The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-04-24
Has Sued the Doctor for N Divorce,
Claiming He Was n Drunkard and
Wanted Her Money.
ELI FISHERS SAD JOURNEY
GONE TO MONTANA TO try To SAVE
A son FROM THE GALLONS.
Finding Of Baby's skeleton at Cory
don Reveals n Crime Twenty
Years OId-State News.
,ecial to the IndlanapolIs Journal.

Special 10 the indianapolis Journal.
TERRE HAUTE, Ind, April 2S-Dr b
Z. Patten who Is thought TO be dying, last
night sent for the coroner and the prose-
cutting attorney 10 make an Official state
ment of his belief that he is dying from the
effects of a slow poison given by his wife
before she left him three months ago. He
asked the coroner to make a post-mortem
examination OF his body 10 trace the poison
and the coroner has promised 10 do 20 I'm the
event of death. Coroner Willis says that
three weeks ago DR.. Patten sent for him
and told the same story. and that consider
ing all the circumstances, il is a case that
should be thoroughly Investigated.
DR.. Patten came here two years ago from
indianapolis, where he had been only
short time, after long practice in Mexico.
He was a specialist and made reputation
by alleged cures Of cancer by treatment he
learned in Mexico, in the use of herbs and
roots. Less than year ago he married the
widow Caulkins, of New Market. Mont
gomery county, worth 100000. it is said.
and who unquestionably owns some valua-
BILE farms i'm that county Three months ago
she left the doctor and sued for divorce,
alleging that the doctor is a drunkard and
had tried to obtain her property. At the
time Of the separation he was sick and had
been for some days. He now says she had
given him unknown medicine and that he Is
dying from its effects. He, claims TO have
witnesses to corroborate much OF his story
and wants the autopsy TO complete II. DIR.
Stunkard, late surgeon major OF the One
hundred and -fifty-ninth India y, has been
attending the doctor and says that he has
repeatedly told the story and that he, DR..
Stunkard, does not know what 10 make OF
il as DIR. Patten is rational and the story 10
consistently told The physicians who have
examined DIR. Patten say he has enlarge
ment OF the heart and that he will surely
die. Mrs. Patten had been three times mar
ried before she married Dr. Patten.
An Associated Press dispatch says: DR..
b. E. Patten, a physician who is known
throughout three states as a specialist in
the cure of cancer. and who is the propri-
etor OF a large sanitarium in this city. Is
lying at the point OF death from the effects
OF arsenic and chloroform poison which he
claims was administered by his wife. For
some months past the physician has been
materially losing strength, until few days
ago he was unable to attend his practice
He was compelled TO seek his bed, and now
lies under the care OF three physicians. who
state lildt ms recovery are very
slight. Since his illness forced him TO take
to his bed the Physician has reiterated time
and again in the hearing OF his brother ply
sicians that his wife was the cause OF his
condition. The attending physicians were
inclined to believe at first that their pa
tient mildly insane on the subject. but
were at last led to believe that there might
be some truth in his statements Late last
night the invalid asked that the prosecutor
and coroner be summoned. and this was
done. A sworn statement was made by the
dying man and taken down by both the
coroner and prosecutor. In addition, DIR.
Patten requested that a post mortem be
made.