Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 224, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 September 1914 — Finds Two Stout Hands Where One Was Claimed [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Finds Two Stout Hands Where One Was Claimed

SAN FRANCISCO, CAL. —"Dear Doctor —Before taking your water cure I had only one hand, my heart was weak and I was a victim of several other evils that flesh is heir to. Now I have both my hands and feel so well that

I am taking light exercise every day.” This testimonial should be signed by William Atkinson. He stood at the Southern Paciflo terminal the other day with a handkerchief stuffed In his sleeve where one of his hands should have been. He displayed this to passersby while he extended the other hand for alms. “Help an old railroader," ha whined. "My hand was cut off In a wreck.”

“Let’s see,” said Detective Charles Welling, as he grasped Atkinson’s aim and turned back the sleeve, disclosing a hand that a “White Hope’’ might be proud to own. Atkinson was arrested and arraigned before Judge Fisher. He said he was forty-two yearß old. "Why don’t you w r ork?” the Judge asked. “Becatise I am an orphan and have a weak heart,” Atkinson replied. Dr. Henry Steiple, police ambulance surgeon, was ordered to examine Atkinson. He did so, keeping him at arm’s length. "He doesn’t need medicine," the doctor reported. "A good hot bath, with plenty of soap, will cure almost any ailment he is suffering from and will make his hand visible. That is not his hand we are looking at, but something on the outside of it. The real hand is underneath." “Ten dollars and costs," said the Judge, and Atkinson was led away to be sent to the bridewell, where his first experience will be a hot bath.