The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1903-02-26
MAY .INDICT CR0PR0RD.
Ringgold County Grand Jury Will
Investigate DR.. Crofford' s prac-
ticing Medicine.

Ringgold County Grand Jury Will
Investigate DR.. Crofford' prac-
ticing Medicine.
DR.. ]. w. Crotford, of Lamont, has
become noted. He bad some slight
reputation as physician, but since he
has figured so conspicuously in the
courts of Decatur county, he has become
known all over the state. When Coun.
ty Attorney Fuller was called down to
Riley township to take the deposition
OF Bessie Mckee, who is the prosecuting
witness against Windsor Richards, in
dicted by the grand jury last week for
rape, it was learned that DR.. Crofford
had been called to make an examina-
ton of the child. He heard the child Is
story to the effect that Richard had at.
tempted to commit rape on her, but he
said there could be no truth in her
statement and passed it off as haying
only existed in her childish Imagination.
1t will be recalled that neighbor wo.
/
after DR.. Croford had prescribed some
medicine for stomach trouble, for that
was what he considered was the matter
with the little girl. After the neighbor
lady heard Bessie's pitiful story she be.
came convinced of the truth of her
statment, and then it was that DR.. G.
T. Lesan and DIR. D. K. Bement were
called to examine into her condition.
They believed her story and after an
examination became convinced that all
she had said was true. Richards s arrest
and subsequent Indictment followed.
| 1t now appears that DR.. Crofford has
no right to practice medicine in Ring
gold county or any other county. 1t
was hinted about the court house Mon.
day that the grand jury was going TO
investigate Crofford's case, and if suffi.
cent evidence could be secured would
return an indictment against him for
practicing medicine in this county with
out certificate from the state medical
board, 1t will also be recalled that DR..
Croftord was sentenced to thirteen
years in the penitentiary for causing
the death of Maud Stone through a
criminal operation performed in his
sanitarium at Lamont. The trial lasted
for over week at Leon, and the ablest
attorneys were retained on both sides
OF the case. After Crofford was convict.
ed and sentenced to the penitentiary
the state medical board, upon receiving
transcript OF the evidence Of the case,
revoked his certificate to practice medi-
cine. Several months ago DIR. Crotford
was granted new trial by the supreme
court and pending his new trial he was
released from the penitentiary at Ft.
Madison on furnishing bail bond OF
thirteen thousand dollars. After he
was given his liberty he at once returned
to Lamont, where he has been quietly
practicing medicine.
i MUST NAVE A STATE CERTIFICATE.
Probably one reason that the grand
(jury will not take action in the case at
this time is the fact that DR.. j. F. Ken.
nedy, secretary of the state board OF
medical examiners, was unable to he
present to give his testimony before the
grand jury. Every physician practic-
ing in Iowa is required by law to pro-
cure certificate from the state board
1t is also within the power OF the board
to revoke the certificate Of any physi'
clan of the state if good and sufficient
reasons are presented why the certif.
cate should be revoked. @. w. Hetf.
man, attorney for DR.. Crotford in his
former trial, has made the statement
that the state medical board had nc
right to revoke the certificate of the
Lamont doctor, and he states that At.
torney General Mullan has advised the
board to this effect. The state board
made no examination of DR.. Croford'
case and revoked his certificate on the
evidence introduced in the trial at Leon
Mr.. Hoffman contends that it is yet tc
be shown that DR.. Crof1ord was guilty
of malpractice and until this fact is es
tablished, the doctor has right te
4 practice medicine if he chooses.
The fact that DR.. Croford came ovel
into Ringgold county, and as it now
seems, made an incorrect examination
as to the condition of Bessie Mckee, il
not going to help his own case when il
comes on for trial again in Leon.-Mt
Ayr Record.
patterson-C Corbett.
At the home of Mr.. and Mrs. .Tohr
Corbett, last Tuesday evening, at
O'Clock, occurred the marriage of theil
daughter, Bessie, to Mr.. James R. Pat
terson, OF this city, Justice Skidmore
officiating. Only the near relatives and