Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-09-15
STORY OF DIAMOND DICK.
A Famous Character Of tho West
Passed Away. "

Tex, TUESDAY, IToIh TUG enoo'S VI
wound received while in fight at
Socoro, Monday, was quite famous
character and was well known Ia
Abilene, as well AS all over Kansas.
His real name was Z. ST. Leon. he
was fancy rifle shot anl when out
with his medicine show would make
one Of the entertaining features
fancy shots. He was tail, extreme
ly handsome fellow, and favored W.
F. Cody, except that his long hair
was 6 blondne. He always wore
sombrero and was stunning dresser
At one time when be was in Atchison
he formed the acquaintance of one OF
Alchison's fair young ladies of the
elite circle. She was engaged at the
time but became desperately smitten
with the handsome marksman who
passed to the happy hunting grounds
Tuesday. 1t is not known that st.
Leon encouraged the young lady in
her smittenness, but the engagement
between her and the Atchison lover
was broken off and never renewed.
Diamond Dick has been in every
town in Kansas. He had his own car
and rode in state. AT one time he
had a ladies' band with him; at other
times be would carry Ministries.
While he claimed to he a doctor and
made thousands of dollars every
year from the credulous, it is said he
scarcely knew the difference between
a solid and liquid; but he was a
deep schemer and what he didn't
know about disease and medicine he
made up for in being handsome to
to look upon and deceptive to hear.
At one time he had with him a Leav-
enworth doctor who had been an
English army surgeon. He always
stopped at the best hotel and engag-
ed the largest room. 1t is said that
he would throw a canvas partition
across the room and while be and a
patient would be on one side of the
canvas the English physician who was
way up in medical lore would be on
the other side of the canvas unob-
served and woul listen to symptoms
as given by the patient, who would
be invited by Diamond Dick to call in
an hour or so and he would have his
medicine ready. As soon as the pa
tient would 90 to the sure enough
doctor would prescribe the proper
remedies with written instructions
for their use. This did not consti-
tute all Of Diamond Dicks resources.
He would send young man who was
up to his business quietly ahead to be
on the ground week or so in ad-
vance. This young man would never
let his relation with Diamond Dick be
known, nor his own affairs. He
would quietly find out the names OF
persons afflicted with some chronic
disease, ulcers, etc., and locate them
choosing the farmer as a favorite sub
ject. All the surroundings would be
carefully and quietly noted. When
Diamond Dick would arrive he would
shoulder his rifle and start to the
country on hunting expedition. He
would manage to get out Of the way
and call on the marked individual
and inquire the way back to town, or
make some other excuse. On getting
into conversation he would all at once
look startled and startle his subject
by declaring that the farmer was in
bad way. For instance it was q man
who had ulcers on his leg: "Why,
man, you are in bad way and should
consult physician-pull up your
trouser leg, you've got ulcers" OF
course the man would be dumbfound-
ed and would press him to know how
his strang visitor found it out.
"Why, | am the famous and world
renowned doctor, Diamond Dick. |
don't have to look a man twice to tell
what's the matter with him." He
would then regret that he could not
assist the afflicted man which he
would gladly do, but as he was there
only for day he had to be on the
move. Before leaving, however, he
would suggest that he was looking
for supplies and should they not
come be might be delayed, in which
case he would be glad to consult the
afflicted individual, free, Of course.