THE PHILADELPHIA QUACK DOCTOR.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2376, 28 October 1880, Page 3

THE PHILADELPHIA QUACK DOCTOR.

The notorious Dr Buchanan threw himself from a Philadelphia aud Camden ferry-boat and was drowned. Some doubt was cast upon the story at first, but the ‘New York Times’says : “ There is no doubt butßucbanau really has made away with himself. He was known to several persons on the boat, and especially to the engineer, Holton, who was one of his graduates several years ago. The man was short aud stout, and it was with difficulty that he could climb over the railing. He mounted a baggage-truck, raised himself over the rail, aud before he could be stopped had fallen into the water. He struck the water heavily, and as he went over the rail all that could be heard was “ Good-bye. ” The police authorities have a theory that Buchanan jumped overboard and was saved by a boat which lay ih wait for him’ But six men saw him sink. Buchanan was under 15,000d0l bail, and on Monday the United States grand jury found a true bill against him charging him with using the mails for fraudulent purposes. He had the prospect of the Penitentiary before him. On the next day ho was to have been arraigned for trial. He attempted suicide two weeks before by laudanum, and at another time endeavored to force his way out of the house in a nude condition. Seeing that all hope had failed, Mr V. Chapman, brother inlaw of Buchanan, approached Mr John Norris, the gentleman who made the exposure of the entire bogus diploma business. Chapman made a direct offer to Norris to transfer to him the cottage building in Pine street, worth at least 20,000d01, if he would relinquish all proceedings and be satisfied -with the surrender of the chariers alone, This was refused, of course, as were also other munificent offers. Then Buchanan must have determined on self-destruction. He was on his way to his daughter’s house at Magnolia, five miles below Camden, at the time of the suicide. While the self-murder of the man is to be regretted, it seems a fitting end to the career of a man who has launched forth in the community so many bogus doctors to spread death and disease. For twelve years, although several times arrested, Buchanan has defied the law.