"DR." TUMBLETY Another Rochester Character Acquires Unenviable Distinction - W. H. Seward's Friend in a Prison Cell.
Another Rochester Character Acquires Unenviable Distinction - W. H. Seward's Friend in a Prison Cell.
The "Dr." Francis Tumblety mentioned in the UNION'S Southern Notes yesterday for having come to grief in New Orleans for picking the pocket of a government clerk, appears to be not altogether unknown in this city. In fact, circumstances point to the renowned "blood disease" doctor, having been none other than, "Dr." Frank Tumblety, formerly of this city, where he first entered on his career as a healer. Those who knew him say that he acquired all of his knowledge of medicine from the late "Dr." Reynolds. proprietor of "Lispenard's Hospital," devoted to the treatment of special diseases. Tumblety was employed at the "hospital" to sweep the floor and do similar necessary work. He then disappeared from Rochester for a time and when he was next heard from by Rochester men he was parading himself as one of General McClellan's staff at Washington. He was not on the staff, but dressed as near like an officer as he dare, and would follow the General's staff on horseback at a safe distance. When the Thirteenth Regiment was at Fort Corcoran, Tumblety came around mounted on a fine Arabian horse and when the men who knew him asked where he got it his answer was "My friend Billy Seward gave it to me." The late Secretary of State had about this time received a gift of horses from abroad and the "Doctor's" story may have been true. Tumblety subsequently travelled through the States and Canada where he acquired quite notoriety by giving food to the poor in great quantities. In one Canadian city he distributed three thousand loaves of bread and was making a great deal of money by administering nostrums to fools. He also appeared in New York and attracted attention by his brazen manners. It was his custom to stop at some good hotel, keep one or two lackeys in attendance when he walked out, dress in extravagant costume and change his attire several times a day. If the statement about his arrest is true, it is about what might be expected would happen to the mountebank.
