The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1903-03-19
MURDER SPECIALIST
Negro "Voodoo Doctor Did Pay
ing Business in Quaker City.
SETTLED DOMESTIC TROUBLES
onenIy Advertised a "Better Method"
Than Divorce to Rid Wives OF
Husbands and Husbans OF
Wives-lnvestigation on.


for money, murder for hate, murder
for illicit love, murder for social posi-
ton, murder for revenge, perhaps thir-
ty.four murders in all, ae revelations
promised by the investigations now be.
ing made into the work Of "Dr." George
Hoossey, the gay-haired negro voodoo
man, who was, on Friday, held without
bail for completely in the reported
murder Of William D.. Dansee. That
Hoossey has sold very large quantities
OF arsenic, the sort known to the trade
as ratsbane, is an established fact.
That he solicited, and actually entered
into contract to murder woman for
$100 is true beyond all question; that
he made DO less than thirty-four simi.
lar contracts Is believed by officers OF
a prominent insurance company who
have called in force OF private detec.
tiyes to assist the city police in their
Investigations.
In his advertisement Hoossey~ an.
nounced a method that was quicker,
cheaper and. more satisfactory than de
vorce for those tired Of husbands or
wives" It is charged that he contract
ed to kill Objectionable people by
SLOW doses" for 500 each.
To Open Many Graves.
Well known physicians in all sec.
tions Of the city have reported cases to
the district attorney that will probably
lead to the opening of many graves.
and as many inquests by the coroner.
In each of these cases the patient first
appeared with q minor complaint,
which grew progressively worse and
which Just before death manifested
what are now recalled as the usual
symptoms of arsenical poisoning. In
each of these reported cases there Is .
story of big insurance, disturbed do
nestle relations or an affair OF next
of kin.
"A clean sweep was made Saturday
of all the physicians in the northeast
section of the city who have signed
death certificates within the past two
years that specify heart LESSONS as the
cause Of death and seven Of these prac-
titioners were closeted with Assistant
District Attorney shoyer for several
hours, during which time they went
owe. their Office records in the NOR.
tality cases and frankly stated their.
suspicious.
In each Of these cases thorough in..
vestigation was ordered and the local
managers of all life insurance compae
nies were asked for information con-
cerning the policies paid upon these
risks. It is not believed, however.
that 'Dr." Hoossey was knowingly q
party to any extensive plan to murder
people for insurance money.
His specially seemed to be the clear
ing up of disturbed domestic relations
by deliberate murder with the insur-
ance feature as a secondary incident
OF his work. His price, according to
the memorandums found in his shop.
was invariably $100. Some OF his pa
irons are only referred to by numbers,
others by hieroglyphics that nobody
but himself will ever be able to solve,
but there can be no mistake about the
entry Of 500 that appears after each
of thirty-four entries made on the
same record with the $51 entry, which,
admittedly, applies to Mrs. Catharine
Dansee and the 500 entry which iden-
titled the case Of Detective Gayan.
who contracted to have his wife mur-
dered by Hoossey for 500 as ruse to
catch him.
The recorder of the bureau Of health
shows that Hoossey issued death GER
tifcates over his own signature as
George Hoossey, M. d." and the au-
thorities are doing their utmost to dis
cover how and from whom Hoossey
obtained the blank forms. All Of the
deaths 80 certified are to be investf
gated by Acting Coroner Hammond. S
Rare are the stories told by the old
residents of St. Marys street, where
Hoossey once lived, concerning the
phenomenal performances Of "Old Voc
doc Hoossey," who, they assert, Is in
league with the devil. In those days
he sold cure-alls, but later confined
his work entirely to the complains OF
women. His colored patrons carried
wonderful stories Of. his marvellous
cures into the kitchens OF well-to-do
white people, and after time he re-
fused to treat colored people. Thus.
It is explained, he secured his long
list Of white patrons and white VIC
Tins.
s ~.