Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1909-08-04
FAKE DOC. GETS HEAVY fine

Give Up Big Sum-''Doctor" Hal
Partner Who Will Probably b
Tried Today-Partner Tries tt
! Leave State.
Devils Lake, AUX. 3.-"Dr." ]. M
Finnell, who was arrested Friday ii
this city on the charge of practic'
ing medicine without a license was
tried in Starkweather Saturday be-
fore Justice Kennedy. AS result
the man was fined $500 and costs
which amounted to over 5000 as he
had tried to make his escape here
had been brought back from Lakota
and had also been taken up tt
Starkweather in special rig. Be
sides this, Finnell was mulcted fol
$500 more, which sum is being held
by States Attorney Duell, to pay back
to the farmeps in Ramsey county
who were taken in by the mans
game. The evidence brought out
during the trial showed that Finnel]
had a partner, who went under the
name of F.. Winslow, and had been
with him part of the time. A war
rant was sworn out for Winslow,
and through some clever detective
work on the part Of the sheriff's Of
flee, the wanted man was located in
Grand Forks and arrested Saturday
night. He was brought to the Lake
yesterday and will go up to Stark
weather today to stand trial on the
same charge that was laid against
his partner.
The game that Finnell worked, as
told by witnesses in the Starkweath-
er court Saturday, was one Of the
smoothest that has ever been worked
around this part Of the county. Fin
nell would drive up to a farm house
in his automobile, and without tell
ing his business at first; managed to
give the farmer the impression that
he was doing some sort of work for
the state. One witness said that he
had claimed to be state medical in
spector. He would stay for meal.
and then afterwards, he would tell
the farmer that he would give free
medical examination to his host for
his kindness in taking him in. Fin
nell had a good deal of apparatus
in the machine with him, and he
would get it all out to impress his
victim. The examination, of course,
always produced some serious d.
sease, or trouble requiring an oper-
alton In the near future. Then Fin
nell got in his pretty work. He
would show credentials which rep
resented him as the agent for some
sanitarium in Omaha, and tell the
farmer that he should go there to be
treated or have an operation per-
formed when the imaginary disease
came to a head. He would then get
the farmer to pay for part of the ex-
pected treatment Immediately, and
usually ending up by getting from
$50 to 5000, just whatever he thought
the man would stand. The note of
course, was discounted at the near
est bank, and the fact that Finnell
had a roll of bills all Of the denomi-
nations OF more than $50 showed
that the graft had been very success
full. He paid his fine without MUIR
muir, and it is generally believed
that he got off very lightly. His
partner, from the accounts Of the
witnesses, was working the same
game, and having 40 good success.
They were careful to keep outside of
the towns, and away from anybody
who would suspect their plan. It
was only an accident that anything
was found out, as none Of the vic
TINS complained until, they heard
Finnell was arrested. Dr.. Fawcett
Of Starkweather heard Of what was
being done from one Of the men
who had tried the game, and immed-
lately; swore out warrant for the
offender. 1t is not believed that
there is even a sanitarium back OF
the men, Tor Finnell did not seem to
care how he spent the money. and
acted as though he would never have
to account for it. He told the dep
uty sheriff who was sent up to the
court with him, that he would be
back in this district inside Of ten
days, saying, this crop looks too
good to stay away from here. very
long ~ -. .5sv ! "a. ~ u
Winslow will probably be tried to-
day at starkweather. under the same
charge. although q more serious one
would seem to At the case better.
He was nearly out Of the country