Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-11-28
imp AIRED MIND
LAMPING'S RUIN
Friends of Moline Physician Tell
of His Worries Over I'm
successful Patent.
INVENTOR OF A BOOK CASE
Failure of Capitalists to Take 1t Up
Increases His Troubles and He
Tries BIackmaiI.

Friends believe worry over an un
successful invention caused mental de-
rangement in the case of DR.. IT. 7
Lamping, the Moline physician, lbder
blackmail William Butterworth, presl-
dent of Deere & Co, out of $4,000.
For some time past the doctor has
been working on the invention of a
movable bookcase, in which he tried
to interest local capitalists. Castings
made in Moline foundry proved IN
satisfactory. He finally took the plans
to Chicago and interested the Uuiver-
sity of Chicago. The authorities there
promised TO give the shelves a test,
but DR.. Lamping never got a mode
far enough along to send it.
The doctor is unmarried, mi11le
aged and has lived a life apart. Pc.
oria is his home town. Ten years ago
he graduated from Rush medical col
lege ip Chicago and came here to prac-
tice. He enjoyed a rapid rise in Local
medical circles and his present pre-
dicameut is a surprise to all
1t is understood the original copies
OF all letters written by DR.. Lamping
were turned over to the federal author
tiles in Peoria, where il is promised
DR.. Lamping will be given a speedy
trial
Mr.. Butterworth Out of City.
Members of Mr.. Butterworth's fam
lily induced him to be out of the city
Saturday, the time arranged for the
Selling of DR.. Lamping. Mr.. Bitter
worth went to ST. Louis 10 attend the
sessions of the deep waterways coz
vention. He returned home yesterday.
The physician wrote a series OF letters
to Mr.. and Mrs. Butterworth, each
succeeding one being Of more threat
ening nature. The first letter was re
ceived by the Butterworths shortly af
ter DR.. I4amping was arrested on Il
charge of taking a patient who was
under quarantine to the city hospital
for an operation. DR.. Lamping ques-
toned the justice of his having been
prosecuted by the health authorities.
the complaint having been entered
against him by DR.. A. H. Arp, health
commissioner, and he brought the case
before a meeting Of the Rock Island
County Medical society, in the couT-
ellis Of which he stood high, having
filed various offices in that organize
ton. The society gave DR.. Lamplug a
vote Of confidence.
Mr. and Mrs. Butterworth die not
pay any attention to the letters until
they increased in number and became
more violent in expression of aninU5.
The letter setting forth that failure u
pay over $4,000 would mean forfeiture
of Mr.. Butterworth's life brought the
matter to a climax It is said that B.
F. Peek and Mrs. c. H. Deere also re
ceived letters from the physician.
Mr.. Butterworth is president of tie
Moline city hospital board, and DR..
Lamping blamed him for his arrest D =
cause he caused a quarantined patient
to be transferred there for an opera
ton, despite that Mr.. Butterworth
protested he had no connection with
the prosecution. DR.. Arp assumed the
entire responsibility.
Lamping Falls Into Trap.
Attention of the federal authorities
was called to the case and United
States Marshal Addleman and an as
sistant arrived in Moline Saturday
morning from Springfield. Mr.. Peek,
who is attorney for the Deere inter
ests, after an interview with the Off
GERS, VINO were secreted in a room al
joining his office, telephoned to DR..
Lamping stating that If he would call
on him it was possible that his giieV-
ance against Mr. Butterworth might
be adjusted. The physician respond
ed Immediately to the summons. Mr
Peek sat at his desk with his hand on
a revolver in his coat pocket. DR..
Lamping stood during the converse
ton, and he held one of his hands in