$6,960 IS BIG FEE DEMANDED BY PHYSICIAN
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Dr. Walter H. Fearn Threatens to Sue for Month's
Attendance at "Konoyah"
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Bill Represents Charge of $10 an Hour during
Detention at Millionaire's Home
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Milos
Mitrov Gopcevic, Who Married Heiress When a Motorman, Asked to Pay
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From the lonely
confines of the famous "Konoyah" estate in the Lake county, where dwells
wealthy Milos Mitrov Gopcevic, the millionaire, at one time a blue clad, hard
working gripman on the Sacramento street cable line, there came yesterday the
story of a most unusual happening — an occurrence which may be aired soon
in the courts of San Francisco, with Dr. Walter H. Fearn, a well known Lake
county physician and Gopcevic as the central figures. Gopcevic will be
remembered as the gripman who married Miss Floyd, the heiress.
For 696 hours,
or 29 days, Dr. Fearn alleges, he was a prisoner in the home of Gopcevic, where
he had gone to treat the millionaire's brother. For each of these hours the
physician wants $10 each, which, he claims, is justly due him as a special fee
covering, as he declares, "unusual detention" in the famous "Konoyah" mansion.
For 696 hours Dr. Fearn says he was kept from his patients, who charged that he
forsook them to become the private attendant of a rich man. All these things
and minor allegations have been made in a sensational statement, made by Dr.
Fearn to a legal firm, in whose hands he has placed his case. He firm will
bring suit for $6,960 against one of the most fortunate cable car gripman who
ever breasted the chilling fogs of the Western addition.
PATIENTS' ALLEGED NEGLECT
The splendor of
"Konoyah" mansion held no prize for Dr. Fearn, although he had servants at his
beck and call, priceless paintings to be studied when his patient rested easily
and countless modes of recreation. But ever present in the doctor's mind, he
says, were suffering patients whom he could not reach and he was stirred to
indignation. When he attempted to persuade Gopcevic to permit him to leave the
place he says he was confronted by violent entreaties. "You can not go. You
must save the life of my brother Peter." Fearn says that his suggestions were
met with emphatic promises.
"I will pay
whatever price you say," said Gopcevic, according to the physician, and Fearn
declares that when he agreed to remain for $10 an hour Gopcevic offered no
objection.
"You do not
doubt that I can pay your bill?" anxiously quizzed the millionaire. "I am a
rich man, but to leave my brother to a horrible death in these lonely parts
would break my heart."
And so Fearn
remained. For a whole month Dr. Fearn treated Peter Gopcevic and at the
expiration of that time the sick man arose from his bed and departed for
another part of the state.
PHYSICIAN PRESENTS BILL
The sad sequel,
sad at least for Dr. Fearn, came when the physician presented his claim for
services. Upon a regulation billhead, in the doctor's handwriting, the
following statement was sent to Gopcevic:
"Milos M.
Gopcevic to Dr. Walter H. Fearn.
"September 1,
1907.
"To unusual
detention from 7 p.m., September 1, to 6 a.m., September 29, being continued
attendance on P. M. Gopcevic at the request of M. M. Gopcevic, 696 hours, at
$10 per hour, $6,960."
According to
Dr. Fearn there never has been any reply to this statement, other than
occasional small checks. Continued silence on the part of Gopcevic led Fearn to
place the matter in the hands of a legal firm, and now, it is stated, a lawsuit
is to follow.
"M. M. Gopcevic
sent for me and told me not to inform his brother of my visit, but to tell him
I was called to see one of the help," said Fearn. "When, on the next morning,
when I was ready to leave he wanted me to stay. I explain how much damage it
would be to my standing in the community if I did so. He cared nothing for
that.
"I explained
that it would be an expensive proposition, telling him that detention fees are
$10 an hour. He did not care what it would cost, and if I did not stay he would
send for some one else in San Francisco and probably his brother would be dead
by that time.
"He agreed to
pay the fee — I stayed. 'I want you to stay right here,' said M.
Gopcevic, 'until my brother is well. I don't care what it's going to cost. Are
you afraid you won't get your money?' I then had to stay right there until his
brother was well, which was September 29."
BUSINESS LOSS CAUSED
Concerning the
loss of business sustained, Fearn said: "That enforced absence from my business
has been a great loss and made me many enemies in this community, who state
that I left them at a critical moment to serve a man with more money, and I
have not yet been able to retrieve the ground I lost; so for that sacrifice,
the forced detention and loss of business ought to count for something, as my
fee is in accordance with the regular charges set by physicians in this state.
"All of this
was explained to M. Gopcevic, who insisted on keeping me in his home. I have as
witness a nurse and Gopcevic's hired man, who got me, with strict orders not to
return without the doctor.
"I had to
travel 11 miles across the lake with heavy winds against me, and was always wet
though by spray going over in the open launch."
It was while he
was gripman at $3 a day on the old Sacramento street cable line Gopcevic met
Miss Harry Floyd, a brilliant young heiress, living in Sacramento street. From
a casual acquaintance there grew a loving friendship and Gopcevic left his
humble job to wed Miss Floyd. A year after marriage the heiress died, leaving
her entire estate, valued at more than $900,000, with the exception of a few
minor bequests, to her husband. A bitter contest for the beautiful Lake county
property followed, but Gopcevic was victorious.
All that he
says about Dr. Fearn statement is: "I did it for the love of my brother."
The San Francisco Call,
Monday, November 9, 1908, p. 1:3