Handiwork Rewarded

Scallawaggery received its punishment in a Chicago court last week. Some 20 years ago one Peter Grimes broke his leg at Waterloo, Iowa. He became young Dr. Joseph Ambrose Jerger's first case. Dr. Jerger mended the leg with metal plates and, a good artist, scratched his name on the plates. His fee was $500. Peter Grimes did not pay. Pleading poverty, he disappeared.

Over a year ago, in Chicago, Peter Grimes had the same leg rebroken, this time by a pie wagon. By chance Dr. Jerger, now practicing in Chicago, was called to amputate the leg. He was delighted to recognize his old handiwork. Again Peter Grimes disappeared. But this time he was comparatively rich from his accident award. Dr. Jerger, vexed by certain meannesses in Peter Grimes's behavior, sued, not for the old $500 which of course was outlawed, but for his new fee (TIME, March 23).

In court last week the details came out. Doctors were pleased. For in every doctor's career there are Peter Grimeses. At the time of the man's amputation, he needed blood transfusions. His relatives refused blood or money for blood. Dr. Jerger persuaded internes to donate blood. He paid them $75 of his own money for each pint of blood. Peter Grimes, healed, got some $20,000 as damages, bought himself a motor car, shipped it to Greece where for a time he lived luxuriously. Then back to Chicago. The jury last week did not pity him for the leg he lacked. They gave Dr. Jerger a judgment of $315 and costs.

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