Dr. Joseph Carrier

1820 - Yes, date unknown

• Name	Joseph Carrier
  Prefix	Dr.
  Born	CA 1820
  Gender	Male
  Interesting	story, medical, scandal
  Scandal	deserted wife
  Occupation	1855	Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
  	doctor
  Occupation	May 1858	, Essex Co., Ontario, Canada
  	associate coroner
  Residence	1859	Amherstburg, Essex Co., Ontario
  Eby ID Number	Waterloo-35281
  Died	Yes, date unknown
  Person ID	I35281	Generations
  Last Modified	1 Dec 2024

  
  

  Family	Mrs.,   b. , Scotland ,   d. Yes, date unknown
  Last Modified	3 Dec 2024
  Family ID	F64025	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Notes

  CARRIER, JOSEPH had his introductory card in the Dumfries Reformer June 13, 1855: Dr. Carrier Graduate of the University of Edinburgh, Licentiate of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Lower Canada, Begs to inform the inhabitants of Galt and surrounding country that he has settled permanently in town. Dr. Carrier has taken Mr. Lowell's house, near the English Church, where he can be consulted at all times on the various branches of his profession. The Dumfries Reformer of March 12, 1856 carried an expanded notice extolling his training and abilities, saying that he: Begs to inform the people of Upper Canada that he has made arrangements which will enable him to pay monthly visits to Toronto, Hamilton, Naigara and other places in the Province in order to give advice to those who may be desirous to consult him on diseases of the heart, Lungs, Stomach and Liver. Dr. C. has devoted several years to the study of these diseases, in the first Universities of Europe and America. Amongst the numerous professors under whom the Doctor has studied, he may mention Dr. Bennet of the University of Edinburgh, allowed by all to be the first authority in Europe on Oscultation (sic) and Percussion. In 1848 Dr. Carrier wrote a treatise on diseases of the chest, which won him a public compliment in the University of Edinburgh. The Doctor invites public enquiry into his Mixtures for diseases of the heart, as well as his Lotion for eruption of the skin. Scrofula, Female Diseases and Fever and Ague particularly attended to. During the two or three days of the Doctors absence each month from Galt a competent person will be left in charge of his practice. Anyone wishing to see his credentials can be satisfied by calling at his residence at Mr. Lowell's house near the English Church. Extending his practice throughout Upper Canada was an ambitious project, but his expectations failed to materialize, His last notice appeared on August 5, 1857; by May of 1858 he had been appointed associate coroner for Essex County. The next news of him appeared on December 21, 1859, when the Dumfries Reformer presented the story for the edification of its readers. DR. CARRIER ELOPES Our readers in Galt and vicinity will regret to learn that Dr. Carrier formerly resident here, has deserted his amiable wife and children, and eloped with one of his patients. Since he left Galt Dr. Carrier has been residing in Amherstberg, a village near Windsor, and we are told was doing well. What could have induced the man to leave his family and bring upon himself such disgrace, we cannot imagine. His unfortunate wife is, we understand, some relation of Sir David Brewster, the eminent Philosopher, and when in Galt was universally esteemed. The following particulars are from the Windsor Chronicle: "Dr. Carrier, a well known medical practitioner in Malden, has committed the unpardonable offence of inducing one of his patients - a young woman belonging to a very respectable family- to elope with him. The doctor on the day preceeding the departure, drew a heavy bill for medical attendance upon the father of the girl, the principal portion of the amount being for attendance upon the young woman herself. He leaves a wife behind him to deplore the misfortune which united her to a man who could while acting professionally, seduce his patient, and thereby bring such heavy affliction upon two families. The morals of the gentlemen connected with the medical profession in England stand higher than that of any other class of men. (the clergy not even excepted), and we are sorry to record this act of villany in connection with a profession which is generally understood to be like Caesar's wife "beyond reproach". " The story of the required retribution appeared in the Detroit Free Press and was quoted by the Galt Reporter of March 30, 1860 under the heading "Detection of Dr. Carrier. " ". . . . . The pair went to Illinois, where the Doctor endeavored to get into practice, but suspicion rested upon them from the mere disparity in their personal appearance and general conduct, and the confidence of the public was withheld to such an extent that they were in very reduced circumstances, and at one time actually suffered from want. The locality of their sojourn finally became known to the deserted wife, who had been left in Malden, and she went thither some weeks since, causing the immediate arrest of her faithless husband on a charge of adultery. With a kindly feeling toward the deluded young lady she gave her some good advice, which led to a correspondence between herself and her parents, and effected a reconciliation. The result of the matter was, that Miss Doughtery returned to her parents, arriving home yesterday morning, and the recreant villain who had caused her ruin was suffered to go at large by the indignant and uncompromising wife, who very properly refused any communication with him. She intends to return to Scotland to her relatives taking her children with her. " Dr. Alexander D. Campbell, Doctors in Waterloo County 1852-1925 _________ WET NURSE. ANY LADY IN GALT or vicinity a wanting strong and healthy Wet Nurse can hear of one by applying to DR. CARRIER. Galt, Aug. 24, 1855 The Hamilton Spectator Mon, Aug 27, 1855 Page 3 _____________ THE LATE RAILWAY DISASTER. (From the Galt Reformer, of Wednesday.) It becomes our melancholy duty to record the most frightful railway accident which ever happened in this vicinity. On Monday afternoon last, about three o'clock, as the Gravel Train employed on the Galt Branch, was passing over the bridge by the old Sawmill in this town, the bridge gave way, precipitating twelve heavily loaded cars into the stream beneath, a distance of nearly twenty feet! When the locomotive (Huron) got about half way across the bridge, the Engineer felt it giving way. With great presence of mind, he instantly put on steam, and although the tender had partially fallen, succeeded in dragging it and one car to the other side. The coupling broke between the first and second cars, and before those on the engine could look around, the cars were plunging into the gulph [sic] beneath, burying three of the brakesmen among the crashing ruins. When we reached the spot, a considerable number of townsmen had already congregated, but the scene which met their eyes was so dreadful, that some little time elapsed, ere united exertions were put forth to clear away the remaining portion of the bridge and the huge wreck of cars, which covered the unfortunate sufferers. It was plainly to be seen however, that no hopes of the lives of any of the three men could be entertained, as even the wheels of many of the cars were broken, the heavy wood work smashed into innumerable splinters, and the whole mass so jammed together that it seemed almost impossible to clear it away. A large crowd of people had by this time arrived who immediately set to work, but it was nearly six o'clock ere the shattered remains of the unfortunate men were extricated. Dr. Carrier was in attendance, by request of the officers of the Great Western Railway, but life had been extinct, long ere the bodies were recovered. NAMES OF THE KILLED, &c. The names of the killed are Thomas Lacy, Conrad Sexton, and John Hartnett. There were three other brakesmen on the train, two of whom miraculously escaped with slight bruises, while the third had fortunately passed over to the locomotive to procure his coat The conductor, engineer and fireman were also on the locomotive, and escaped. It is impossible to describe the positions in which the deceased were found, but they presented touching scene, rendered awful by the cries of relatives, and one which we trust it may never be our lot to witness again. All of the killed could be seen long before the efforts of our townsmen could clear off the broken cars to get them out. Thomas Lacy, who was last extricated, was horribly mutilated, having a frightful gash above the left breast, one leg broken, three fingers off his right hand, and fearfully crushed and bruised. He was on the second car, and on seeing his danger made a bold attempt to escape by jumping, but fell back into the crashing mass and met a most fearful fate. Sexton was found embedded in gravel, both legs being almost crushed off below the knees. John Hartnett, who was married only about five weeks ago, although first taken out, was furthest underneath, having been caught between the wood of some of the cars when within about two feet of the water, which is at this point about eighteen inches deep. He had evidently died from suffocation, as a heavy portion of a car was tightly pressed against his breast, and he appeared to have suffered but little other injury. He alone was visible when the catastrophe happened, and for some little time after showed signs of life. Dr. Carrier, in his evidence before the jury, stated that the immediate cause of the death of all the deceased had been suffocation. The two brakesmen are not seriously wounded, but they both narrowly escaped, one of them particularly so. On his car nearing the broken bridge, he made ready to jump, and caught one of the iron bars, and thus saved himself. The shock was so great this man so and this terrified that it was some hours after ere he was perfectly sensible. THE CORONER'S INQUEST The bodies having been conveyed to the Railway Station, Dr. Kerr, Coroner, proceeded to hold an inquest upon them. The following gentlemen were summoned as a jury. Morris C. Lutz, Eoreman [sic] Theo. Sampson, William Osborne, James Kay. Richard Blain, James Henderson, Francis Lowell, Thomas Sparrow, Thomas Macmillan, J. K. Andrews, R. C. Nicholson, Alex. Scrimger, lsaac Whiting, Wm. Robinson, Alex. Addison, John Barbour After the jury had been duly sworn in, Dr. Carrier Thomas Fullard, engineer, John Wilson, brakesman, and Samuel Smith fireman, were examined, and their evidence corroborated the foregoing facts. After patiently hearing these witnesses, the inquest was adjourned until Friday forenoon next at 10 o'clock, then to meet in the Town Hall. We forbear making any remarks on this melancholy disaster until all the evidence is before the jury. At the present moment it would be imprudent to say anything with regard to the bridge, or who may be to blame in the matter. We have every reason to believe the jury will make a through enquiry into all the circumstances of the accident, and render an impartial verdict. In concluding, we must say it was great mercy that it was not a Passenger train that met with the accident. About an hour previous to the occurrence, the regular mixed train with passengers and freight, passed over the bridge, and it seems almost a special intervention of Providence, that instead of three we had not fifty or sixty killed. Our townsmen deserve praise for the exertions they put forth to extricate the dead. No efforts were spared on their part, and but a very few could be found who did not seem eager to assist in every possible way. Semi-Weekly Spectator, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada Saturday, July 05, 1856 ______________ DENOUEMENT [sic] OF A RUNAWAY AFFAIR. Many of our readers in this city, who were acquainted with the parties concerned, will remember the runaway affair which occurred at Malden last fall, in which a young lady of education and high social position, named Miss Maggie Dougherty, was so far led astray as to elope with a married man, one Dr. Carrier, who had occupied the position of family physician, and who took advantage of his facilities to ingratiate himself into her favor while personating the most friendly relations with the family. The pair went to Illinois, where the doctor settled and endeavored to get into practice, but suspicion rested upon them from the mere disparity in their personal appearance and general conduct, and the confidence of the public was withheld to such an extent that they were very much reduced in circumstances, and at times actually suffered from want. The locality of their sojourn finally became known to the deserted wife, who had been left at Malden, and she went thither some weeks since, causing the immediate arrest of her faithless husband on a charge of adultery. With a kindly feeling towards the deluded young lady she gave her good advice, which led to a correspondence between herself and her parents, and effected a reconciliation. The result of the matter was, that Miss Dougherty returned to her parents, arriving at home yesterday morning, and the recreant villain who had caused her ruin was suffered to go at large by the indignant and uncompromising wife, who very properly refused any communication with him. She intends to return to her relatives in Scotland, taking her children with her. The whole affair has been a sad one, and the denouement is but the culmination of inevitable consequences following the first act, yet the irretrievabie ruin which has been wrought cannot but arrest the attention and warn those who would err under the impulse of passion. Detroit Free Press Detroit, Michigan Fri, Mar 16, 1860 Page 1 ____________ A TREACHEROUS PHYSICIAN. Dr. Garrier [sic], who eloped from Malden, C. W., with Miss Dougherty, the young, beautiful and accomplished daughter of a retired British army officer, had been the young lady's medical adviser. While taking care of her health he corrupted her heart. The Doctor left a wife and four children. The Doctor had the impudence to secure, on the previous day, $300 which was due to him from the young lady's father for medical attendance on herself, which amount he appropriated towards the expenses of carrying her off. The Louisville Daily Courier Sat, Dec 24, 1859 Page 4

  
  

• Event Map

  Occupation - doctor - 1855 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Occupation - associate coroner - May 1858 - , Essex Co., Ontario, Canada Residence - 1859 - Amherstburg, Essex Co., Ontario  = Link to Google Earth