Little Falls weekly transcript. (Little Falls, Morrison Co., Minn.) 1894-19??, 1898-06-17
LACAANcE BOUND over.
The "Divine Healer" Is Held to
the Grand Jury by a st.
Paul Judge.
he GAVE PATIENTS NO MEDICINE.

Attorneys VIII Try to Get Early
Action on the Strange
Case.
Tuesdays St. Paul Dispatch gives
the following account OF the pro-
ceedings against Joseph Lachance
who was recently arrested for vio'
latin& the state medical laws:
Joshep LaChance, divine healer
was ON trial Ia police court today
for practicing medicin, without a
license. The complaint was fled ny
DIR. john B. Rrimhall, secretary Of
the state board of medical examiners.
the specific charge being that he
treated John Everson, of sos Pat
ridge street.
The healer Is an ordinary looking
man, but the stories told by the
witnesses as to his conduct in hfa
Wabasha street Offices are some
what remarkable. The most note
worthy occurrence In the trial was
that one OF tho states principal
witnesses testified to the success La
Chance achieved in a particular case.
Attorney Calhoun, Of st. Cloud,
and Attorney Rhodes, Of Little
Falls, appeared for La Chance. AS
sistant Prosecuting Attorney Zoil-
man cared for the states case.
John Everson was the first wit
ness. His first experience with the
healer was in January last. He had
heard of the man and went to his o.
fee for the purpose Of being treated
for kidney troubles.
Upon talking with the healer he
was told that tho treatment would
cost him s.. Everson had but 81.
He gave this to La Chance and
agreeded to bring the remainder Ut
the S. at some future time.
"After you gave him the money.
what happened then?" asked Mr..
Zollman.
LA Chance placed his right hand
over his eyes and remained still for
some minutes. Just as was going
out he told me to think Of him and
would recover"
The next day Everson called upon
La Chance and paid the balance OF
81. At that time he waited and ex-
pected that something else would be
done. But La Chance merely
covered his eyes with his hand and
remained for some time In the
prayerful posture, and said again to
think of him.
Everson went home and instead
OF getting well he continued to grow
worse and In May was taken to his
bed. He called u regular physician
at that time and to him narrated his
experiences with La Chance.
Upon cross-examinatiOn Everson
admitted that La Chance did not
give him medicines, did not touch
him, but merely said he would cure
him with the aid OF COO.
Patrolnan j. j. Fitzgerald, Of the
local police force, testified to taking
his young con to La Chance for
treatment after regular physicians'
had failed to give him relief from a
hip-joint trouble. After the first Wis.,
1t to the Office Of La Chance the boy
grew better, and the morning after,
for the first time In q long period,
was able to walk across the room.
He agreed to pay S. for tho treat
meat, but had not yet paid the bill.
FITZGERALD told the same story vi
the claims of La Chance as did
Everson. La Chance die not claim
to be able to effect tho cure himself,
but said that no could with the as
sistance of God. As In the other
case there was no laying on OF hands
or the giving of any medicine or
drug. While the patient was pres
ent La Chance appeared to pray,
and when the patient started away
the caution to think OF him was
made.
DR.. Brtmhall testified that La
Chance had no license to practice
medicine in the state, and the prose-
cuti0n rested.
Attorney Calhoun argued at some
lengthlthat La Chance could not ne
convicted upon the evidence sub
mitted. His contention was that
the law of the state did not contem-
plate the punishment Of people who
claim to treat disease by more di.
vine assistance.
He wes arguing the legal points
when the noon adjournment was
taken.
Judge Hine this afternoon over.
ruled the motion Of the defense IN the