The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1895-11-01
HE MAKES CRIPPLES.
"DOC" EDGERToN MAKES TRAMPS
LAME, BLIND, SICK OR PARALYTlC.

LAME, BLIND, SlCk Oh FAhHIr III.
Has q Degree From an English University.
How He Started His Queer Trade-His
Paralytic Outfit-Now Going to Atlanta.
James Edgerton, M. D.. better known
in hobo circles as doc" or "Hopsy, " is
one OF the unique impostors in the tramp
army. He arrived in New York the other
day on his way to Atlanta, where he
expects to reap rich harvest from the
swarms Of beggars attracted by the expo
sition.
In appearance Edgerton does not differ
materially from the professional tramps
one meets daily. He is, or would be
if he stood erect, trifie above medium
height, weather beaten and dirty, save
for his hands, which by their cleanli-
ness offer a marked contrast to face and
apparel A beard of constantly varying
degrees Of disreputableness hides a
rather good mouth.
Fun has been made Of blind beggars
who can see, deaf beggars who can hear
and their frequent interchange of de-
formities. "Doc" Edgerton goes one bet
ter. He is afflicted differently every day
of the week. He claims that there are
80 manners of crippling. With half an
hours preparation he can appear as the
victim of any one of them. In this way
he makes not only enough money to
supply his wants, but to have snug
bank account.
During the Columbian exposition a
reporter made "Hopsy's" acquaintance.
He is native of France, but left that
country when such little shaver that
his first recollections are of London
school life. Later he studied medicine
and took his degree, but gave up ideas
of practice to come to this country,
where he believed fortunes were made
in day. Failing to find work, he
sought patients.
Even these were scarce until he con-
ceived the idea of doctoring tramps. He
soon found the right kind of subject and
artistically bandaged his lacerated scalp.
He then proposed that the tramp should
beg, using his bandaged head to excite
sympathy, and should divide receipts at
the end Of the day. The plan was car
ried out, and the Doctors share amount
ed to a little over 81. This led him to
extend the system. Soon he had small
army of beggars displaying splints and
bandages and reaping harvests of coin.
1t was not necessary that there should
be any real injuries. A broken arm or
leg or rib is easily simulated when the
proper bandages are applied, and as
much money was reaped from perfect
~ sound member as from the most hor-
rible mutilation.
The doctor could not watch all of his
patients, and most of them decamped,
bandages and all, without paying for
his services. Wherever he went he con-
tinued his unique line of work and soon
became known to vast army of tramps
and beggars. Few of his patients were
honest enough to divide evenly, and
to guard against their stealings he ar
ranged price list of the affections he
could initiate. Here it is: Broken arm,
So; broken leg, So; sprained shoulder,
$3.50; sprained wrist, rs cents; broken
ribs, So; sprained ankle, 81; paralysis,
S.; blindness, So; infammatory rheu-
matism, So; bandaging. 80 cents.
Most interesting of all is the method
of Stimulating paralysis. This is done
by hypodermic injection. The name
Of the drug used Edgerton will not tell.
The effect is startling. The injection is
usually made in one or both arms. They
quickly become lifeless, and control
over the muscles is lost. There is no
pain. The skin loses color and becomes
slightly shriveled. The nails become
blaish and seemingly dead. These
symptoms sometimes last 48 hours, al
though SO hours is generally the limit.
Edgerton claims that fake paralytics
often make SIS or $40 in day. No after
effect is noticed from the drug.
Rheumatism and infammatory dis
eases are caused in as easy way, diff
ferent drug being used. Blindness is
caused by eye drops which give to the
cornea and iris the peculiarly CLASSY
look of sightless eye. A broken arm
or leg is put up in splints and roller
bandage in most artistic fashion. The
splints are redeemable at % cents each.
The doctor is an excellent actor and
makes up with equal success as a work
ingman thrown out of employment by
his affection, or as a palsied outcast,
half dead from exposure and old age.
Fresh wounds he has long known how
to simulate, and fake poisoning is no
uncommon trick when the police are at
distance. The making of scars or badly
healed wounds was suggested by a news
paper extract from "Sherlock Holmes. F"
He is not yet perfect in this new branch
of art.
Edgerton's outfit, by means of which
he works so many changes. is not ex-
tensive.' A "gun," or hypodermic
syringe, with walls of half dozen drugs,
he has constantly with him, besides a
bandage or two and safety pins. Splints
and much cherished spinal jacket are
kept hidden in the room which chances
to be his home.
! So far as can be learned, he is the on
ly regular cripple maker in business.
New York World.
The Wheat Harvest of the World.
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