Evening star., 1909-07-05
EARLY IN NEW YORK
Greatest Freedom Permitted
Him in Hospital.
NO LEPER. IT Is ASSERTED
Suspect Well and Strong, Says Wom-
an Superintendent.
PROOF FORTHCOMING IN WEEK
Patient Crosses With Crowd on
Ferryboat, Rides in Street Cars
and Dodges Watchers.
NO LEPER. IT is ASSERTED
PROOF FORTHCOMING IN WEEK

NEW YORK. July J.-Unannounted and
unexpected by the hospital authorities
John r. Early. the former United States
soldier VINO has been known from one end
of the country TO the other for almost a
year as the alleged leper, walked into
the reception room of the New York skin
and Cancer Hospital. in East 18th street
yesterday morning. and told the interne
on duty who he was.
With his departure from Washington
and his arrival in a hospital in this city
Early wins fight he has waged since
last August. when he was first charseo
with being q leper, the outcome of when
is decision by expert dermatolog1sts
that the man who has carried the Stigma
of the dread disease for eleven long
months not only is not now suffering from
ieprosy but has never at any time been
afflicted with II.
Suit for Damages Threatened.
To protect themselves from suit Tor
damages threatened by Early as soon as
he established his freedom from the dis
ease the authorities Of the District OF
Columbia tried in vain to procure new
samples OF his skin for microscopic ex-
animation. Eariy's release from the quar-
ters in which he has been detained IN
W
fected without his having to submit TO
further examination.
Proof of his entire healthfulness so far
rs ieprosy is concerned will be forth
coming within week. according 10 the
local hospital authorities.
The route taken by Early and two
friends who accompanied him on the lrip
from Washington was as devious as II
PLANTATION to the hospital authorities was
that he had made up his mind to evade
reporters on his entrance into New YORK
News of his departure from Washing
ton reached this city early yesterday
morning. Owing to the precautions tax
en- by his friends the exact train on
which tlfe alleged leper was travelling
could not be learned The only definite
information received here in advance OF
Early's arrival was that he was riding
in a baggage car.
Rode in Baggage Car.
L, was a slow train Early and his COM
panlons took, and for the eight hours
OF the journey the alleged leper was
forced to stand in far corner Of the
baggage coach with half car length OF
Stacked-up trunks between him and the
baggage
Early's manner of escaping from the
guard of newspaper men was simple In
the extreme as the train slowed down
just outside the train shed the alleged
away from the door IN the middle of the
car and emerged from behind his bui
Wark Of trunks. An instant later Early
jumped from the open doorway. landing
. lightly on his feet. His two companions
swung OF onto the ground at the same
time
The trio scurried over the maze Of
tracks and made their way TO the
street.
Besides his determination not to be
interviewed Early told the hospital au-
thorities he had another reason for
leaving the train before it entered the
station. He had been warned that the
railway officials would refuse TO allow
him to board a ferryboat. where con-
tact with other passengers would be
almost inevitable.
Crossed River Uunoticed
At the Weehawken ferry no one rec
ognized In the tall we'll set up young
fellow the alleged leper." and no one
questioned his passage across the river.
From the foot of West ed street
Early and his companions took cross
town Car 10 I'd avenue, where they
transferred to a south bound I'd avenue
car alighting at 10th street a block
During the trip in the street cars all
three men stood on the back platform.
The cars were crowded and dozens of
men and women elbowed their way by
tity.
When a reporter sent note to the
alleged leper a few hours after his ar
rival at the hospital asking for an in
terview Early wrote the following an
swer:
Since the superintendent of the hos
pltai represents me | have nothing to
say. EARLY"
The superintendent, Miss S. Burns, at
first refused to give any information
concerning the newest patient
II Was suggested that the PUBLIC de-
served information concerning the ply
steal condition of the alleged ieper ill-
asnuch as such diametrically opposed
statements concerning his condition had
: been made by Washington officials and
by DR.. l.. IUncan Bulkley, one of the
visiting physicians at the Skin and
Cancer Hospital
Not Leper, She Says.
Well, in that light i will say 4 little,
then, about Mr.. EARLY" Miss Burns be-
gan. I'm the first place, YOU can put
it down just as emphaticaily as you can
that he is no more lepei than YOU are
He never has had leprosy. So far as his
physical health goes now he is just as
well and healthy and strong as any man
on earth.
We have known for a long time what
was the matter with the poor fellow. Dr.
Bulkley discovered what the ailment was
when he examined him several months
ago. II Is not leprosy. 1t is dernlatltis
ton. not at all dangerous to others and
not at all serious for the victim.
1T is one Of several forms of mild skin
erupttons which to the casual observer