ARREST OF A DOCTOR.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 417, 6 November 1889, Page 4

ARREST OF A DOCTOR.

About six months ago a man of respect able appearance, and about 40 years of age, styling: himself as Dr. Horace Wright, took up his residence in the township of Raywood, near Melbourne, says the Melbourne " Standard," and settled down to practise the medical profession, on the reprsentation that he was a legally qualified practitioner. He acquired a fair practice, and some time ago Dr. Atkinson, of Sandhurst, became acquainted with him through having been summoned to attend a consultation with Wright at Raywood. About a month ago he came to Sandhurst at the request of Dr. Atkinson, ,-vibh the object of making himself familiar with the latter's rounds, so that he would be better able to attend to the patients during Dr. Atkinson's absence on his honeymoon. Dr. Atkinson was married on the 25th of last month, and left on his honeymoon trip to Adelaide. Ever since " Dr." Wright has been acting as his locum tcnens. First of all he rented a house in Forest-street and furni&hed it elaborately from a local furniture establislmienu, ootaining the goods on Atkinson's patients, but he was very irregular in his visits, and it is alleged that on one occasion he was called to attend a confinement when he was in a state of intoxication. In fact, his treatment of the patients became such that the complaints at the surgery were very numerous indeed, and at last Dr. Atkin-on was telegraphed tor. He returned to Sandhurst on a recent Thursday evening, and, of course, the pretending medico at once got his discharge. His conduct during his brief sojourn in Sandhurst has been most extraordinary. He was in the habit of accosting little girls when leaving school and kissing them, and this fact coming to the knowledge of the police, he was kept under surveillance during the last few days by Detectives Mahoney and Sexton. It was also ascertained that Wright had been circulating valueless cheques pretty iberally amongst the local business people within the last week or so. In the month of August he purchased a quantity of goods, consisting of a gilt bracket and other like articles, from Messrs Glasier and Watts, of Mitchell-street, for which he gave a cheque for £4 Is 3d in payment. The cheque, on being presented at the bank, was dishonoured. He also passed off a couple of valueless cheques for sums not exceeding £1 together. Another veiy serious charge is brought against him. Wright attended a member of the family of a cabman, named Hayes, living in Williamson -street. Mrs Hayes sent her daughter, eight years of age, to Dr. Atkinson's surgery tor the medicine, and there she was met by Wright, who in veigled her to his private residence in Forest- street, where, 'she alleges,, he assaulted her. Wright is a married man with no children. His wife formerly lived with him at Raywood, but he is now residing in Melbourne. He was recognised as an old criminal by Detective Mahoney, who arrested him in Melbourne in 1876 for false pretences by passing a valueless cheque in that year. For that offence Wright served 18 months' imprisonment in Fentridge. Wright was arrested, brought before the City Court, and remanded for a week.