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Montreal Pilot
Ontario, Canada
23 September 1857

The Arrest of Dr. Tumblety, the Indian Herb Doctor, on a Charge of attempting to procure an Abortion.

THE POLICE AUTHORITIES LAY A TRAP INTO WHICH, THE DOCTOR FALLS.

Complaints having been lodged with the police authorities that pamphlets containing prescriptions of remedies for different diseases but particularly those incident to females, were being largely circulated through the city by a person styling himself Dr. Tumblety, the Indian Herb Doctor, and rumors being in circulation, and having reached their ears, that he had administered remedies to females in this city for the purpose of procuring an abortion, the authorities determined to lay a trap for him. Accordingly on Monday Detective Simard of the Government Police paid a visit to Dr. Tumblety at his office in Great St. James Street, and enquired from him whether he could give any remedies to procure a miscarriage, as there was a young girl of his acquaintance in the family way.

Doctor Tumblety replied that he could, but inquired whether the intended patient was a Protestant or a Catholic, to which he received an answer that she was a Protestant, whereupon the doctor said he would assist her. Simard then inquired his terms, which he stated would be $20 cash. The detective then left, promising to come back the next day, and in the meantime stated that he would inform the young girl of what had taken place. On Tuesday morning Simard returned and informed Dr. Tumblety that the young girl was afraid to take his medicines unless she was assured by the Dr. in person that there was no danger to her own life. He then left. A little after twelve the same day he returned to the doctor's office accompanied by a young girl, about seventeen years of age, named Philomene Dumas, who stated she was in an interesting condition. After being questioned by the Doctor regarding hr symptoms, she got from him a bottle of medicine and a box of pills, and was assured they would make her all right and relieve her from her present condition. Before leaving the doctor's office she drank some of the medicine. Simard then paid the Doctor his fee of $20, and left in company with the young girl.

Almost four hours after this he was arrested by the High Constable, on the warrant of C. J. Coursol, Esq. Inspector and Superintendent of Police.

We have spoken with Dr. Tumblety's counsel, B. Devlin, Esq. Who assures us that Dr. T has witnesses to prove that he never alluded to attempting to procure an abortion during the visit of Philomene Dumas to his office, and which will establish his innocence.

At 2 o'clock this afternoon a private examination took place before the Police Magistrate, the prisoner and his counsel, and the reporters for the press. Dr. Tumblety, at 3 o'clock this afternoon, was remanded to gaol until tomorrow, the evidence for the prosecution not being closed.

The young girl who figures in this case states she is a prostitute and has only been in the city about a month.


Related pages:
  Francis Tumblety
       Dissertations: A Slouch Hatted Yank: A Few Thoughts on the Newly Found I... 
       Dissertations: A Theory on Francis Tumblety 
       Dissertations: The Canterbury Encore: The Further Adventures of Dr. Tumb... 
       Message Boards: Francis Tumblety 
       Official Documents: The Littlechild Letter 
       Press Reports: Arkansas Gazette - 16 April 1891 
       Press Reports: Arkansas Gazette - 19 April 1891 
       Press Reports: Atchison Daily Globe - 15 December 1888 
       Press Reports: Atlanta Constitution - 21 November 1888 
       Press Reports: Boston Medical and Surgical Journal 
       Press Reports: Brandon Mail - 22 November 1888 
       Press Reports: Brooklyn Daily Eagle - 10 May 1864 
       Press Reports: Brooklyn Daily Eagle - 18 November 1890 
       Press Reports: Brooklyn Daily Eagle - 2 February 1889 
       Press Reports: Brooklyn Daily Eagle - 4 December 1888 
       Press Reports: Brooklyn Daily Eagle - 4 May 1865 
       Press Reports: Brooklyn Daily Eagle - 6 May 1864 
       Press Reports: Bucks County Gazette - 20 December 1888 
       Press Reports: Burlington Weekly Hawkeye - 6 May 1865 
       Press Reports: Chicago Tribune - 22 November 1888 
       Press Reports: Chicago Tribune - 22 November 1888 
       Press Reports: Courier du Canada - 4 November 1857 
       Press Reports: Courier du Canada - 6 November 1857 
       Press Reports: Daily Alta California - 23 November 1888 
       Press Reports: Daily Examiner - 20 November 1888 
       Press Reports: Decatur Daily Herald - 26 June 1889 
       Press Reports: Evening Star - 17 April 1862 
       Press Reports: Evening Star - 19 November 1888 
       Press Reports: Evening Star - 2 June 1865 
       Press Reports: Evening Star - 20 November 1888 
       Press Reports: Evening Star - 30 June 1862 
       Press Reports: Evening Star - 4 December 1861 
       Press Reports: Fort Wayne Weekly Sentinel - 19 November 1890 
       Press Reports: Frederick News - 20 November 1888 
       Press Reports: Galveston Daily News - 7 December 1888 
       Press Reports: Hamilton Evening Times - 8 May 1865 
       Press Reports: Hornesville Weekly Tribune - 21 December 1888 
       Press Reports: Irish Canadian - 12 October 1875 
       Press Reports: Manitoba Daily Free Press - 29 November 1888 
       Press Reports: Manitoba Daily Free Press - 4 December 1888 
       Press Reports: Montreal Pilot - 14 September 1857 
       Press Reports: Montreal Pilot - 16 September 1857 
       Press Reports: Montreal Pilot - 24 September 1857 
       Press Reports: Montreal Pilot - 25 September 1857 
       Press Reports: Montreal Pilot - 26 September 1857 
       Press Reports: Montreal Pilot - 28 September 1857 
       Press Reports: Morning Freeman - 10 July 1860 
       Press Reports: Morning Freeman - 16 October 1860 
       Press Reports: New York Herald - 20 November 1888 
       Press Reports: New York Herald - 21 November 1888 
       Press Reports: New York Herald - 4 December 1888 
       Press Reports: New York Times - 19 November 1888 
       Press Reports: New York Times - 23 November 1888 
       Press Reports: New York Times - 4 December 1888 
       Press Reports: New York Times - 5 May 1865 
       Press Reports: New York Tribune - 4 December 1888 
       Press Reports: New York World - 2 December 1888 
       Press Reports: New York World - 4 December 1888 
       Press Reports: New York World - 6 December 1888 
       Press Reports: Newark Daily Advocate - 30 May 1903 
       Press Reports: Oakland Daily Evening Tribune - 8 December 1890 
       Press Reports: Olean Democrat - 3 January 1889 
       Press Reports: Olean Democrat - 7 February 1889 
       Press Reports: Pittsburgh Daily Chronicle and Telegraph - 27 November 18... 
       Press Reports: Reno Evening Gazette - 20 November 1888 
       Press Reports: Rochester Daily Union and Advertiser - 4 April 1881 
       Press Reports: Rochester Democrat and Chronicle - 23 June 1905 
       Press Reports: San Francisco Chronicle - 23 November 1888 
       Press Reports: San Francisco Daily Morning Call - 23 November 1888 
       Press Reports: San Francisco Examiner - 25 November 1888 
       Press Reports: St. Thomas Weekly Dispatch - 20 March 1862 
       Press Reports: St. Thomas Weekly Dispatch - 28 March 1861 
       Press Reports: Times [London] - 1 December 1873 
       Press Reports: Times [London] - 17 July 1886 
       Press Reports: Trenton Times - 4 December 1888 
       Press Reports: Trenton Times - 6 December 1888 
       Press Reports: Vallejo Chronicle - 20 November 1888 
       Press Reports: Washington Post - 21 March 1905 
       Press Reports: Washington Post - 22 April 1891 
       Press Reports: Williamsport Sunday Grit - 9 December 1888 
       Ripper Media: A Few Passages in the Life of Dr. Francis Tumblety 
       Ripper Media: Narrative of Dr. Tumbletyy 
       Ripper Media: The Writings of Francis Tumblety 
       Victorian London: Batty Street