Los Angeles herald., 1905-05-17
CONVICT ALLEGED
FAKE DOCTOR
state Board of Medical Examiners
Conducted Prosecution, the Jury
Returning a Verdict Within
Ten Minutes

A most remarkable case was tried
before Judge Brayton at Long Beacf
yesterday afternoon resulting in the
conviction Of Robert l.. Norfeet upor
the charge of practicing medicine with
out a license.
The case grew out of a TRANSACTION
between Norf1eet and P. H. Reimer,
citizen of Nebraska, who is spending
few months in Long Beach for the ben
eft of his health.
Reimer, who is past 70 years of age
is the father of Miss Maggie Reimer
aged 30 years, who has been an invalio
for some time One day, a few months
ago, Reimer met Norfleet while walk
ing on the pier at Long Beach.
Norf1eet claimed to be a native o.
Nebraska and succeeded in getting int
the confidence of Reimer. He Is sale
to have professed to be physician o
wonderful powers to heal the sick ant
manned and exhibited letters testifyint
to his magical prowess in restoring th'
afflicted to health.
Reimer consulted him regarding th'
case of his daughter, who was very II
with a malady which baff1ed the skill
of all other physicians.
Reimer testified that Norf1eet hac
guaranteed to restore the daughter t.
health after he had secured $40 fe'
for making an examination. His term
and conditions of treatment were ac
cepted by Reimer, and the daughte
was placed in the care of Norf1eet.
Methods Peculiar
His methods were peculiar and, h
claimed, secret known only to him
self and In order to guard the secret o
his powers he insisted upon taking tn
daughter away from home for thre
months and keeping her secreted iron
her friends and relatives. This latte
condition was so bitterly opposed b!
Reimer that compromise was effected
whereby Norfeet was allowed to taxi
her to the home of her sister, a Mrs
Swinton, at Alameda.
Shortly after their arrival at th'
Swinton home the methods of Norflee
in treating his patient aroused thu
curiosity of Swinton and one day HI
decided to watch the performance.
The patient was sent into a room
alone with Norfleet. The window
shades were tightly drawn and th'
room darkened. The patient was tolC
to get upon a bed and go through {
performance of high stepping, whil'
Norfleet gesticulated wildly and useC
strange words, whose connection will
the treatment of the sick seemed to b.
out of place.
After watching the treatment" unit
it was finished, Swinton forced Norflee
to leave the place, but when he left HI
loaded his patient into a wagon anc
disappeared.
Nothing was heard from him or tht
sick woman for several weeks. wher
Iteimer received letter dated at "2OO
miles from Nowhere, March 49," II
which he stated that Miss Reimer was
very i'll, but was improving under hi'
wonderful treatment, and they expected
to arrive at Long Beach, with hel
health fully restored, within three
weeks.
Failed to Show Up
The three weeks rolled around, bu
neither Norfleet nor Miss Reimer re
turned, nor did they come the mex
week. Becoming suspicious of the doc
tor. Reimer placed the case in the
hands of Constable Lynn of Ions
Beach, who sent descriptions Of Nor
fleet and the patient all over the state
Yesterday the trial was had and thu
jury after being out for less than tel
minutes. returned a verdict of guilty
and Norfeet will be sentenced OF
Thursday.
The testimony showed that the treat
ment of Miss Reimer had cost hel
father $4OO and Miss Reimer had paiC
800 out of her private funds. as pay
ment upon the Doctors fee.
Norfleet, it is said, professed beinl
very much in love with Miss Reimel
and that he intended marrying hei
after she had been restored to health.
1t was shown upon the trial that Nor
fleet had informed Reimer that his
daughter was suffering with neuras
thenia. DR.. Shelton. who made an ex'
animation of Miss Reimer after her re-
turn, testified that she was suffering
from cancer of the stomach, and thC
only relief possible was through ar
operation, which the patient was mol
physically able to Withstand, owing tC
the effects of alleged mistreatment
while on the trip with Norheet.
The case was brought to the atten-
tion of the state board Of medical ex-
aminers and the prosecution was con-
Quoted by their counsel. Wallace w
Wideman of Los Angeles,
Holders OF Herald photo coupons on Barnett
Sons studio wishing sittings on Sunday
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