The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-03-15
DR.. RICHMOND
is A MARTYR
jailed in California for Prac-
ticing Healing
WITHOUT DUE AUTHORITY
Plenty Fight Left in Him at
Seventy-Six.

DR.. G. w. Richmand, formerly and
for a great many years d resident OF
Wichita, d spiritualist of note, and in
his earlier years an enterprising citizen,
is la Jail in California. The Los Ange-
les herald tells Tie story as follows:
Or. O. ". Richmond the aged man
who was convicted IN the justice 5 and
superior courts for practicing medicine
without a license, gave himself UP 10
the police yesterday afternoon and was
committed TO jail to serve 1oO days.
Richmond was first sentenced 10y Judge
Morgan, but an appeal was taken 10
Superior Judge Smiths court, VINO two
weeks. ago affirmed the judgment of
the lower court.
Although DR.. Richmond is 16 years
old, he IS sprighuy and more vigorous
than many people much younger. he
had his choice Of serving 10 days in
jail or paying fine OF 500.
His friends could pay the fine if they
choose but at his own request it has
been determined 10 make a test case OF
the affair. Today Attorney W. II.
Shinn viii apply to the supreme court
for a writ OF habeas corpus, which, ii
granted viii allow Richmond his free
dom until the higher tribunal shall have
handed down decision in the case.
The defendant contends that the COM
plainant IN the case, Miss May Brooks
was not really III but that she was hired
by a certain medical society to 90 to
Dr. Richmond's house and request
treatment. No medicine was used in
the treatment, according TO the defend
ant. and therefore he claims not to be
guilty of practicing medicine without
license.
The case had its inception a year ago
...4 fr1l f,T
attention at the time. According to DR..
Richmond story a woman purporting
10 be Miss May Brooks came to his
house at IL North Bunker Hill avenue
one day in April and asked TO see the
doctor. He was absent at the time. She
waited for him fully three hours and
then went away without seeing him.
The following day she came again and
the doctor saw her. She complained of
cramps in the stomach and asked Rich
nond TO treat her lie gave her what
he terms magnetic treatment, con-
sisting mainly OF a massage or the lay
ing on Of hands as it is termed by some
of the followers Of the profession. Be
fore leaving Miss Brooks paid the doc
tors wife one dollar for the treatment.
The physician told his wife afterwards
that he didn't think there was any
thing very much the matter with the
girl The next day, however, she was
on hand again. and she brought a girl
friend with her. Treatment was again
solicited. and according to the doctor
the young lady informed him that she
had been splitting blood and that she
feared she had some serious internal
trouble 4 second treatment was used.
For this service a fee OF one dollar was
paid the doctor.
Ae few days later DR.. Richmond was
arrested for pracucing medicine without
q license. An examination was held in
Justice Morgan's court. The prisoner was
found guilty and ordered TO pay fine of
$l00 or spend as many days in jail An
appeal was taken to the superior court,
and after many pOstponements, Judge
Smith heard the case and about two
weeks ago he rendered an opinion, sus-
tanning the lower court Upon the judg
ment being confirmed. a rcmittur was
sent 10 Justice Chambers, who is jus
uCe Morgan successor. and last Tues
day was sent word to Richmond to re-
port at the Justices court. He responded
promptly, ana was told by Chambers
that he must either pay the fine or so TO
jail.
IN so to Jail before l will pay that
fine said the old man and the court
thereupon instructed him TO be on hand
yesterday to receive his sentence.
in the meantime several SpiTitualist
societies ana faith cure people have be
come interested in the matter ard they
are determined TO make a test case of il.
To that end legal talent has been Sc
cured and just rs soon as Richmond has
been put behind the bars. applications
viii be made of the supreme court for
4 writ of habeas corpus and the con
sttutionaEty of the law Will be tested.
Not only are the Spiritualists Of the city
wrought up by the affair. but they are
indignant at the order alleged to have
been issued by Chief Elton TO his men
TO he on the watch for Spiritualists and
mediums who have failed To pay q spa-
Cial license into the municipal treasury
Speaking upon the matter yesterday
Or. Louis IA. Freedman. Australian heal
er and teacher Of occult philosophy. said:
If the chief of police intends To make
every SpiritualiSt and scientist pay a
license for pracJiciag his faith he Will
md he has undertaken "a stupc1dous
task. We don't suppose 10 be claSscd
with the cheap grade of people who hang
out clairvOyant and medium signs ard
1oT nftY cents Cf dollar give a man a
sham demonstration that IS neither ber-
e:cial 10 him morally. intellectually or
physically. We number ourselves with
the religious class Is not the task Of
doing for others. Of teaching. helping
others "A religion? Well. that's what we
are doing We are here 10 HELM These
VIZ Nt'-i-i''- t-NiF 'At'i'trfAfF.rs t' Ah @i.-a
and 20 benefit mankind. It's an outrage
Tor the city authorities to cNtort a IL
cense fee from us When the ministers
OF the gospel pay a tax then we viii be
willing TO submit 10 il. but not before.
We have thousands of followers here and
we propose 10 stand uD for our riehts
This case Of Dr Richmond is an example
OF the oppression which has been forced
upon Us, and the time has now como
when we must TEht II is sr 1,ui,rsr
Cn-AmeriCan and unconstitutional law 90