Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1898-06-17
Result of the Trial of Divine
Healer Joseph La
chance.
Solemn SERVICES SUNDAY
Bishop Trobec Will Confirm
a Glass at the German Cath
olic Church.

The following account of the trial
of Jos. Lachance, at St. Paul Tues
day, is taken from the St. Paul Dis
patch:
Joshep LaChance, divine healer,
was On trial in police court today
for practicing medicin, without a
license. The complaint was filed 10y
DR.. John R. Rr!mhall, secretary of
the state board of medical examiners.
the specific charge being that he
treated John Eyerson, of 500 Pat
ridge street.
The healer is an ordinary looking
man, but the stories told by the
witnesses as to his conduct in his
Nabasha street offices are some
what remarkable. The most note
worthy occurrence in the trial was
that one of the states principal
witnesses eStified 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 Zoll-
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 :nan and went to his Of
flee for the purpose OF being treated
for kidney troubles.
Upon talking with the healer he
was told that the treatment would
cost him SIS. EversOn had but I3.
He gave this to La Chance and
agreeded to bring the remainder Of
the SIS 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
So. 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 we'll he continued to grow
worse and in May was taken to his
bed. He called 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 God.
Patrolman j. j. Fitzgerald, Of the
local police force, testified to taking
his young son to La Chance 1Or
treatment after regular physicians
had failed to give him relief from a
hip-jOint trouble. After the first Wis
it to the office Of La Chance the boy
grew better, and the morning after,
for the first time in a long period,
was able to walk across the room.
He agreed to pay $5 for the treat
ment, but had not yet paid the bill.
Fitzgerald told the same story Ut
the claims of La Chance as did
Everson. La Chance die not claim
to be able TO effect the cure himself,
but said that he 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.. Brimhall testified that La
Chance had no license to practice
medicine in the state, and the prose-
cutiOn rested.
Attorney Calhoun argued at some
length that La Chance could not be
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 Yves arguing the legal points
when the noon adjournment was
taken. II @. 92sss. .=.@ i
Judge Hine this afternoon over