The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1920-03-18
RUM S[EUTHS
SEIZE DOCTOR
Harry ]. williams, Physician,
Arrested for prescribing
Whiskey UnlawfulIy."


LIQUOR, DR.. Henry J. Williams, physi-
clan, graduate of Howard University.
of 3i0 X street northwest. today was
released on $500 bonds by Assistant
District Attorney Ralph Given. for
on Friday In the United States
branch of Police Court.
The arrest of the physician. who ad-
mitted he had issued recently an aver
age of $50 prescriptions for whiskey
a day, occurred yesterday afternoon
wher a score of white and colored
men and women besieged his office,
many OF them claiming they were
sick and that the only cure for their
ailments was a pint Of liquor.
Gets TIVE Pints In Three Days.
A warrant was issued for the arrest
of the physician after he prescribed
a pint Of whiskey yesterday for
Harold r. Stephenson. an agent of the
Internal Revenue Bureau. 1t was che
second pint Of whiskey DIR. William
prescribed for the revenue agent
within three days, the officer declared
today.
Stephenson went to the PHYSICIANS
office on March 16, and asked for an
asserted he was suffering from a mild
form of pneumonia. The revenue
agent returned again to the physi-
clans office yesterday afternoon, and
claimed he was given another pre-
scription.
II never felt any better in my life,'
declared this morning. Il
don't think / have pneumonia or even
a cold. The doctor. however, said 1
had pneumonia and that i needed
little liquor to cure myself. / gave
him 81 for each of the prescriptions
seise 500 Prescriptions.
After obtaining the prescription
from the physician yesterday, Steph-
enson and S. d. Edwards, another
revenue officer, Sergeant Edward
Curry and Detectives II. X. Wilson
and Sanford Emanuel, OF Sixth police
precinct, raided the office, Selling
duplicate prescriptions and other
evidence. The internal revenue
agents claim that they seized 800 pre-
all written, except FOR the
name Of the patient"
Possession of a prescription for
pint of liquor seemed Immediately to
cure many of the physicians patients,
who formed in line, going into the
office from a flight Of steps, making
their exit from the basement door.
afternoon there was con-
slant stream Of sick" men 'and
women going in and out of the ply
sician's office.
"Csred" BY Thought of Rum.
Several negroes. fumblins with
their prescriptions, were seen to
hurdle over a small fence around the
terracA in front of the physicians
Office, and to make bee-line to a
nearby drugstore, where they got
their pint Of whiskey. Even the
prospect Of getting the pint of
whiskey seemed to cure many OF
these patients. who seemed to leap
with Joy and happy anticipation when
given the prescription for the liquor.
DR.. williams, following his arrest,
was taken to the Sixth precinct police
station. where he put up a $500 bond
for his appearance in Police Court
this morning. Accompanied by his
attorney, A. w. Gray, the physician
appeared at Mr.. Given's office this
morning, protesting he had not vio-
lated the volstead prohibition en-
forcement act, asserting that every
he prescribed whiskey for was
III and needed the liquor for his
prompt recovery.
4Coushed Up- fer Cough.
Not only is the physician charged
with unlawfully violating the Vol
stead prohibition enforcement bill,
but with failing to make proper ex-
animation Of his patients for whom
he prescribed liquor. 1t was stated
that in most cases the physician ask
ed his patients IL they had cough.
pain in the chest or similar ailment,
and II they declared they had, he
wrote out a prescription for them.
In the case Of officer Stephenson,
the physician is alleged to have pro-
bounced his illness as that bordering
On pneumonia, without his telling the
DOCTOR OF his symptoms.
II didn't have any symptoms" said
The officer, "and he didn't ask me any
questions"
Gave Patients Medicine.
'Tn every case Of my giving a pre-
,cription," said the physician to The
Times this morning, 81 gave careful |
Of the patient. l have |
issued prescriptions in accordance |
with the law. and my arrest is I'M |
1t Is true that have pre-
scribed on an average of 200 and 300 |
a day, but in each case |
The patient was i'll and needed the |
liquor prescribed. In many cases l |
not only prescribed whiskey, but gave |
IN additional bottle of medicine to my |
patients. charged 81 for a prescrip- |
lion and 80 cents extra for the medi- |
zine.
L am a graduate and registered |
physician, have obtained permits from |
tho Internal Revenue Bureau, and |
have been conducting my practice le- |
ultimately and within the laws My |
arrest is an outrage, and discrcdits
the entire medical profession.
Says He Is Judge Of Patient.
81 am the Judge as to whether or
not my patients are Ill and need
medicine. Many patients turned
away. believing they did not need
medicine like whiskey. have turned
away as many as I have prescribed
Tor. My prescriptions have all been
Kiven to persons who told me OF
gymtoms of illness, and which I de-
,ected in a thorough examination.
"Tn the case of officer Stephenson,
| gave him a thorough examination.
noticed he wore a revenue officers
, adge and mentioned to him that he
was In the service He told me that
he was, and 1 said to him. Il knew
you were, but I'm going to give you