The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-01-06
FLOWERS FEES HUGE
Alleged Swindler Did Flour
iShing Business Here.
CAME THREE TIMES A YEAR
Was Liberal Spender and Seemed to
Care Little for the Money He Made
50 EasiIy-IncOme from Practice in
This City Estimated at $4,000 n
Year-A striking Personality.

Or. Richard Flower, who was arrested
in Philadelphia for gigantic swindles, had.
during his career as a medical practi-
TONER, an enormous practice, his fees in
Washington alone amounting to between
$4,000 and $4,000 a year. This statement
was made last night by c. Dewitt. for
merly manager and one of the proprietors
OF the Rigs House. to which hotel Dr.
Flower made semi-annual visits.
I have known DR. Flower 10 collect as
much as S2O.OoO in three days" said Mr..
Dewitt As many as I25 patients would
visit him in one day, the majority of
them well-tO-do, prosperous people. / my
self cashed 5000 check for a woman
which was paid to the doctor for a single
visit.
The doctor would visit Washington
about three times a year. sometimes ac-
companied by one secretary, sometimes by
two. We We're always glad to hear of his
arrival in a dull season. as he was ex-
tremely liberal in his expenditures. al
ways demanding the best. and never cues
uoning a bill 1t was his custom to secure
suite of rooms on the first floor. to
which the patients came in droves. / have
no doubt that the fees from his
Washington patients amounted TO nearly
$4,000 per annum.
In 1893 or "a objection was made to
his practicins in the District by the medi-
cal societies on the ground that he was
without a license. and he was debarred
from further practice.
Had Striking Personality.
1T is undoubtedly true that Or. Flower
had the confidence of his patients. Re
was man of forcefuI personality. COM
mandin6 presence, and. as far as / know.
had no bad habits. He took excellent care
of himself, and it was his boast that be
never had a cold. Many Of his patients
sWore By him, one of them. prominent
business man, telling me that he was
the peer of any physician in New YORK
or Washington. The doctor informed me
upon one occasion, that Joe Jefferson
was a patient of his. and that he had
been paid $4,000 by the actor. though this
statement was never verified.
Though regarded by some as a faker,
DR., Flower was exceedingly popular in
Washington. He was a liberal spender.
seeming to have little regard for money.
Many of those who came TO him We're
treated without charge. one instance was
that of an old woman. from whom he
not only refused to accept fee. but gave
sum of money
From Washington DT. Fowler usually
went TO Richmond. Va, where he also
had a large practice. He has not been
seen in Washington for about ten years.
and / was greatly surprised to hear of
him being implicated in the sWindling
operations with which ne is charged"
John B. LaTner, attorney-at-law. who
was once agent for the Adams Building.
said last night that he knew of Flower
in general way, his son at enc time
having an Office i'm the same building
Was a broker Then.
Flower was then engaged in the general
investment and brokerage business. The
doctor was regarded as a man Of means, d"
said Mr.. Larner, and was at that time
interested in the building Of a sanatorium
at Takoma Park. The scheme however.
did not materialize He was also under
stood TO have large property holdings in
Florida"
Flower is remembered in Baltimore in
connection with the Atlantic Trust Com
pdny, now extinct. He made his appear
ance in that city in 1893, claiming to be
the head Of r. G. Flower & Co, bankers.
BY many his name was connected with
that OF Roswell p. Flower. of New York.
a man of high financial standing. and one
time mayor Of that city There is no di-