Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1901-01-08
PREYED ON THEIR SIMPLICITY.
People of Marathon City Taken in
by Smooth Jay.


One bright, balmy, sunny day last
summer, a train pulled into the quiet
hamlet of Marathon City, and there
stepped from the same young man of
prepossessing appearance, who sought
quarters at hotel. To the villagers
who forced their company upon him
for the purpose of quizzing him and
finding out his business, he told that he
was learned doctor and was thinking
of locating there. He made friends
with many, and in due time rented an
Office and hung out shingle on which
was painted in gilt letters. ''Dr. Franz
Grosshauser.n
The fellow was smooth talker and
easily gained the confidence of great
many of the natives, and to these he
gave the information that he was a
graduate OF the great polytechnic uni
versity of Zurich, Switzerland. He
hung upon the wall piece of parch-
ment paper, framed and covered DER
with numerous seals of different colors,
which he claimed was the diploma is
sued to him by the above named school
The same was engrossed in Latin, but
had it been written in plain English it
would have been the same to the vii
layers, for it was genuine and they
knew it, because they had the doctors
word for it.
Through the long summer days and
into the period when autumn's chilly
breezes changed the color of the leaves
to radiant hue, he enjoyed quite
practice, and things came smilingly his
way. OF the patients he treated those
of strong vitality recovered after they
had ultimately gone elsewhere for treat
ment, while the others, who hung to
him, are better off now, for they have
passed from this vale of tears to an
other and fairer land, and naught but
cherished memory and marble slab in
the village churcbyard are left to re-
mind friends of their having inhabited
this mundane sphere
In time some of the villagers, with
less credulity than others, began to get
suspicious, and they wanted to know
whether or not he had a license from
the State Board of Medical Examiners
At this time he had none, but securing
credentials from his friends, and on
the strength of bis diploma, he succeed
ed in getting license from the Board.
The Investigations of the suspicious
persons did not end here. They wrote
to the school in Switzerland asking if
Franz Grosshauser was graduate in
medicine from that school, and re-
ceived in reply letter stating that no
one by that name had ever graduated
from that institution of learning, but
that young man by that name had at
tended lectures there for short period,
and that if diploma was in existence
issued to one of that name, it was a
forgery.
This communication was reported to
the State Board, and that body would
have proceeded against the doctor
had matters been allowed to run their
course, but those who had looked up
the doctors record, fearing that he
would learn of the procedure and skip,
had him arrested week ago for prac-
ticing medicine without license, hop
ing that in this way they could hold him
until the state authorities took hold of
the matter.
When the news of Grosshauser's ar
rest became known, it created a great
turmoil. Many there were who sided
with the doctor" and were loud in
their denunciation of his arrest, and
good man was being prosecuted. When
brought up for trial he asked for an ad-
journment that he might obtain coun-
sci, which was granted. He had no
trouble in securing signers for his bail
bond.
One of the bondsmen later discovered
Grosshauser packing up some of his eff
fects, and upon making an inquiry as
to what this meant, was told that he
was only packing up his instruments
preparatory to going to Madison, where
he would file papers that would bring
his case out all right The bondsman
concluded, however, to watch the trains
that night, and if he attempted to es-
cape with the instruments, have him ar
rested. As the 10 o'clock west bound
train pulled in both met at the depot
The doctor had small grip, not
large enough to contain instruments,
and shaking the hand of his benefactor,
babe him a kind farewell, and the
bondsman thinking the instruments
still in the Office, returned home to bed
Grosshauser entered car, walked
through, and jumped off on The other
side of the track. and made bee-line
for his office. He packed up his per-
sonal effects and with his instruments
and diploma, returned to the depot and
this time boarded an east bound train,
leaving nothing behind except stove,
set of bed room furniture, not paid
for, and the sign in beautiful gilt let
ters
Afterwards discovering what had
happened, the bondsman came to Wau-
sau and secured attachment papers,
placed them in the hands of constable
to serve, hoping thus to secure the re-
naming goods, but he soon learned
that he had been outwitted by another
creditor.
Where Grosshauser went no one
knows, nor does anyone care-except
the bondsmen and creditors. These, as
well as others. have profited by this ex-
perience, that is in finding out how
easy it is to be taken in" by sharper
with plentiful supply of ''con'' talk.
I've seen yoR weary winters sun
Twice forty times return;
And every time has added proofs
That man was made 10 mourn..