Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1906-01-19
SWINDLER WAS HERE
Pretended to Perform Operations
for Removal of Cataracts
Charged Each Patient $3.50 and Attempted
to steal s2-WorIced Game on NOrthfIeld

Charged Each Patient $3.50 and Attempted
to steal s2-worIeed Game on Mortified
People.
Sheriff G. f. Crittenden of Northampton
came to Brattleboro Monday looking for
evidence against bogus eye specialist for
whom Massachusetts, officials are search
ing, and while this town was not in his
Jurisdiction he learned that the o-called
specialist, VINO swindled several old people
in Northfield as reported in The Phoenix
last week. reaped a rich harvest In Brat
tleboro last month. The eye doctor regis
tered at the hotel in South Vernon few
days ago and said he had been in Brat
tleboro. He had with him a woman whom
he said was his wife, and they hired a
team and visited at the houses of old peo-
pie and the doctor performed various
operations for eye diseases, charging from
So to $40 for his work, according to the
size of his victims pocketbooks. At
Mortified at least three old people were
swindled, and two or three days elapsed
before the authorities we're notified. Then
the officers sent word around to towns in
the surrounding country. and since then
constant effort has been made to locate
the rascal.
The landlord of the South Vernon hotel
told Sheriff Crittenden what the specialist
said about coming from Brattleboro and
Sheriff Crittenden came to Brattleboro at
once. He searched the register at the
Brattleboro House, but found nothing.
Then he looked at the Brooks House regis
ter and found under date of Monday, Dec.
49, the entry "B. Haas and wife, Boston"
He called Manager T. j. Heaphy's atten-
ton to the entry and Mr.. Heaphy salts
fed him that Haas was none other than
the eye doctor for whom the officer was
searching. What information Mr.. Heaphy
hoH
grocer, and he directed Sheriff Crittenden
to Mr.. Scott who told him an interesting
story.
Mr. Scott said that on Wednesday. Dec.
20, a man called on Mrs. Hannah Win
chester. who is Sc years old and who lives
at the home of Fred Fox in West Brattle-
bOrO. and told her that he was DR.. Miller,
OF the Massachusetts general hospital, and
that Mr.. Scott had sent him to her to
treat her eyes. Mrs. Winchester is grand
mother of Mrs. Scott so she did not doubt
his story. He said he knew Mr.. Scott
very well and named several people,
among them Alonzo Johnson and Mrs.
Roswell Frost whom he said he had cured.
Mrs. winchester was not aware that
she had any trouble with her eyes, but she
allowed the doctor to look at them and he
told her she had cataract coming which
ultimately would destroy her sight. He
said his operation was very simple, and
she allowed him to proceed. He put few
drops of some liquid In her eye and then
pretended to scrape off the cataract with
small instrument, showing her the
pieces. also a substance which he de-
clared was tiny worm.
II was a relief to Mrs. Winchester to
have SO important and delicate operation
over without experiencing any pain and
then she asked the price of the job. The
swindler told her that under all the cir
cumstances he would make a reduction
from his regular price and call 1t $3.50.
While Mrs. Winchester was looking for
her purse the doctor saw a purse on the
table and took therefrom 81, which he put
in his pocket. Mrs. winchester finally
found her purse and handed the doctor
$40 BILL receiving $3.50 in change. Mrs.
Winchester had to remind him that he
had 81 extra in his pocket. and he handed
IL back after little argument
"Dr. Miller then turned to Mrs White,
who lives in the same house, and asked
to be allowed to examine her eyes. He
discovered cataract and removed 1t by
the same simple process by which he had
removed one from Mrs. Winchesters eye.
He made the same charge $3.50. Both
operations was performed inside of half
an hour.
Mr.. Scott learned of the swindle two or
three days later He was told by the
people at Mr.. Fox's house that the doctor
drove what looked like a livery team,
uhal the curtains OF the carriage were
drawn and that a woman sat in the car
rage while the specialist was doing his
work. Mr.. Scott went to Howard e.
Yeariy's livery stable and found that the
team was hired there on Tuesday, Dec.
10. and that when 1t was returned at night
the driver refused to tell where he had
been but paid 81 and said he wanted the
same team again the next day. He was
given the same carriage but different
horse on Wednesday. and on the afternoon
Of that day he and the woman left town.
How many other operations were per-
formed in Brattleboro probably never will
be known. 1t is said that the swindler has
visited the town since the week when he
fieeced Mrs. Winchester and Mrs. White
Sheriff Crittenden said he was wanted in
Taunton and various other places