Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-04-20
MONTANA IEPER
OPPOSES BEING
SENT TOC COLONY
Ex-senator Willett Believes
God Is Healing Him;
Piano Fund Being
..ss. Raised

~ -
Superior Mont, April 2o.-The
campaign started recently by the
Daily sMfssourian, published at Mis-
.souli, to raise a fund to purchase a pi-
ano and other home comforts for for
me Senator O. G. Willett, Montana's
only leper, calls to the minds of the
people OF this state one of the sad
dest tragedies known to Montanans.
A bill recently passed by the Montana
state legislature would send the ma
to a leper colony, but to this Mr..
W1llett has said: II would rather
q thousand times fill a leper's grave
than to submit myself to a physi-
clans care. / would as soon bow to
q as to lend my neck to the god
Of medicine. 1 will never submit to
medical treatment!'
o. g. Willett lives in a cottage mid
way between the Northern Pacific
and Milwaukee, roads in this county,
In a cabin built by the county. There
nestled beside the lofty mountains is
his little hut, and with him, sharing
the isolation of his Punishment, is
his faithful wife who refused to be
separated from him. There these two
see the trains go by on both tracks
and see the u rise n set, but sell
dom see a. human being. For more
- 80 A4N kAV - <A4AH
home and both declare that faith
is making the sick man we'll. A con-
slant study Of the bible and a con-
slant life of prayer is the foundation
of their firm belief that health will be
restored to Mr.. Willett by faith and
not by medicine, and this is the rea-
SON why the leper refuses to submit
to medical treatment. and opposes
being sent to a colony.
Got Disease in Philippines.
O.. G. Willett fought for his country
In the Philippine lnsurrection. and
was assigned to bury a dead native.
He noticed a peculiar scale upon the
dead mans skin but did not know
that it was h dread disease. Several
years after his return to America.
then serving in the Montana senate
as the first member from Mineral
county, his attention was called to a
white spot upon his forehead. He
was treated by physicians for various
skin diseases, but finally went to
Rochester, Mimi, where he was in
formed that he had leprosy. Return
ing to Montana he determined to end
his life by pistol shot and picked a
spot in the mountains where his dead
body would never be found MOI
touched. His wife, however, pre-.
vailed upon him to place himself en-.
tirely in; the hands of his Maker and
to submit to ;banishment. She in.
sisted upon accompanying him. Will.
lett finally agreed. The spot was Sc.
lected and there the man and wife
live. their only companion being 8
dog. Willett works about his garden
and being an expert shot sometime.
traInps through the mountains hunt.
ing.
Mrs. WNlett is Musician.
THE thing that we mis- most Is oul
piano." said Mrs. Willett to a news
paper man from Missouri. "Musi.
was formerly a great part of my life
but now we have nothing but 4,
photograph. L sometimes amuse my
self by writing plays. A number o
these I expect to submit o-motio1
picture concerns when we get out!'
Willett has engaged attorneys t.
make a legal fight If the state. shoul'
attempt to remove him to a colony
We do no ask pity" he told an in
! terviewer, "all we wan is to be lef
4 alone, and we know that in a few
I years time I will be entirely we'll.
y note daily Improvement in my con
dition!"
1t is not known as yet whether tn
state will insist 10 sending the ex
senator to a leper colony or not, bu
in the meantime kind friends through
u the state are contributing to
fund to purchase a piano for the Viii
let's in their isolation. 1t is said b
medical men that a sure cure TO
leprosy has been evolved, and tina
Willett and his wife (who is now sup
posed to be affected, could both b
cured, but they know the Hand tina
will heal Mr.. Willett. They both sa
that Mrs. Willett has no sign Of tn
diSease. a
The Ease presents a new probler
to the state, and has aroused tn
sympthies Of thousands Of people.
Herald Want Ads Bring Results.