The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1923-01-17
MIRACLE MAN"
GREAT CUSSER
Claims Nothing Divine About
"Doing His Stuff"
FAKER FURNISHES THE IDEA

"Tudy," Then Ne'er-Do-Weli, Decides
Medicine Peddler Cannot Guido Him
Looking for All the World Like
Wild Thing He swears at His
~Patients" While Diagnosing Their
ALLEGED Ailments-keeps Within
Law as to Fees
In the heart of the Kansas prairie
and In one of the richest counties o.
the state. a self-styled healer mas
started operations. Among the STURDY
thrifty and intensely religious Men
nonites who live in various commu-
mites in Marion county, man, Inter
ate and certainly unattractive to per
sons of deyout nature, has established
his practice" And as the publicity
bows say: "He's packing 'em in
From this little town of Marion
where Treatments" attracted several
hundred persons, the healer mas
moved on to a smaller town OF HIS
horo ten miles from Marion. Hills
boro's population is composed. chleny
of Mennonites of German and Bone
milan origin. There is liberal sprlnk-
ling Of Russians, too, the type that
came to this country to avoid czaristic
oppression.
In Hilsboro, the healer has estaD-
lished himself in a small house on the
main street of the town. Throughout
the day and late into the night ne
waits upon a crowd of men, women
and children who come to him with
all varieties of bodily defects and III
nesSeS.
Noted for Profanity.
To many citizens Of Marion county
the story of Steward Mays sudden
notoriety as a healer is received with
a smile. They knew him as "Tudy'
May. They recall that they have con-
tributed to his support and to the sup
port of his family many times. Tudy
May, who had lived most of his life
on the banks Of the Cottonwood river
near Marion and had never placed his
wife and family in home, but seemed
contented in frail tent, this same
Tudy-it was absurd.
About the only thing Tudy May
was noted for was his profanity and
his impetuous moods that kept him
going from one job to another and
propensity for romancing.
Tudy had cleaned wells, fshed,
trapped, cut wood and done odd Jobs
around Marion for years. He was
known to farmers for whom he
worked off and on in the harvest sea-
SON. But steady Jobs were not in his
category.
At one time Tudy was member OF
the Marion fire department. Once he
had worked as lineman for the tele-
phone company. A story is told that
Tudy ran two miles once when the
fire whistle sounded and in his haste
and enthusiasm knocked down citi-
zen who got in his way. The victim
was made unconscious by the impact
of the collision, but Tudy didn't stop.
''The towns burnin' upp' he shouted.
While Tudy was a lineman there
came a fierce blizzard and line
snapped between Marion and Abilene.
A call was sent out for workmen who
dared defy the cold and danger of
the sputtering wires. 'Tll do it," Tudy
said And he repaired the wire and
The telephone company published his
picture in its house organ.
Inspired by Faker.
Recently patent medicine sales
nan was in Marion. He delivered his |
lasal harangue on the cure-all which
re had for sale. Tudy was there, |
yide-eyed at the results which the |
man claimed his ointment |
.ould accomplish. He turned his |
,een eyes upon the trio of rattle |
makes which the medicine salesman |
lad as means of attracting crowds
bout his tripod and case. Tudy knew
IL about snakes and 'yarbs"
"Shucks! | en- heal same as that
n.y." Tudy said to group of men
landing near him. Those who listened
and slapped their knees at
'udy's claims
"All right, you jest watch me and
eel"
|
trough which news spreads in small
the word went out that
lay could heal. Tudy May had
loved from his river tent into a
nall three-room house on the out
xirts of the town and was driving a
otorcar.
His neighbors began to see less and
ss of him and motorcars began to
OPP in front Of his door Crowds
God in the May yard for hours. Men
id women came in wagons and many
IRIS bore Oklahoma and Missouri IL |
,nses.
The word went about that Tudy was
Ealing and Marion business men
liked about it and laughed among
emselves. for they all knew Tudy's
avs.
Glow in the world is he getting
'yone to come TO him?" they would
X
Tudy "Reads EN-"