“We have your Honor”, the foreman answered. The judge nodded and the foreman continued. “We, the jury find the defendant, Daniel David Palmer, guilty as charged.” The court buzzed and the judge again rapped his gavel. “Has the defendant anything to say in his behalf?”
“May I be allowed to address the court?” D.D. asked. The judge consented. D.D. walked slowly to where the jury sat and looked at each person slowly. Many of them lowered their eyes. “You may have judged me, gentlemen, having in mind some of my actions that have taken place while I lived in Davenport for the past 30 years. This would not be fair, as you were told I was being tried for practicing medicine without license. I cannot change your verdict, but I would like it known to you and all who sit in this courtroom, that the only thing I have done wrong was in getting sick people well where medicine failed. If sick people had been able to get well under medicine, they would not have tried the method which I have discovered. If they had not gotten well under my care, these same people would not have to come back.
“I am not guilty,” he shouted, making people in court jump. “Medicine is guilty…for not getting these sick people well.”
“Our ancestors came to this country and fought for freedom.” He continued in a soft, passionate voice. “I believe freedom also constitutes a patient having his choice in a doctor and to select the type of healing his intelligence finds best to regain his health. Because medicine has failed in these cases, do these pool souls have to spend the rest of their lives suffering?”
D.D. raised both his hands, fingers outstretched, palms towards the jury. With a look on his face of strong conviction, his long hair hanging loosely, Dan said, “As long as I have these two hands and there are sick people to get well, I will use them.”
No comments:
Post a Comment