doctor" and he soon was without caste
or practice. He resumed the practice OF
medicine, but this time he was simply
as a specialist, guaranteeing TO cure
rheumatism. His efforts were unsuccess-
ful. and after struggling Intellectually
for about a year he left this city two
years ago and established himself in San
Francisco. in the Phelan building. where
he has been engaged in the curing of
rheumatism. In November 1894. he was
arrested in San Francisco for practicing
medicine without a license, but escaped
punishment on the plea that he was
manufacturer OF medicine and not prac-
ticing physician.
During the time that Or" Plouf was In
Seattle he was. in his vulgar way, a Don
Juan aud lady killer. and his adventures
with the fair sex were as disgraceful as
they were numerous. He is said TO have
seduced several young girls. and to have
alieniated the affections OF a wife or two.
He used TO boast of his conquests, and OF
the sums of money which he claimed to
have obtained from women who were en-
amored with him. One case In particular
will be remembered, where a woman he
had traduced met him on Occidental
square and after giving him tongue
lashing drew a whip from beneath her
cloak and applied IL TO his back, admins
tering sound thrashing, which he richly
deserved.
James y. l.. McGaughey came to this
city shortly before the fire from Sissons.
Cal. He was a young man Of pleasant ad-
dress. and made many friends. When he
first came TO the city he made himself
popular with the politicians by working
at the primaries and elsewhere, and was
finally made deputy county clerk. when
NJ. NJ. Holmes was county clerk in 1890.
He was made clerk OF Judge Humes'
court. In the summer OF 1871 Clerk Nc
Gaughey was arrested on a charge OF
forgery and grand larceny. IT seems that
a number OF those who arc called az wit
nesses 10 the superior court fail TO call
for their witness fees, and McGaughey
took advantage of this fact. He forged
the names of the witnesses. or caused
them to be forged. and then he caused
the orders to be presented TO the county
treasurer. and when the money was col
lected he pocketed IL. Those who profess
to he acquainted with all the circum-
stances allege that ne fraudulently OBJ
tanned IN this way about $500 The date
for the trial was set, and Mciaughey
asked for hearing before the county
commissioners. which hearing was grant
cd TO him At the meeting were as
sembled all the commissioners. the
county clerk. county auditor ana
prosecuting attorney. McGaughey beg
ped hard, and said IL was the
frs slip he had ever made. lie
promised II he was not prosecuted 10
make full restitution Of the stolen money.
The meeting after considerable delioera-
ton agreed to dismiss the charges, pro-
vided the promised restitution was n'adc.
McGaughey did make at least partial
restitution of the stolen money, and his
friends say he paid Il all back. The dis
closures hurt McGaughey so that he was
unable to secure permanent employment
In seattle He worked for short time
as a clerk in the music store or A. q.
Cfosewisch, in the Burke block, ana Old
odd Jobs OF copying. Just before he vent
TO San Francisco he beat North Seat
tie tailor out Of a lot of clothing by rep
resentlng himself to be worthy young
man who roomed at the same house
where he did. lie also got lot or goods
from Hyams. Pauson N Co. which ne
never paid for. McGaughey was married
20 Miss Flora Spriggs Of this city. In
San Francisco less than two years ago.
Mrs McGaughey who II a handsome
Young woman and very highly esteemed.
IS now I'm Seattle.
Mcfiaughey's friends here say they ex-
rected a fight between Dr. Piouf and the
former. They deny the story OF the waste
fnsket and the blackmailing, and say
PIouf hated Mcfsaughey for trying 10
help n man whom the doctor had swim
died by selling half interest In the busi-
ness. which vas not paying expenses.
Plouf had prosecuted Mctaughey, had
threatened to XIII him. and had procured
the insertion Of articles attacking Nc
C,sughey in San Francisco papers. Fear
ing violence. McGaughey always went
armed.