
“Theodore Stimel, hailing from Ironton, was found by Dr. Davidson, last Tuesday, lying on the cmmonds, in a high stage of fever, and was removed to the hospital yard, where a small house was erected for his especial occupancy. Later it was ascertained that Stimel had the smallpox, and was kicked out of Ironton by the authorities. Stimel, from his own story and that learned from the Ironton papers, got drunk, quarreled with his wife; and to have revenge, spent the night at the pest-house, where he was inoculated with smallpox, saying that he was going to spread the disease over the entire block in which he lived. Next day he appeared before the Mayor, and was ordered to leave the city at once. He went to Chillicothe, and afterwards returned to this city.”

“Stimel’s own story condemns him, and if, as he admits, he purposely slept in the pest-house in order to catch the smallpox and inoculate his family and the entire block in which he lived, and afterwards by being compelled to leave town, visit Portsmouth and Chillicothe, (when he knew he had been exposed to the dread disease), with a view to spreading it, his pure cussedness ough hardly be overlooked, and instead of being kindly cared for, he ought to have a millstone fastened to his neck, and be drowned in the Ohio river.”
“As for the authorities at Ironton, they have not acted squarely in this matter. One more case added to their serious siege of smallpox would make little material difference; but a patient driven here or elsewhere, is apt to carry the disease to thousands. Ironton was prepared for it. Stimel should have stayed there.”1