The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-12-10
MR.. TAFTS
DEFENCE.
Declares He Does Not
Practice Medicine.
HE is A METAPHYSICIAN.
Healing Performed Only by the
Power Of God, He Says.
HE IS A METAPHYSICIAN.
CASE TAKEN TO HIGHER COURT.

Henry K. Taft president OF the Rhode
Island Metaphy steal association. was on
trial in the District Court this morning &
charged with practiclng medicine in
Providence without duly authorized
certificate from the state board of health
as provided by law. The case was brought
at the instance of DR.. Gardiner Swarts,
secretary Of the state board Of health. and
the prosecution was conducted by AS
sistant Attorney General Charles A.
Stearns. Col. Henry d. Spooner was
counsel for Mr.. Taft.
The prosecution introduced but three
witnesses DR.. Swarts, who explained To
whom the board granted Licenses under
the law, ana Clarence Il. Vaughn, the
police messenger, and Policeman EveretS
Hall, the two young men who obtained
the evidence against Mr.. Taft
DIR. Swarts stated that Mr. Taft had
never applied To the board for license
lie acknowledged that licenses bad been
granted 10 some who cure without medi-
cine, such as magnetic Dealers, and a IL
cense might have been granted TO Mr.. Taft
II he had applied for It. III Mr. Taft had
been doing the same things before Jan
uary /, 1892, that he Is now he had never
had any evidence submitted TO that
eifec.
Clarence + Vaughn testified to visit
ing MIR. Taft ut his Office on Exchange
Place and under the name of Clarence
Adams received treatment for the grip.
He described going into the private Office
where Mr. Taft asked scre questions
and sat with his eyes closed for some
minutes. This was on April A. On April
10 he vent again and received n second
treatment and paid Mr. Taft the sum of
81, taking n receipt. On October 2 no
again called on Mr.. Taft, telling him
the grip had come back again and again
he received n treatment No medicines
were given in any of these cases, but Mr..
Taft had felt his pulse ana the first
time had told him to place his feet in
hot water before going to ped. Witness
also produced card Mr.. Taft gave him,
on which was inscribed Henry : Taft.
Metaphysican. with the address and
office bours, and az the bottom reading
"All mental and physical iniirmaties are
cursd Dy this method
On cross 9 xamination Vaughn acknowl-
edged that he had given "a ia. 50 name and
address when no aled on Mr.. Taft ard
that he was not suffering from tho all
ment he had described He went there
To get evidences under the direction Of DE
tectiye Parker.
The testimony of Everett Hal, tho po-
liceman, was similar To that OF the preyi-
Gus wltntSS. Itc nbu gone lu MT lhlt
and received Treatment for malaria and
had paid him 81 Tor the traatmont lie
also acknow dyed that no did not have
any disease and only made tho call TO OBJ
tain evidences against Mr.. Taft lie had
gone there and ash fer the doctor and
Mr. Taft had saiu he was the doctor.
Mr. Taft then took the stand. Ito re-
M mbersd the visits of the two previous
witnesses, but Hail did not address him
as doctor or call Tor a doctor. Asa mat
ter of fact the witness said he was not
called doctor nor did he N axe any claim
90 be n doctor. lie asked Hall If he knew
anything about tho treatment ana had
explained tnat 10 was based upon Divine
power netting upon the mind and con.
sisted OF prayer tn the Divine Being.
In regard to the compensation Adams
or Vaughn had asked what the charge
was and he had told him be made no
cnargc. hut rs Vaughn insisted In paying
something he had told him TO give any.
thing he chose 20 give and he gave 81 for
both treatments. Halt had passed out u
dollar, saying he supposed 10 was right,
as 10 was the amount Adams had told
him ma paid. witness told him he did not
want IL " he could not afford to pay 10.
He made tho statement TO evory one that
they were under NO obligations 60 pay.
MIR 1aft's testimony brought out the
fact that be- had been a dealer I'm granite
for % years and his Office az the time
mentioned was on Exchange place. lie
called him self "A m "a ttpaySiciun and stat al