Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-03-07
DR.. J. w. WILLIAMS Makes
STATEMENT AS'TO COCAINE
h!slcinn Accused OF Giving Prcscrlp-
tlons for Excessive Amounts
Tells or His Acuultni.

TO the Editor OF The Times Dspat oh /.
Sir.-ln your issue OF December 20.
1911, YOU published an article relating
10 my arrest upon the charge Of an
lawfully dispensing prescriptions for
habit forming drugs, In violation of the
pcnal laws OF the state. THIS article.
based exclusively upon statements al
legged TO have been made by the police.
was OF such II nature as to greatly and
widely injure me, both as a man and
physician. ] was residing in Rich
mond. and either at my Office or my
nome could have been seen by your re-
statement OF tile real facts in the mat :
Ter. No opportunity, however. was
slHHh me 10 state these. and as Il con
sequence. an article greatly damaging
was published. y very brief iuvcsti :
Gation would have shown 10 the re-
porter that | was a man OF standing.
ana from that standpoint alone that |
was not guilty of the practices charged
m meils me 1t would also have ap..
feared mat very large number Of
prescriptions appearing to have been
gwen by me were forgcries, and that
lhe officers who arrested me were suf-
hcichtiy acquainted with my signature
70 Know that they were forgericS.
II would also have appeared that Of
me remaining prescriptions all We're
users. who were under my treatment
though not then regularly in hospitals.
because OF their inability TO pay the
hospital fees.
IL would also hay" appeared that in
no instance wer" the prescriptions Civ
en- ny me Tor amounts excessive from
The standpoint of habitual users of
the drug. In addition to this ! have
no hesitation in saying that would
nave .aHe hc.n abb" 10 nave satisfied amy
impartial INVESTIGATION of my standing
IN INC medical profession hy refer
cnce TO such men as DR. Stuart Me
G ,i.,r DR. J. Allison lodges. coroner
William H.: Taylor, Dr. &. A. Bryce.
III. n J.: Truman. Or. BoyCc Brook err
ana Others, who voluntarily appeared
70 testify as 10 my character and stand
iordcd AN opportunity TO doI so because
the Attorney for the Commonwealth
moved 10 dismiss the proceedings
against me immediately upon the con
clusioh % the testimony for the Com
monw:al,h
do not know how much OF these
drugs II takes 10 run the hospitals in
this city. because | have no ;ccurat"
means Of knowing how many persons
addicted To their use are treated i'm
them, but Affirm IT as e fact that ono
confirmed user of ANY of them will
take enough !" supply the requirements
OF from NIFTY TO 100 people who use it
only FOR propcr medical purposes. and.
therefore. IL is impossible. to form any
idea OF whether or not This portion Of
your artici" was true. Whether true
or false. however. the impression Great :
cd Was that had been engaged in the
sale OF these drugs for mcrccnary pur-
poses. ana was in class apart even
from inc ordinary cocaine vendor be-
caus" had proStitutcd Il high and
honorable calling TO the bascst pur-
poses 10 which ii could be put.
IL rs not necessary at this day for
m" TO deny tho charge against mo to
ihos" who are Informed Of the facts
but there are many Ia whom the ac-
cusation has become known. who do
not know the subsequent developments
IN TINS case. and for that reason ] am
writing to ask that YOU will In Il pub
ne ana prominent manner. make the
an Hon Ia.
INJURY which, however unwittiuglI.
done, has caused me the most painful
suffering and done much to lnjurc me
In a profession in which. with due mod
csty. claim to believe | was doing
much for class Of unfortunntcs for
whom others arc doing very little.
have devoted nearly fifteen years
OF my life to this particular work. and
though hampcrcd by small means and
the consciousness Of Knowing thai
have saved many, who, but for my cf-