The San Francisco call., 1897-06-19
Sensation Follows the
SausalitO Doctors
Death.
Officials Unable to Find the
Diamonds He Loved to
Display.
We're the Remnant OF a Fortune
Lost In South African
Ventures.

SAUSALITO, CAL, June 18.-Follow-
ing the death of DR.. Richard I. Freeman
have come complications tnat add sensa-
tional features 10 the case. To-day Sher-
iff Henry Harrison, District Attorney Z.
3. Martinelli and Coroner L. Eden were
here investigating the case and seeking to
discover the whereabouts of the diamonds
that suddenly disappeared when the doc
tor died. The story is one of thrilling in
terest and more like fiction than q ro-
nance in real life.
Dr. Freeman lived a life of excitement.
To those friends whom he trusted in Sau-
salito he told of the vicissitudes that had
marked his career of the reasons why he
left London, of the charges of a grave
character that were brought against him,
of his fight and his roamings over the
earth.
Years ago DR.. Freeman was practicing
his profession in England. He was not a
Quack as his enemies led people to believe,
but was at the head OF a large hospital.
One day a case in which woman figured
was brought TO The establishment, ana
after an operation she died. Investiga-
tions were instituted by the authorities
and the doctor was indicted. He claims
that he had nothing TO do with the case;
that young practitioner had performed
the operation and he was in no wav con-
cerned in it. The swift justice in the Eng
Iish metropolis did not relent and DR..
Freeman was forced to leave his native
land.
Dr.. Freeman then possessed great
wealth. He invested $500 COO in a scheme
10 develop diamond mines in South At
Tica. A company with a paid capital OF
90 w mr. n0n hnr Ipao
the big proposition collapsed ana dragged
the doctor down with 1t. His wealth was
soon gone. His home, his belongings
his personal property were sacrificed and,
10 aud to mis- otner misiortunes, his wife,
whom he dearly loved, G:ed.
Broken in heart and purse, he got to-
gether what little he could and became q
wanderer. He visited almost every coun-
try on the globe and finally located in
South America. There he remained for a
time, but his health was giving way and
he came 10 San Francisco, where he went
into partnership with another physician
a DR.. Robertson.
The two men failed 10 agree and sep
arated, and Dr. Freeman came TO Sausa-
Ito where he became known as the "dia-
mond doctor" because Of the big gems
that graced his shirt front and Ills tin
gers. About these diamonds a breezy
little sensation Is Just coming 10 the
mont.
Sausaito's climate suited the doctor,
but he frequently got into trouble with
other physicians in the town, and one OF
them was sent to England to get certified
copies of papers figuring IN The doctors
case there. When they arrived they were
placed before the California State Board
of Medical Examiners, and DR.. Wads-
worth, the secretary, came to Sausalifo
and Cancelled the physicians certificate
an account OF which appeared in IHE
CALL al the time.
On the day that this took place Dr.
Freeman deserted Sausalito and the town
people thought they had seen the last OF
the diamond DOCTOR" for his traps and
belongings went with him. Within two
days he returned and, despite the fact that
his license had been revoked, he kept on
in his practice. He was not further
molested and he built up quite practice
In the town. Being ever ready to help
poor man, he soon had the hard. working
element on his side and he no longer
feared the wrath of the populace. Al
ways when on the streets he appeared
with his brilliant diamonds and beaver
hat.
Last Wednesday afternoon, at the home
of Mrs. A. d. Bell, he died, and his body
Is now at Coroner Eden's office in San
Rafael, while a search is being made for a
will. The cause assigned by the Coroner
for his death was fatty degeneration of
the heart.
1t is known that DR.. Freeman had
sister in London, where, according to his
state ments, she was head physician in a
leading hospital.
When the Coroner went TO take the be-
longings OF the dead doctor he failed to
IND any OF the diamonds for which Free
man was noted. Mrs. &. D. Bell stated
that the doctor was living at her home
while he was sick, but she did not know
anything q oout the diamonds
Ihe Coroner and the authorities learned
that when the doctor went to the house
be was in possession of the gems, and
prosecuted the search more VIGOROUSLY
Late this afternoon Mrs. Bell delivered to
them one diamond stud. gold watch and
two bankbooks, which she said she had
found in the doctors possession. One
bankbook showed that he had 5000 on de-
posit in the Hibernia Bank while the
other called for $34 on the London, Paris
and American Bank.
Mr.. Bell claimed that DR.. Freeman
made will leaving everything to her
This will, she said, was locked up in
County CLERK Thomas Bonneaus safe at
San Rafael. She went to San Rafael to-
day to see Bonneau, but he was on a yaca-
ton to Mendocino County, and telegram
failed to locate him to-day. Mrs Bell
says that she holds receipt for the will.
Among the persons interested in the
investigation is Chief Whsrfinger Root of
San Francisco. He has accom- panied the
Coroner and the District Attorney on their
Investigations. No trace has yet been
found of the missing diamonds. but the
officials say that they have no doubt that
they will come to light.
Judge joseph H. Prior of Sausalito said
to-day that he made will for DR.. Free
man within two wears. II this instrument
can be found, it will throw out Mrs. BelPs
Will and further complicate the affair.