Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-02-02
WORKED An Old TRICK
Patent Medicine CRATER Finds
Plenty of Victims at Wa
terloo But Gets Fined
AMUSEMENT in JUSTICE COURT
The "poc.or" pleads His Own Case and
Questions the Sanity of His Dupes-
One Man Bought Seven Bottles at
ST Each, Expecting Money Back =
Iowa News.
Special to Times Republican.

| SpeCIdI 10
Waterloo. Feb. ~ patent medicine
man who gave his name as DR. II. G.
Back and his assistant. Joseph c.
Stout. fleeced a lot of suspects here
ana then got ARRESTED and fined in the
Justice court The incident furnished
a good deal of excitement and amuse-
rnent both outside and inside the court
room The doctor was smooth
CRATER and the way ne Worried an old
trick on his victims was surprise to
the wise ones.
He asked for and secured license to
pedd,e his wares about the city. He
soon opened up business on one of the
most prominent business streets of the
east side and despite uhe cold weathe,
had "a large and curious crowd about
him. within in a few minutes of the
tune of opening his spiel" to the pub
bic. He stated 10 tiroSe congregated
about him that the medicine which he
offered them was a sure cure for every
iii mankind is heir to.
HI began by selling o5-eent sample
bottles. After a number of these had
been sold. the doctor just TO show
his generosity. gave all the seven pu--
chasers their monev back. This pro-
ceeding followed several times until the
crowd became we'll verssd in the pro-
cess OF buying the medicine and get
ting their money back. Then the ver-
sati,e doctor bAgan selling larger
bottles for ST. He sold several and
generously gave the purchasers theif
coin back. Then he began selling
again. The cure air was snatehed up
by the anxious phreiias isrs by the sim
gle bottle. iwos. threes. and one indi-
vidual purchased seven bottles OF the
medicine.
When large number of the bottles
had BEEN disposed of the doctor"
asked the purchasers If they ha
bought t'a .----t-s-,r harrr,ss the,
wanted II. ii fepiie! IN ;.,a 'afrirma-
live. and the doctor urnng 10 his
driver. said Drive on leaving the
large bunch of purchasers holdine
GkHtIS " u!ttll AIM
to receive their money back.
Complaint was made at the police
court and officers Were sent In no.
haste aftsr. the doctor and his con-
federate. They were placed under ar
rest Just as they arrived at their hotel,
Taken before the mayer the Doctor
pleaded not guilty and asked to be al
lowed to plead his own case. This wa
granted and the case proceeded. witt,
the mayor on the bench ana Doctor
Black as attorney for the defense.
One OF the prominent witnesses was
an Orange township farmer, who OWLS
a goodly chunk of the Fertile soil In
that township. He had purchased sew
eral of the samnle bottles and got his
money back" When the one dollat
bottles went on sais he saw a chance
10 get the medicine in large quantities,
Sc he purchased seven bottles. Blu; the
money was not forthcoming on this
round.
Doctor Black cross-examined the
witness and the spectators enjoyed the
scene immensely.
After asking his name. age. resi-
dence. etc. the doctor" asked:
Have you sSer been in the insane
asylum
No replied thc witness.
Don't you think you ought to be:
dom; YOU think YOU ought to have
guardian appointed 10 watch you While
you spend your money!"
Receiving no response 10 this reply
the doctor" proceeded 10 read the pur-
chaser lecture on the slim chance hn
possessed of beating man a: his own
game. Notwithstanding the doctors"
close questioning Of the witnesses and
his eloquent plea in his own behalf.
thu mayor chaikei up fine OF sl3S5