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PENNSYLVANIA FRAUDS! 
 
 i90W STATE OFFICIALS TEACH A POLITICAL ARITHMETIC! 
 
 What Dr: Paine knows of the Frauds of the 
 Pennsylvania War Claims, 
 
 His Persecutions, and a Plain Statement of Facts, 
 
 History of the Philadelphia University, Etc. 
 
 In 1856, I was induced by Dr. Calklus and other friends, to leave 
 Ohio, where I was engaged in a hirge and lucrative practice, and come 
 to Philadelphia to deliver a Course of Lectures on Auatomy. At the 
 close of the course, I retui-ned to Ohio, resumed my practice ; in 1857 
 repeated the Lectures, and the following year again gave a series of 
 lectures on Anatomy, and also on Surgery, and the Practice of Medi- 
 cine. These lectures were given in the Eclectic Medical College of 
 Pennsylvania. At the close of the session of 1858, I resigned my 
 Professorship in the Eclectic College, returned to Ohio, with the inten- 
 tion of remaining in private practice, but the next year was again 
 persuaded to accept a Professorship in the American College of Medi- 
 cine in Pennsylvania, and was appointed Dean of the Faculty. In 
 1858, I edited and published the Eclectic Medical Journal of Phila- 
 delphia, and also published the Epitome of Surgery, Midwifery, and 
 Materia Medica, and in 1860, the New School Remedies, in which I 
 first announced the fact that the improvements we had made, and the 
 new remedies discovered were s(> numerous as to result in a new system 
 of practice, differing from all others in so much that it embraced a 
 much broader range in practice, and united all that was new and 
 useful with all that was previously known to the profession, thus giving 
 to the student of medicine the advantage of all methods of treating 
 •disease. 
 
 In 1863 the Trustees of ! the American Medical College purchased 
 the property of the Penn Medical University, the Pennsylvania Medi- 
 cal College, and the Philadelphia Medical College ; these schools were 
 all suspended, and the names changed to the Philadelphia University 
 of Medicine and Surgery. Thus organized, an able corps of medical 
 teachers was appointed, and the school grew in influence and useful- 
 ness, so much so, that its patronage was quite as large as that of many 
 of its older competitors. It will be remembered that while the medical 
 instructions embraced all the principles of practical medicine and 
 surgery known to the profession, the Old School, Eclectics, Homoeo- 
 paths, etc., etc., it also included all the new resources and improve- 
 ments instituted by my colleagues and myself. The Graduates, armed 
 as they were, with all the new and old weapons with which to combat 
 disease, met with wonderful success. This success of the Faculty and 
 Graduates became so famous that a diploma from the Philadelphia 
 
University of Medicine and Surgery was a ready passport to secure an 
 extensive and lucrative practice. My own practice embraced over 
 fifty thousand patients annually, including every form of medical and 
 surgical disease. The new remedies we had introduced, and thenew 
 application of old ones enabled us to eflect such astonishing cures, 
 as could not have resulted by any other class of practitioners. This 
 success and prosperity excited the envy and jealousy of other colleges 
 and schools of medicine, and soon Avas manifested by their assaults 
 upon us. The Old School commenced the usual cry, Quackery!!! 
 Irregularity ! ! ! ; the Homoeopaths, that of Old School, having Beel- 
 febub as its father, while the Eclectics claimed that we gave Mercury 
 and Antimony, and were no better than the Old School. Their oppo- 
 sition only consisted in false reports, and the usual denouncements 
 against all new discoveries and improvements, until the year 1867, 
 ■when the Professors of the University of Pennsylvania united with 
 their former enemies of the Eclectic Medical College of Pennsylvania, 
 and applied to the Legislature to break up the Philadelphia University 
 of Medicine and Surgery. They succeeded in getting the Legislature 
 to request the Board of Education to inquire into the matter, and cite 
 the Trustees to appear before them, and give an account of the faith 
 they held. They met their strangely allied opponents, the Eclectic 
 Faculty and the Faculty of the Pennsylvania University, when, 
 through their attorney, Cadwallader Biddle, Esq., they made known 
 their grief, which consisted in charging the school with teaching 
 heresy, and various other irregularities. At this time the diploma 
 dodge was not thought of ; the charges were so ridiculous, and so trans- 
 parently the result of jealousy, that the Committee dismissed the sub- 
 ject at once. Professors Rogers, Stille & Co., of the old regular Uni- 
 versity, and Professor Buchanan & Co., of the Eclectic School, 
 returned to their trades very much chagrined, and evidently of the 
 opinion that some other subterfuge would be required in order to 
 obstruct the progress of a school that was so rapidly obtaining all their 
 students, and monopolizing the best practice of the city and country. 
 Therefore, they adopted another form of tactics, and only a few weeks 
 after their ignominious defeat in the Legislature, they, by some strange 
 manipulation, obtained from that body, a charter, entitled, " The 
 American University of Philadelphia," under the pretence that it was 
 to be a colored school. No sooner had they obtained the charter, than 
 they organized it as a branch of the Eclectic Medical College, and 
 oommenced selling diplomas, and circulated at the same time the 
 report that the Philadelphia University of Medicine and Surgery was 
 connected in this diploma trade. They even omitted the first part of 
 their charter name, and simply styled their school, " The Philadelphia 
 University." The recipients of these worthless certificates, in order to 
 make them useful, represented them to be from the Philadelphia Uni- 
 versity of Medicine and Surgery, and became so bold in the matter 
 that they published a Medical Journal, and in several instances the 
 Philadelphia University of Medicine and Surgery was compelled to 
 prosecute the parties in self-defence for publishing libelous articles. 
 They also obtained further publicity to their slanderous writings 
 
^ ' 3 
 
 ^-^ in some of the secular papers, the publishers of which, were entirely 
 
 ■ ignorant of the facts of the case. In order to expose this new effort 
 
 .x. to break up the school, we publish frequent exposes in the Phila- 
 
 " delphia University Medical and Surgical Journal, which we edited at 
 
 that time. Thefollowiug are a few of the many exposures we made 
 
 of them. From the November Number of 1869, we abstract the 
 
 following : — 
 
 SELLING DIPLOMAS. 
 
 " A libel, published in the Medical and Surgical Reporter, on the 
 Philadelphia University of Medicine and Surgery, and which the edi- 
 tors retracted, when the strong arm of the law was placed before their 
 obtuse intellects, has developed a fact to which we called the attention 
 of the profession a long time ago ; that is, that one or more of the medi- 
 cal schools is selling diplomas. When I saw in the Medical atid Sur- 
 gical Reporter, a few years since, the advertisement of a certain pro- 
 fessor, L.L. D., etc., that he was acting as a general collegiate agent, 
 and especially invited all students to call upon him, I suspected some- 
 thing wrong^ but it was not until one of the students of the Philadel- 
 phia University of Medicine and Surgery, bought a bogus diploma, 
 and represented himself as a graduate of that University, that the 
 Faculty deemed it proper to investigate the matter. This subject was 
 fully noticed in the Journal at that time. During the past summer 
 another case occurred which is stranger still. A young man from 
 Massachusetts entered the Philadelphia University of Medicine and 
 Surgery and remained one term. After returning home, he wrote to 
 inquire" whether he could not receive his diploma. Upon being in- 
 formed that he could only obtain it when he had tinished his medical 
 studies, he sent to the city, and bought one for fifty dollars ; at least it 
 is so stated by two students, now in attendance, from the same town. 
 
 As I am informed that this very man who advertised in the Medical, 
 and Surgical Reporter is one of the parties engaged in this business 
 will brothers Butler and Brinton explain to their readers how the 
 thing is done ? Cannot they make the Reporter pay, or what? We 
 cannot believe that Dr. Brinton would add the bogus diploma business, 
 to Dr. Butler's real estate operations. A stop should be put to this 
 traffic in medical deceptions, and it could be done effectually by estab- 
 lishing a central medical board, where all medical students should be 
 required to present their diplomas, and pass a rigid examination in all 
 branches of medicine and surgery before allowed to practice their pro- 
 fession. Make the standard high, and let all the pathies in the prac- 
 tice of medicine be represented, the same as in the Ployal College of 
 Physicians and Surgeons in Canada, and this traffic in diplomas will 
 cease, as it would be of value to the student only as it indicated his 
 medical acquirements. We presented this whole subject before the 
 Board of Education of this State during the sessions of the Legislature 
 two years ago, but the University of Pennsylvania and others refused 
 to co-operate with us, and the subject was abandoned for the time, but 
 we intend to renew our efforts during the present session, and by some 
 means, if possible, end this disgraceful diploma trade. 
 
February Number, 1870. — Bogus Diplomas. — In the Jaauarj 
 number, we published a notice of a collegiate agency in Milwaukie, 
 Wisconf^in, which proposed to furnish diplomas from medical colleges 
 and other educational institutions to such as needed them, 'simply aa 
 a matter of merchandise. 
 
 Yesterday we received from another correspondent a card of a 
 eimilar character, headed " Collegiate Agency," and signed, " Dr. A. 
 J. Hale, No. 214 Jacoby Street, Philadelphia. Accompanying the 
 card are three letters, written by Dr. Hale to one of his correspondents. 
 In the first, he appears to furnish the diplomas conferring the degree 
 of M. D., for $80, and A. M. for $50. In the second, the medical 
 degree is $50, and urges his supposed applicant to send in his full name 
 to be entered at once in the diploma. The third letter is as follows : — 
 Philadelphia, Penn., November 23, 1869. 
 
 Dr. . Dear Sir: — Yours of the 19th instant to hand. 
 
 Did not think it necessary to specify all the institutions conferring 
 degrees. If you wish to apply to an Allopathic, I refer you to the 
 Dean of one institution, the American University of Philadelphia, 
 Professor John Buchanan, No. 225 North Twelfth Street. If you 
 wish to apply to an Eclectic School, Eclectic Medical College of Penn- 
 sylvania, Professor Joseph Sites, Dean, 514 Pine street, Philadelphia. 
 Both schools regularly organized and chartered by the State Legisla- 
 ture, and honorable institutions. I refer you to the above named 
 gentlemen for any further information in regard to the schools. 
 
 Very respectfully, 
 A. J. HALE, M. D., 214 Jacoby St., Phila. 
 
 We think it quite evident that a systematic business of swindling, 
 in the way of selling diplomas, has been carried on for some time in 
 this country, with headquarters at Philadelphia. The Milwaukie 
 concern is probably only a branch. Is it not time that efficient steps 
 were taken to put an end to this swindling? The American University 
 is a darkey concern, located — nowhere. It was not until this business 
 had been carried on for a long time, that we became fully alive to the 
 fact that a systematic effort was made by the enemies of the Philadel- 
 phia University of Medicine and Surgery, to issue these diplomas from 
 the American University of Philadelphia, and to make the public 
 believe they were from the Philadelphia University of Medicine and 
 Surgery. An investigation soon discovered the fact that the Medical 
 and Surgical Reporter, and other Old School Medical Journals had co- 
 operated with this gang of diploma venders to sell the diplomas, and 
 cast the odium upon our school. They, absolutely sent their agents 
 to the Philadelphia University of Medicine and Surgery, to matriculate, 
 and attend lectures, so as to become acquainted with the students, and 
 induce them to take their diploma, and leave the school, informing 
 them that their diploma so closely resembled ours, that no one could 
 know the difference, and besides that no one outside of the city knew 
 that there were more than two Universities here. In several instances 
 they induced students to accept their propositions, leave the school, 
 and practice by this trickery. They not only succeeded in making 
 money, but also in injuring the Philadelphia University of Medicine 
 and Surgery. 
 
It was not, however, until the autumn of 1871, that they htul an 
 opportunity to do our school any serious damage. In August, 1871, I 
 was called to see George O. Evans, who was reported to be very sick 
 in the HarrLsburg Jail. 1 went to see him, and soon ascertained 
 that he was more anxious to be released from prison than to be cured 
 of any disease. The story he told me was tbat lie had been ap})ointed 
 Agent to collect the War Claims due by the United States to the State 
 of Pennsylvania, to the amount of about three millions of dollars ; 
 that he had collected the same according to contract with the State 
 Officials ; that he had paid over all the money with the exception of 
 his commissions, which were ten per cent. ; that he had even paid a 
 large proportion of this to parties who had assisted him in putting 
 these claims through ; that now these very men had got at variance 
 because some had received more than others ; that they were endea- 
 voring to make him disgorge that which rightfully belonged to him ; 
 and that for the services he had performed, they had received infinitely 
 more than he had. After hearing his statement, I left with a proc^e 
 to call again. Upon ray second visit, I met in his cell Mr. Sanmel 
 Moon who informed me that he was anxious to have Evans released ; 
 that he would willingly go his bail, but his property was so situated 
 that he could not do so ; that if I would go with him to see Governor 
 Geary, I would be satisfied that everything was all straight ; and 
 that the whole thing would soon be fixed up. I went then to see the 
 Governor, with him, at his house. He informed me that Evans was 
 an honest and good man ; that his arrest was caused by interested 
 parties, who were not quite satisfied with the profits they had received 
 out of the adjustment of the War Claims ; that if Evans was out, the 
 whole matter would soon be fixed up ; and that if it were not for his 
 ofllcial position he would go Evans' bail himself .so far as he was able. 
 On my return to the prison, Mr. Evans showed me his books, receipts, 
 cancelled checks, contracts, letters, and papers, proving that he had 
 paid over his portion of the funds to parties authorized by law to 
 receive them ; that he had even after the settlement, paid quite large 
 sums of money as a hmh fund ; and that he had now so far spent the 
 balance of his commissions, that he had nothing left. I replied, that if 
 this was a legitimate busine.ss, and he had paid over all he was obliged 
 to, I did not see why he should be compelled to pay back money. To 
 which he remarked, that the claims he had to collect were of such a 
 nature, that in many instances, he was required to pay largely to have 
 them allowed, and to .some parties he h id made larger promises than he 
 could fulfil. He then showed me his memorandum in cipher, in which 
 he had to purchase his influence from a large number of persons, beside 
 paying largely for his appointment ; that after paying them and his 
 own expenses he had nothing left ; that they were now quarreling 
 among themselves, and with him, bccaase he could not pay more ; 
 and that his arrest was to squeeze more out of him. He also 
 
 showed me a paper that had been presented to him, purporting to 
 
 ' come from State Officials, in which he was to account for all the 
 
 delinquencies himself and upon acknowledging these defects he 
 
 would be set at liberty. After investigating the case, I consented 
 
to iuterest myself in securing his bail, on the condition that he 
 would place in my hands, all his papers, books, letters, and other 
 eyidence that he had paid over the principal portion of the money 
 to the State Officials and others. To this he readily consented 
 and I accordingly obtained Capt. J. Baker, of Chester, and his sister 
 secured several others. A bail piece was drawn up, signed by myself, 
 and others for the sum of $100,000 for the appearance of George O. 
 Evans in court. Upon the release of Mr. Evans, he went directly to 
 New York, having previously handed me a few papers, promising to 
 bring others, and deposit them with me, and also give me an indemnify- 
 ing bond in a 3hort time.' Soon did I learn that he was far more ready 
 to promise than to perform, and it was only after most positive 
 steps, and my absolute refusal to continue his bail, that he gave me 
 his papers, as will be noticed from the following letter : — (Sent by 
 Mr. Strahan, Evans' attorney, to Governor Geary, a copy of which 
 Evans sent to me, with a promise to bring the paper over at once.) 
 
 New York, January 20, 1872. 
 
 My Dear Sir. — Such information has just reached me from Phila- 
 delphia, that almost convinces me, that owing to the proceedings of 
 Moon, Mackey, and Hartrauft to attack Dr. Paine, I am no longer 
 able to control matters. Paine demands that all the information in my 
 possession as to Hartranft and Mackey be placed unreservedly in his 
 hands, otherwise he will withdraw his bail for Mr. Evans. This is a 
 contingency I did not anticipate, and if it becomes a question between 
 Evans and the officials, I shall not hesitate a moment as to how I shall 
 act. I have received a request, which I cannot overlook, to be in 
 Philadelphia on Sunday, to give my final decision. I go this afternoon 
 to Albany, and will return on vSaturday morning. I wish you would 
 let me know your views on this new complication by Saturday, for at 
 present 1 candidly confess that matters look as if it were imperative 
 upon me to retire and allow Dr. Paine to take charge. If I do .so, 
 Mackey and Plartranft will be in custody in a very short time, and 
 what may follow, God only knows. I beg you to give the matter your 
 immediate attention, and advise me at once. Yours, Very Trulv, 
 
 JOHN H. STRAHAN- 
 
 Then came this letter. 
 
 Harrisburg, Pa., January 21st, 1872. 
 
 Dr. Paine. 
 
 Dear Sir: — It is very important that you iviihhold all movements in 
 the Legislature and bring no suit until I can have an interview with 
 you. Hoping you will comply with this lequest. 
 
 I am respectfully, your friend, 
 
 JOPIN W. GEARY. 
 
 A few days later, Mr. Evans and Mr. Strahan give me the follow- 
 ing letters and papers : 
 
 CoLONADE Hotel, Philadelphia, Dec. 27, 1871, 
 
 My Dear Sir: — I cannot see any reason for withholding executive- 
 clemency in the case brought to ray notice this evening if properly 
 supported by the names of men of influence. Yours truly, 
 
 JOHN W. GEARY. * 
 
 John H. Strahan, Esq. 
 
Philadklphia, Dec. 26, 1871. 
 Geo. O. Evans, Esq. 
 
 Dear Sir: — I have given the papers, letters, checks, etc., relating 
 to the transactions with H. and M., to our mutual Irieud. As you have 
 seen them I will not go into any description, but merely say that they 
 are very full, and all that will be required. Yours truly, 
 
 CHAS. T. YEliKES, Jr. 
 Philadelphia, December 26, 1871. 
 Geo. 0. Evans, Esq. 
 
 Dear Sir : — In case of need show this to our mutual friend who 
 will let you copy any paper that may be required as proof, that the 
 original can be procured when wanted by you. Yours truly, 
 
 C. T. YERKES, Jr. 
 The following are the subjects of a few of the documents delivered 
 into my hands : — 
 
 1. Introduction to the collection of the War Claims by the State 
 Treasurer, W. H. Kerable. 
 
 2. Affidavit of C. T. Yerkes, Jr., December 23, 1871, in reference 
 to transactions with R. W. M. 
 
 3. Affidavit of C. T. Yerkes, Jr., December 23, 1871, in reference 
 to transactions with J. F. H. 
 
 4. Copy of letter J. F. H. to C. T. Y., Jr., December 21, 1869. 
 Calhoun mentioned therein was U. S. Pension Agent. 
 
 5. Copy of letter, of J. F. H. to C. T. Y., Jr., March 9, 1870. 
 Mackey and Hartranft's settlement of the account of the Oil Creek 
 and Alleghany R. R. Co., was taken out of their speculation, by the 
 Attorney General. It would appear that this decision spoiled Oil 
 Creek as a future investment. 
 
 6. Copy of letter, R. W. M. to C. T. Y., Jr., August 4, 1871, in- 
 closing draft on State Treasury, in payment of his over due promissory 
 note for S20,000 private account. 
 
 The following is a copy received of J. F. Hartranl't'.s due h\\\ to 
 George 0. Evans: — 
 
 Borrowed of George O. Evans, the sum of Seven Thousand Dollars. 
 
 J. F. HARTRANFT. 
 
 $7000,00. New York, March 31, 1871. 
 
 As to the affidavits of C. T. Yerkes, Jr., I stated that the nature of 
 these affidavits was sudi that I should like to see Mr. Yerkes' books 
 to ascertain if they corresponded with the statements. He promised to 
 show them in a day or two. Mr. C. T. Yerkes called at my office, 
 took me in his carriage to his office on Third Street, and when in his 
 back office, showed me his books, and compared the statements with 
 those I had received from Mr. Evans. At the same time he pointed 
 out how the books were kept in order to elude detection. 
 
 During this time various efibrts were made by the parties to 
 fisf up the Evans matter. 
 
 At Mr. Evans' request, I accompanied him to Harrisburg, to see if I 
 could assist him in the adjustment of his difficulties. Upon arriving 
 there, he repaired to the Governor's house, and arrangements were 
 made to meet all the parties for the purpose of a final settlement. 
 
8 
 
 The meeting was held, and the subject talked over and over, yet no" 
 satisfactory settlement could be ari'anged, and after spending nearly a. 
 week, and becoming impatient at what I considered to be a covering 
 up of frauds, I suggested to Mr. Strahan, Evans' attorney, that if he 
 would draw up a suitable set of resolutions, I would have them intro- 
 duced into the Legislature, and have the whole subject properly 
 investigated. He drew up the following, based upon the papers that 
 Mr. Evans had placed in my hands : — 
 
 Wliereas, John F. Hartranft, Auditor General, and Robert W, 
 Mackey, State Treasurer, have been accused of illegally using monies 
 of the Commonwealth, in applying the same in carrying on various, 
 operations in Stocks, to the extent of several millions of dollars, and 
 to the payment of their debts, and 
 
 Wh&reas, the said State Officers are further accused of having used 
 the monies of the Commonwealth in the purchase of the loans of the 
 Commonwealth for their own benefit, particularly to the purchase of 
 One -Hundred and Eighty-nine Thousand Five Hundred Dollars 
 of the five per cent, loan of the Commonwealth, and Thirty-one Thou- 
 sand and Fifty Dollars of the six per cent, loan of the Commonwealth, 
 and of having sold the said Loans to the Sinking Fund of the Com- 
 monwealth, at an advantage or profit to said Mackey of Two Thousand' 
 Nine Hundred and Forty-three Dollars and Fifty-two cents, and of an 
 advantage or profit to said Hartranft of Two Thousand and Seven 
 Hundred Dollars, and 
 
 Whereas, the said Mackey is further accused of having received 
 among other sums the following payments as interest on the monies of 
 the Commonwealth, loaned, or deposited by him for an account of such 
 consideration, viz: — on August 25, 1869, $677.50; on February 9, 
 1870, $3320.50; in May 16, 1870, $347.50; and in October 5, 1871. 
 $5000, and ****** 
 
 Therefore, Be it 
 
 Resolved, (the Senate concurring) that a Joint Committee of the 
 Senate and House of Representatives be appointed to inquire into the 
 accusations aforesaid, and to report with power to send for persons,, 
 books, and papers. 
 
 I attempted to have these resolutions introduced into the Legisla- 
 ture, but after various efforts no one could be procured to do so, and 
 great excitement and confusion resulted. I was also forcibly reminded 
 that unless I left Harrisburg, and ceased meddling with other people's 
 business, I would lose my head. Upon this hint I took my departure. 
 
 From the above it will be noticed that Evans, instead of putting the 
 papers into my hands, as he had agreed, held them for the purpose of 
 eettling his own claims, and relieving C. T. Yerkes, Jr., from hiA 
 complications. 
 
 I had no sooner received them, than every effort was made ta 
 get thera out of my hands, as will be noticed by the following :-*- 
 
 New York, 1872. 
 
 Dear Sir : — Please deliver to Mrs. Evans, the papers of Austins, 
 and oblige. Yours sincerely, 
 
 G. O. EVANS. 
 
 To Dr. W. Paink, Phila. 
 
9 
 
 I refused. Theu came the following : — 
 
 Harrisburg, , — . 
 
 Dr. Paink. 
 
 Dear Friend: — Since last Saturday you can rest assured I have not 
 been idle. I have managed to discover the strength of the testimony they 
 intimate they have against you. If true, it is very damaging not alone 
 to you, but also to some of the Professors of the University. Tliey are 
 evidently keeping the heavy guns for the last, and intend after present- 
 ing this evidence before the committee to have a resolution pushed 
 through asking the Grand Jury to bring all the power to have you 
 tried. I shall let you know the whole when I see you. As to the 
 Resolution I must have it immediately and get it through before they 
 bring this testimony out. I want you to come up to-morrow night,. 
 start, say in the 6.30 train from Philadelphia, and you will arrive here 
 at about 10.40. Go direct to your room and I will meet you there 
 and fix up such a resolution as will cover the ground. I Avant you to 
 bring everything ready for an attack, and more particularly what you 
 have against Scott. 1 want the originals so that the moment the com- 
 mittee is appointed I shall call a meeting, submit the testimony, thereby 
 debarring the House from re-considering their action. There will be quite 
 a sensation after the committee is appointed, and if we do not get the 
 evidence in, we will find it a very difficult matter to hold things. As yet 
 they do not doubt my friendship, and will not suspect what 1 am after. 
 On arriving here, let no one see you, I shall meet you at your room at 
 the Lochiel, I want it arranged so if you are not wanted you can slip 
 away, and no one will be aware of your being here. I think the train I 
 mentioned the best to come in. f have a great deal I would like to 
 say to you but must be in time for to-night's mail. Telegraph me on 
 receipt of this, and do not make a confident of any body on the subject. 
 I shall await and not proceed any further until I hear from you. 
 Telegraph M. 
 
 This letter did not take, so they were obliged to make another eifort. 
 I was then informed that unless I would give up the George 
 0. Evans papers and let them alone, they would . take away the 
 College Charter. I replied that that was impossible, as in the 
 first place, the College had never sold a diploma, and again 
 the Charter was granted before the Constitution gave the Legis- 
 lature the power to repeal a Charter. The reply was they did 
 not care a d— m for that, and that unless I came to Harris- 
 burg and gave up the papers, and consented to their way of settling 
 up the matter, they would squeeze me until I did. The next day I 
 received the following : — 
 
 United States Hotel, Harrisburg, 
 Paine : It is more important to you to see me, than it is for me to 
 go to Ninth Street. I have been there a couple of times. What time 
 will you be in town to-morrow ? It is all important that you should 
 
 Bee me to-night. I have broached the subject to R , who is in 
 
 common — he wants me to have a complete "understanding with you. 
 Do not fail to see me. Yours, etc., 
 
 ^ goes away to night. I must see you, keep shy of Wash B — . 
 
10 
 
 This dodge of the conspiratorsto induce me to go to Harrisburg, that 
 they might rob me of my papers, under the pretence that they would 
 offer Resolutions exposing the whole War Claim Fraud, was so trans- 
 parent that I finally replied to Mr. McGinnis, that if they continued to 
 annoy me, I should certainly be under the necessity of having them 
 all arrested. Upon this hint, McGinnis left, and a general attack was 
 made upon my social and professional character. In the first place, 
 they brought me before tlie United States Assessor, under the pre- 
 tence that I had made false returns on my income. This failing, 
 they engaged a prostitute to apply to me to produce an abortion, 
 offering a large sum of money. Her persistency and large proffers of 
 money led to a threatened arrest, whereupon she became frightened, 
 and made a partial confession of the conspiracy. Bold and daring 
 robberies of papers and private letters followed, but in no instance 
 did their parties succeed in obtaining any of the papers relative to 
 the Evans' case. At those meetings where the Evans topics were dis- 
 cussed before me, the question was, how could they manage, so as not 
 to interfere with the forthcoming momentous election, and they stated 
 that at whatever sacrifice, the great object to be attained was to 
 elect such parties as would control the finance of the State, either 
 themselves or by reliable friends. Not only Evans and Gov. 
 Geary, but many other persons urged upon me some official 
 and lucrative position on the condition of division and silence. 
 My reply was uniformly that I was too far advanced in life 
 to learn these new principles in arithmetic, and all I desired was for 
 them to settle the matter, and relieve me of the bail. Althoudi I 
 was frequently told I would have a yoke put upon my neck if I di- 
 vulged any of their secrets, yet I did not quite understand the term, 
 nor did I for a moment, suspect that they could put up any job on me> 
 But on the '24th of January, 1872, I bet^arae fully aware of the fact, 
 when William Randall, of Schuylkill Haven, oftered a resolution, 
 authorizing the Speaker of the Senate to appoint a Committee to in- 
 vestigate the Medical Colleges of Philadelphia. This committee was 
 composed of the following : — Randall, formerly of this city ; David 
 A. Nagle, a neighbor of Prof. Buchanan ; Dr. Crawford, an Old 
 School physician ; J. M. Weakley ; B. B. Strang ; M. S. Humphreys, 
 and E. Billingfelt. Immediately upon their appointment, ilaraing 
 announcements were made by all their papers, that Dr. Paine was 
 engaged in the Bogus Diploma business, and was to be put through. 
 
 From the nature of the reports through the associated press it was 
 quite evident that they intended to confound the Philadelphia Uni- 
 versity of Medicine and Surgery with the American University of 
 Philadelphia, so as to convince the public that Dr. Paine was Profes- 
 sor in the latter college, and issued their diplomas, and I was con- 
 firmed in this view from the construction of the committee, and through 
 friends who understood the programme. I accordingly requested 
 Washington L. Bladen, Esq., to take charge of the matter, whereupon 
 he wrote to Randall to inquire whether he or any one could appear as 
 my counsel, and received the following reply ; 
 
11 
 
 Hakrisijuro, Pa., February 16, 1872. 
 
 W. L. Bladen, Esq. 
 
 Dear Sir : — Your favor 14th inst. is at hancl. The committee meet 
 on Saturday morning at Girard House, 10 A. M., they have no objec- 
 tions to your being present but refuse to aHow any party to be repre- 
 sented by counsel. Yours truly, 
 
 . WM. M. RANDALL. 
 
 The committee enacted its farce February 3, 1872, the whole thing 
 being conducted by Randall, Nagle and Crawford, it being evident 
 that the other members were mostly, if not entirely ignorant as to the 
 movements of Randall. The first witness was Dr. >Stille, President of 
 the University of Pennsylvania, whose testimony and letters occupied 
 twelve pages of their Report. All the ingenuity of Randall and Stille 
 combined did not bring one jot or tittie against either Dr. Paine or 
 the Philadelphia University of Medicine and Surgery, as every letter 
 was dated and referred to 514 Pine Street. The next witness was Dr. 
 Rogers, Dean of the o]d University, who complained because the 
 Philadelphia University issued scholarships; and he produced a large 
 number of letters from various parties who wanted to purchase diplo- 
 mas. He and Randall strained every point, yet not one could be pro- 
 duced where either the College or Dr. Paine had in anyway been 
 connected with the diploma business. The next witness was a Mr. 
 Flinu, who said he knew nothing, only what a man by the name of 
 Hylton told him, and that was all about the Eclectics. Upon an- 
 nouncing this fact Randall informed him he was of no use. Then fol- 
 lowed their most able witness, Francis B. Wells, Editor of the Evening 
 Bulletin, who produced the diploma of Rosenweig, from the Eclectic 
 College and American University. It was of no use, and was put aside 
 and barely mentioned in the Reports. Jones, a clairvoyant, followed^ 
 who stated he had seen a diploma, but it was from the Eclectic School ; 
 then Spauldiug, who had only talked with one Hylton. Then Dr. 
 Stanley C. Hylton, a respectable physician, testified that all he knew 
 about the bogus diplomas was from the Pine Street concern. 
 
 It was soon reported in Harrisburg, that Paine was letting out the 
 whole thing, that the New York Sun and other papers had hold of 
 some of the Evans' documents, and unless Paine was used up, and hi& 
 influence killed, the game was over. So Randall gathered his for*ces- 
 together once more at Harrisburg this time, and employed a fellow by the 
 name of Callahan, and another named Sharkey, and held forth February 
 7. His first witness was a darkey doctor, whom they had taken from 
 Philadelphia, a doctor of the American L^niversity of Philadelphia 
 make, who knew nothing of Paine, and consequently was of no use. 
 This failing, Dr. Rogers, of the Pennsylvania University, furnished 
 one of his own graduates, Dr. J. Dunbar Hylton, and a negro named 
 Hall to go to Harrisburg, and see if they could not make out a case. 
 The committee, or rather Mr. Randall & Co., had another time. After 
 catechising this fellow for hours, behold his diploma turns out to be 
 from their next witness Hylton from the American University of 
 Philadelphia, so this man was of no use after all the pains of taking 
 him there, and at the expense of the State. The next was the big 
 
12 
 
 gun referred to by their frieud McGinnis, J. Dunbar Hylton, M. D,^ 
 who swore he knew the whole thing. He testified that he had called 
 on the Speaker of the House, Mr. Elliott, to give him money to help 
 put the thing through. He also applied to Dr. Rand of the Jefferson 
 College, but does not state whether he received any money. He aLsO' 
 swore that Dr. Rogers told tim that he did not care for the American 
 University of Philadelphia, it was only the Philadelphia University 
 of Medicine and Surgery. Randall told him that was what they 
 wanted. He said then, " Well, if I must tell it, Paine offered to sell 
 me a diploma for my baby only two years old, and even had one filled 
 out." Randall looked wise, and after his witness told him he could 
 not buy one for his baby, gs he had not sufficient money, he in- 
 formed him that would do, not feeling quite satisfied that the honest 
 portion of the Committee could swallow this. 
 
 He called another meeting in Moyamensing Prison, on the 16th of 
 March, where John O'Brien was duly sworn. (John had previously 
 served out two terms in the Eastern Penitentiary and was now in 
 prison for committing, in connection with Dr. Hylton, burglary, and 
 for stealing Prof. Dutfee's diploma from the Jefferson Medical College,. 
 and then erasing his name and offering it for sale.) 
 
 In regard to the validity of the statement of this John M. O'Brien, 
 the following extract from a letter which has been put into my hands, 
 written by him to Mr. J. S. Fisher, President of the Board of Trustees 
 of the Philadelphia University of Medicine and Surgery, and a Com- 
 mission Merchant in Cutlery, 417 Commerce Street, shows where he 
 was. He had l)een imprisoned for burglary in Mr. Fisher's store. 
 This letter is dated, " Eastern Penitentiary, Philadelphia, April 27th, 
 1870," where he served four years. After telling how he came by the 
 knives, etc., he says : "Mr. Fisher, if you will do anything for me, and 
 it lays in your power, I will return you all the goods I have any 
 knowledge of, and will get those back from McCIuskey and Tobin." 
 
 He states that he and Prof Roger* talked over the 'matter, and he 
 said that Dr. Terry told him he could buy diplomas from Paine to sell 
 on commission ; that he, Hylton, Buchanan and the balance of them 
 were quite sure, from what Terry said, that if he had the money, he 
 could have bought a diploma from Paine. Randall said this will do, 
 and the testimony closed. 
 
 Then followed, Mr. Randall's report, signed by the unsophisticated 
 Committee, which read as follows : — An examination of witnesses haa 
 convinced the committee that Dr. Wra. Paine made an agreement to 
 sell a diploma to a baby two years old. Your committee feel bound 
 to state that this traffic has done great injury to the University of Penn- 
 sylvania, therefore, resolved that both the Eclectic College charter and 
 that of the Philadelphia University of Med icine and Surgery be rascinded. 
 
 W. R. RANDALL, 
 J. M. WEAKLEY, 
 B. B. STRANG, 
 
 D. A. NAGLE, 
 
 M. S. HUMPHREYS, 
 DR. D. CRAWFORD, 
 
 E. BILLINGFELT. 
 
13 
 
 After this we received the following anonymous letter, which we 
 have reason to believe was from Randall : 
 
 STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL. 
 
 Dr. Paine is respectfully and confidentially informed by X that he 
 <^n purchase the Charter or Act of Incorporation of a Medical College 
 approved severai years ago. The corporation is fully organised but 
 the institution was never put into active operation. There is nothing 
 against it pecuniarily or otherwise. The charter was never offered for 
 sale, as its management always intended to work it. It is offered now 
 to him seeing that an attempt has been made to break up his business. 
 The charter is valued at $15,000 (Fifteen Thousand Dollars) and will 
 be sold to him at that price, terms cash the next day after the adjourn- 
 ment of the Legislature, but not until then. 
 
 S^^ He can use the name of the Philadelphia University of Medi- 
 ■eine and Surgery, the old name of his college. 
 
 Should he desire to purchase it, he will please advertise in the per- 
 «onal column of the Ledger next Saturday or Monday, the following : — 
 
 W. P., accepts the offer of his correspondent X and requests an 
 interview at the time fixed. 
 
 Harrisburg, Friday, March 22. 1872. 
 
 Now, as to the facts in the case. Judge Agnew, in his decision, stated 
 that prior to the Amendment of the Constitution in 1857, the Legisla- 
 ture had no power to repeal charters, and cited a large number of cases 
 to prove it. He, also, referred to Articles IX and X, of the Constitu- 
 tion forbidding the passage of any such Act, and that the act of repeal- 
 ing the charter was, therefore, null and void. The charter of the 
 Eclectic College of Pennsylvania was passed in 1850, and that of the 
 Philadelphia University of Medicine and Surgery in 1853. This fact 
 they knew as is shown by their report, and is it not to be presumed for 
 a moment, they did not know they had no power to repeal them ? When 
 the motion was before the House, Mr. Billingfelt, who had been kept 
 in the dark, and was only added to the Committee to give it respecta- 
 bility, arose and stated they had better wait and see whether they had 
 power to repeal, to which Mr. Randall replied, " Repeal first, then see 
 afterwards," upon which it was put through both houses in less than 
 five minutes. Governor Geary then sent me word to come at once to 
 Harrisburg. When there, he made a proposition to veto the bill, pro- 
 viding I would consent to the fixing up of the Evans case after his plan, 
 ■which I refused to do, stating at the same time, that he must sign the 
 bill and annex his seal to the infamous conspiracy which he and others 
 had plotted for my ruin. 
 
 The only College charter they could repeal, was that of the Ameri- 
 «can University of Philadelphia, which was granted after the Amend- 
 ment of the Constitution in 1855, it being passed in 1867. Of this 
 institution they had the following witnesses, who testified they had di- 
 plomas from it; — Dr. John A. Hall, (colored) W. H. Myers, A. R, 
 McCarthy, John W. Stevenson, John B. Nicholson and W. W. Brown, 
 g Dr. Bissell testified that he was selling diplomas, but never sold but 
 one, and that was from the University of Pennsylvania ; Dr. H. W. 
 Lobb, that he bought one from the American University of Philadel- 
 
14 
 
 phia on Pine Street ; J. P. Campbell, a (colored preacher) swore he 
 had a diploma of LL. D., from Buchanan's College ; David Barlow 
 testified that he had bought one from the American University of 
 Philadelphia ; Joseph Moraug swore that he had one too ; besides the 
 members of the Faculty admitted that they had furnished them diplo- 
 mas. Prof. Leidy, presented several letters from Europe, and from 
 parties, stating they had diplomas from that institution. In fact, the 
 parties claimed no secrecy in the matter, but boldly asserted that the 
 American University of Philadelphia was chartered for the purpose of 
 granting diplomas, and they intended to continue to do so ; besides, 
 Dr. Buchanan stated that he had paid to the members of the Legisla- 
 ture seven hundred and fifty dollars, ($750 j with an agreement that 
 they should not interfere with the Aynerican University of Philadelphia 
 Charter, as that was the Charter under which he was operating, 
 though he did not care for the Eclectic Charter, The conspirators 
 claimed that they must include the Eclectic in order to kill Paine and 
 the Philadelphia University of Medicine and Surgery, or they could 
 not make the people believe their story, and thus the object of the 
 whole thing would be defeated. 
 
 It will be noticed that they understood perfectly well that they 
 could neither repeal, nor affect the validity of the charters of either the 
 Philadelphia University of Medicine and Surgery, nor the Eclectic 
 Medical College of Pennsylvania, though they had the power to repeal 
 the charter of the American University of Philadelphia. Hence, they 
 did not wish to include it, because they could all the more readily, 
 accomplish their design without it, for if they did not mention the 
 name, the masses of the people would believe that the diplomas issued 
 by the bogus American University of Philadelphia were from the 
 Philadelphia University of Medicine and Surgery, with which Dr. 
 Paine was connected ; and this, in connection with the horrible things 
 they could say in the papers about diplomas, would so prejudice the 
 people and the profession against Dr. Paine, that all he might say, 
 write, or do, would not be believed, and thus, all the secrets they had 
 imprudently and from necessity confided in him, could not aflfect their 
 elections. 
 
 The game was well played, and proved very successful ; so much 
 80, that J. F. Hartranft was nominated for Governor without much 
 opposition, and Allen, an old confederate, for Auditor General. By 
 an act of the Legislature, Mackey was continued State Treasurer. 
 Paine and Evaus were the only ones outside who knew the secrets. 
 Paine was killed, so far as his influence was concerned, for every 
 paper in the land had either been purchased to herald his diploma 
 traffic, or had ignorantlj lent their columns to the circulation of 
 their slanders. But Evans was in the way. To appease him, and 
 to put him out of the way, he was paid a lar^e sum of money to 
 absent himself until after the election. His head was shaved, and 
 he' was taken to a Woman's Hospital, out of New York, and passed 
 off as a female, with female attendants. Detectives, doctors, and a 
 host of politicians were placed as sentinels to guard his presence. 
 Notwithstanding this, some of the facts were brought to light by 
 the Neiv York Sun, and a few other independent newspapers. 
 
15 
 
 When the diploma scare was partially over, and the opponents to 
 the political ring were becoming bolder, to divert my attention, they 
 pretended once more to have George 0. Evans tried, and they made a 
 demand upon me to produce my man. This was the first intimation 
 I had of his absence. On looking for him, he was not to be found. I 
 was informed that unless he was brought forward, they would call up 
 the case, and the bail would be forfeited. As this would come down 
 on me, as stated by the Evening Bulletin, like a sledge-hammer, I 
 employed detectives and others; telegraphed and wrote, until in vari- 
 ous ways, I spent more than five thousand dollars ($5000) in an attempt 
 to find my man Evans; but he could not be found. The case was to 
 come up in three days more. They had previously informed me of 
 what they intended to do. What to do, I did not know. I had spent 
 «ix weeks, and all the money at ray command — had employed hosts 
 of detectives, and all to no purpose. 
 
 I finally concluded to take a bold stand, and went to the Governor, 
 stating to him, that as they had secreted my man in such a way 
 that I could not find him, I should employ my counsel, and try the 
 case in his absence, and was then prepared to summon and put on the 
 •tand every man connected with the War Claim Fraud. When he 
 «aw I was determined to do so though the heavens should fall, he pro- 
 posed to compromise by having the case adjourned. I accepted the 
 proposition, and the case was put over. 
 
 During his concealment, C. T. Yerkes, Jr., was pardoned out of 
 prison, and made a statement that I had misrepresented Hartranft & 
 Co., and that they were honest men. This convict's testimonial of the 
 good character of our present Governor and State Treasurer had great 
 influence, and was posted up in all the cities and towns in the State 
 on immense hand-bills, and was also telegraphed to all the papers, many 
 «rf them comingoutwith double-leaded editorials of afavorable character. 
 
 This ended the bogus diploma excitement, and the Evans' case was 
 tried according to a special agreement between the parties. 
 
 The year following, Mackey was to be re-elected State Treasurer. 
 The Governor, State Treasurer, and Auditor General are the Commis- 
 sioners of the State funds, and the future safety of all previous trans- 
 actions was in making Mackey 's re-election sure. Paine was not dead 
 fet, and for fear something else might turn up, the City Solicitor, Mr. 
 
 )llis was induced to call attention of the Mayor to the fact that 
 fee had learned that diplomas were still sold. His Honor, the Mayor, 
 was thus lead to send a message to the Council, to ask the Attorney 
 General to issue a quo warranto against those diploma venders. The 
 Bulletin, Inquirer, and other Ring papers of Philadelphia, and tne 
 papers of Pittsburg immediately sounded the alarm of war, " Bogus 
 Diplomas from Paine's College." We concluded this game waa 
 played out, and immediately commenced prosecutions against them 
 for libel; whereupon, after Mackey's election, they apologized, stat- 
 ing that they were mistaken — that it vvas the American University 
 of Philadelphia. How thin the whole thing is ! Is there any one, who 
 would suppose for a moment, that the Attorney General would not 
 attend to his duty if his attention was called to it, without all this long 
 maneuvering of Council, Mayor, and City Solicitor ? But that would 
 
 yet, 
 
 Ool 
 
16 
 
 not have been noticed in all the papers, nor could they in that iraj 
 cast any odium upon Dr. Paine, to rub ofl'byan apology after election, 
 or rather counting, was over, that they were mistaken. We do not 
 suppose any one is so foolish as to believe one of them was ever 
 •elected. They knew their quo warranto was bogus ; and they never 
 •desired to desert their friends of the American University of Philadel- 
 iphia. If they had, they would have repealed their charter, when, in 
 upile of all their efforts to the contrary, they had overwhelming proof 
 that they were carrying on an immense traffic in these certificates. A 
 ■diploma is nothing more than a certificate of what a man thinks, and 
 jnay be given by one individual or more, and as well by a uon-eor- 
 porated school, as by one that is, and is only valuable according to the 
 influence and character of the individual or individuals who give it. 
 The charter of a college or school is for the purpose of enabling the 
 trustees to hold in trust the property of the school without being indi- 
 vidually liable, and such a thing as a bogus diploma or certificate is im- 
 possible, unless it is a forgery ; and in nearly all parts of the United States 
 .a man can practice medicine as well without one as with. In some cities 
 they require one of these certificates from some medical school, in order 
 to collect the fees ; but it makes no difference whether the school is 
 <;hartered or not. These facts were known to the Legislators of this 
 ■diploma conspiracy against myself and the Philadelphia University of 
 Medicine and Surgery, and were it not for my knowledge of the siic- 
 ■cessful frauds, these political Rings are perpetrating upon an honest 
 people, I could not believe a single sane individual could have read 
 their proceeding's without observing their transparent conspiracy. 
 
 And now in ending this statement, I would mention that the long 
 ■concealment of Evans, and my apparent indifference led them to sup- 
 pose that they could perform the last act of the drama with entire 
 success. This was to bring Mr.« Evans up for trial, imposing upon 
 him the entire responsibility of so much of the frauds as had become 
 public, then allow him to slip away, and forfeit the bail. Having re- 
 ceived this iutellligence from what I believed to be reliable sources, 
 I laid my plans for his capture. Thus, while they supposed they had 
 completely thrown me off" from my guard by their legal manipulations; 
 and while they were in the very act of consumating their last 
 effort for my destruction, I captured their man, delivered him to the 
 Sheriff', and demanded an exoneratum from the bail. Like a firebrand 
 in a powder-magazine they have their scape-goat upon their own hands, 
 and I am entirely relieved from any further responsibility. The Su- 
 preme Court having decided all their legislation illegal, the Uni- 
 versity charter stands unimpaired, and the only injury sustained by 
 myself and the institution, consists in extensively circulated falsehoods ; 
 nearly two years loss of time ; the loss of a large amount of money 
 and labor; the comparative arrest of the sales of my numerous publi- 
 cations, for all of which I never received one penny in money or in 
 any other way, and my only motive being to help a friend in trouble. 
 
 W. PAINE, M. D., 232 North Ninth St., Phila., Pa 
 
 Where be is again engaged in the Praotice of Medicine and Surgery. 
 Offloe Hours, from 10 A. M., to 4 P. M. } 
 
 /-' 
 
 3477-250 
 
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