White Pine news. [volume] (East Ely, Nev.) 1920-1923, 1921-05-19
(By u. r. MILLER.
PART THIRTEEN

u
erudest snIt of surgery and medical
attention, the nearest doctor being
located at Ely, while dental work
had To await the arrival of travelling
dentists who made periodical visits
10 the camp. Incase OF violent
foothaehe. however, Pete Cannon,
who ran the drugstore and had pair
of pliers in lieu OF forceps, gave he.
roic emergency relief. In fact Pete
Cannon and an old man by the name
OF Leonard were the only toothpull-
ers in the county for years.
Leonard had no home in particu.
lar. travelling over the country IL q
house built on four wheels and drawn
by n span of small mules. Leonard,
well-known character in his day.
was IN atheist and in his wagon homo
carried a lot of snakes. lizards, scor-
pions, tarantulas and similar things
as companions on his wanderings.
Along in the early '90s the Nevada
legislature passed what was known
as the dental law. whereby all rev.
corners To the state who wished to
practice dentistry we're compelled 10
go To Carson and undergo n. exam
inaiion as 10 their fitness and in ad.
clifton had to pay a $40 license fee
before starting TO practice in the
state. BY the terms OF the law resi-
dents of the state who had been pull
ing teeth. whether or not they we're
graduates of a recognized dental col
lege. were exempt from the exanina-
tion and license fee. but IN lieu of
this were compelled 10 file an appli-
cation 10 practice with the county re-
eorder Of the county in which they
resided and TO pay 81 fee for filing
a certificate emitting them ~ prac-
tice. This law. coupled with lhe mo
nopoly of dental work enjoyed for
years M Cherry Creek by Pete Can
non and Leonard. was responsible for
queer trial which later furnished a
great deal of fun for the entire camp
Shortly after the enactment OF the
state dental law young man by the
rame of Mccaffery, a graduate of 4
California dental college. who had
the finest team. rig and dental equip.
nient ever seen In the state. arrived
ut Carson To take the required ex.
animation The new dental board
was not in session. hut the secretary.
who was busily engaged in playing
vpoker. told the young student that IL
would be all right for him to 20
ahead and practice. The young den
list remained in Carson ten days but
Was unable 10 get the dental board
together to give him an examination
though he emanwhile had engaged
IN practice. Despairing of ever get.
ting chance to take the eNamina-
iion. the young dentist drove 10 Elko
continuing 10 practice all the time
While at Elko Mr. Mccaffery met
Leonard. who asked him if he had q
license To practice. McCaffery re-
coming suspiciousof Leonard he sent
$40 money order TO the state board
~ Carson. retaining the stub as
rroof Leaving Elko he struck out
through the valleys. visiting La.
moille. Huntingdon. Butte valley and
then ON to Cherry Creek. A few oays
after he reached Cherry Creek Leon
ard arrived and at once swore out q
warrant for the arrest OF Mccaffery
IN charge OF practicing dentistry
without license.
Pete Cannon. the other official
toothpuller. was also justice OF the
peace and he at once appointed John
Wearne to prosecute the case. the
trial being fixed for the second day
following the arrest Mr. Wearne at
once visited the prisoner and advised
him TO settle the case. explaining that
the penalty on conviction was $3.50
fine or six months in prison or both
al the discretion OF the court. but
that they were not disposed to be
severe and he would be released II
/, he agreed to pay the $3.50 fine.
McCahery had plenty of money
and could easily have paid. but he
realized<kbat IL he admitted his guilt
the same thing would happen again
I I'D huI
ed him for 300 miles. There was no
lawyer In the county at the time ex-
cept the district attorney at Ely. so
McCanery wired Attorney Ed Far
rington at Elko, now federal Judge at
Carson. harrington replied that he
could not aford to come for less than
$500 and advised McCafYery to pay
The fine, as the case against him
seemed clear.
McCaffery. wLo was unwilling to
admit himself beaten and was de.
termined to fight the case, had be.
come quite friendly with Ira ]. Nc.
knight. and when the writer came
In on the stage from Wells a. 10
clock on the night preceding the
trial he was met by the two men
Mcknight. close friend OF the writ
eI. at once proposed that try to help
McCaffery out of his troubles While
-having had considerable experience
IN civil court procedure, the writer
was unyersed in criminal law. but
Ira, being county commissioner at
the time. had all tho statutes and the
three OF us at once began to study up
every aspect of the case and by I
o'clock in the morning when we part
ed were agreed that we had learned
enough law tO mako Waarna uho
was not a lawyer. sit up and take
notice.
At 10 o'clock the next morning.
when the case was set for trial, we
appeared In Justice Cannons court
and moved for a postponement for
four days. The motion was prompt.
ly oyerruled by his honor, whereupon
the writer. having been selected as
chief counsel for the defense, pro.
duced the necessary affidavit and
cited the law in the case, proving to