The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1901-08-17
MITHCRADUATES
Leaves His University for
Parts Unknown With
ALI His Degrees.
WHAT THE UNIVERSITY OFFERED
Gentlemen Alphabetically In
clined Could be Cheaply
Supplied.
WHAT The UNIVERSITY OFFERED.

| The Police Department the Prosecutor
| of the County the State and the postal
authorities are seeking ~. w. Norton-
Smith, MD, AN, Ph.D. and LID,
| President of the Central University OF
| Medicine and Science" The search was
| begun on yesterday afternoon. The much
| degreed gentleman is among the missing
| and the business of manufacturing and
| bestoWing degrees and diplomas in any
| scientific branch to all who will pay from
| SIS to $40 has been discontinued. The "unl-
| yersity" is closed and nothing marks Its
| erstwhile habitation but the two chairs,
1 the table and the ragged rug in the oNS
room on the top floor of No. IS Montgon-
! cry street. president j. w. Norton-
| Smith has disappeared as completely as
| though the earth had opened and sWal-
| lowed him.
I On Thursday Dr. Mitchell, Secretary OF
| the State Board of Health, placed in Gov.
| Voorhees, hands letter he had received
from the University offering to issue
| a diploma to him for $40, and second let
ter in which the diploma was offered for
$l5. AS a number of similar complaints
had been received from various part OF
| the country, the Governor decided to act
| t1G WAln AoSSSeeOA
wins office, and Assistant Prosecutor
| Vickers made complaint against j. W..
Norton Smith, and warrant was issued
| for the president.
The warrant was placed in the hands OF
Detective Lee, of Headquarters, about z:So
o'clock yesterday afternoon. Lee and
Vickers went to No. 6S Montgomery
! street, and skinned their knuckles rapplng
| on the door of the University" But the
| bird had flown. Then the officers went to
No. 105 York street, furnished room
house, where ]. w. Norton-Smith slept
| up to two months ago, but the people
| there knew nothing of him.
! About two months ago the methods OF
| the UNIVERSITY were brought to the at
tention of the Prosecutors office by some
out of town people who had been invited
to purchase degrees Then the Assistant
Prosecutor called the university presi-
dent to his Office and the two had heart
| to heart talk that concluded with the
president promising to stop the manufae-
ture of degrees and diplomas. But ne dsa
not keep his word. Many diplomas anu
| degrees have been conferred SINCE the
| talk with the Prosecutor.
In the literature which was sent out by
/ Norton-Smith there was always included
| a facsimile of one of his degrees. 1t was
/ reduced in size but bore all the words that
were spread on the larger document.
Here is what one of these facsimiles says:
Central University of Medicine and
Science. Jersey City, New Jersey. lncor-
porated under the laws of the State of
New Jersey To all to whom these pres
ents shall come, greeting
"Be it known unto all men that the
| faculty. officers and Board of Exami-
ners of the Central University of Medi-
cine and Science, having received salts
factory evidence of the eminent attain
ments qualifications, experience, knoWl-
edge. learning and skill of Mortimer
| lanes Thompson, and deeming him well
1 worthy of the distinction and honor here
4 in bestowed, do by these presents and by
virtue of the authority and power vested
in them by the State of New Jersey, here
by confer upon him the HONORABLE
DEGREE of Doctor of Medicine.
..In witness whereof we have set the
/ seal of the university and affixed the
sign of the officers thereof at Jersey
city. State of New Jersey, this 18th day
| of April, 1901
/ Then followed the signatures of a lot
of chaps very highly degreed but whose
/ identity and whereabouts are matter
of mystery to the police and others now
greatly interested in the university"
This facsimile generally was inclosed in
an envelope which contained also the fol-
| lowing letter.
~. W. Norton-Smith, MA, SD, Ph.D.,
LID, President.
"Geo. A. Lewis. Pho, MA, DDS,
Secty.
coffee of
/ Central University of Medicine and Sci
ence
Qncorporated),
| 's6S Montgomery street, Jersey City, n. j.
| .aDear Doctor:-We desire to ask your
attention for a few moments, to the adj
yantages offered by our institution to the
oualified members of the medical profess
i sion. who are desirous of obtaining some
| degree and diploma, other than medical
In these days of push and energy, it be-
i hooyes every one, be he medico or lay
4 man. to take all the advantages over, or
to place himself upon the same plane as
| a rival. Now, every one knows that the
| more show is made, the better the re-
turns. no matter whether it be medical
practice, or dry goods store, and it is
4 for this reason we offer you the means
of obtaining for yourself some-addition to
| your already existing and legal title of
Doctor of Medicine. What we are offer
ing is to the MEMBERS OF THE
| LEARNED PROFESSIONS ONLY. We
1 are a lawfully Incorporated and Charter
ed Institution, according to the laws of
the State of New Jersey, and by the terms
of our CHARTER, have power to confer
4 degrees and issue diplomas. we therefore
now offer you the degree and diploma of
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY, Ph.D.,
or of such other classical degree as you
4 NAV most desire. AS the degree is Hon
orary'' no examination is required; all
vou have to do, If you desire it, is to