The times., 1897-04-04

A number of prominent physicians and
members of the District Medical Society
were in the police court yesterday after
noon, to hear the first case brought against
the fake doctors, whose arrest was
brought about by the combined action of
the detective bureau, health office and
medical society.
DR. Simon Ford, an aged mulatto,
with long curly hair and burnside wills
kers, who lives at No. 1911 Eleventh
street northwest, was the first defendant
arraigned under the law of June 3, S56.
Health officer Woodward, the father OF
this law, was in court and watched the
trial with interest. 1t provides penalties
OF notices. than$ 500 rinenormorc than $500,
and Imprisonment Of not less than o nor
more then 80 da Us in Jail or both fine and
imprisonment.
DIR" Ford was defended by Lawyer
Kicks, and Detective Boyd was the first
Government witness.
Il found this mans name in the city
directory as physician, and, going 20
his house, found a Doctors shingIe on the
outer wall, said the detective. 1T read,
DIR. simon Ford. He acknowledged to
me that ne practiced medicine ana said he
was not graduate Of any medical college
= How do you practices? l asked.
" with nothing but herbs. l manu-
facture my own medicine. -
Detective Heian told OF visiting Ford's
house. He found his laboratory in
kitchen, Ford showed him a lot of herbs
and what looked like 'old tree roots. -
Ford told me-" said Hcian, that lie
had cmcd cases in which ether physicians
had failed even to give relief The doc
tor had an old blind colored woman in
his laboratory ana was pouliicng her eyes
with leaves She said he had done her
much good
''Dr" Ford then went on the witness
stand in his own defense.
The reason l put the DOCTORS sign
on my wall he said, lis because the
people calls me doctor"
''Do YOU write prcsc nptions?" asked
Lawyer Kicks.
"No, Sir, | can't write my own name.
what kind OF salye were you putting
on the blind woman's eyes?'' quetlcd
Judge Miller.
.'Iu's secret, sir, and L oughtn't re
veal it, but I'll tell you. That salve was
made from onicHs, potatoes, hoarhound
and mullen"
Were you trying 10 restore the Old
woman's sight?" asked his honor.
''No. sir
DO you cure stomnch7aches?'
"Oh, yes, sir They are easy
"Do YOUR patients pay for your medi-
oines?'
Not all Of them Sometimes ask how
much money they have and they give me
% cents 80 cents. and sometimes a dollar.
Whatever sum they may happen to have.
You graduated by people calling you
DOCTOR" said Prosecutor Mullo why, and
then put your sign out?'
mo, sir l graduated as a steamboat
cook"
Lawyer Kicks contcnded that the new
law only applied to unlicensed persons,
who write prescriptions.
Not at all replied the court. "Prac-
ttioucrs should not only have diploma,
tut the authorities should also see that
they are fully qualified to practice mcdi-
cine
His honor said Ford or no one else
had right to humbug the people in this
manner. He said q man of Ford'S APP
pearance and standing among his people
could make good deal of trouble, and
sroke of the danger Of such practices
and the mysterious deaths some of which
can be attributed TO them.
AS this was the first case under the new
law. the lowest fine. $50. was imposed.
with ten days in Jail in default.
Or" John Z. johnson, who was ar
rested by Detectives Boyd and Helan, de
manded a jury trial, and the case went
over until next week.