On This Date in Minnesota History: January 7

January 7, 1902 – The bold unbelievers who insisted that they would go to prison before they allowed themselves to be vaccinated, were very meek when they appeared in the Minneapolis police court this morning.

C. H. Kelly and Dr. T. L. Hedderley, were both found in a home on Nicollet Ave. where a case of smallpox has been found, and removed to quarantine, and Charles Johnson was found at a local hotel, where another case was located. All three refused to be vaccinated.

Johnson was fined $10. Sentence was suspended to let him get back home to his sick child. Judge Dickinson advised him to have himself passed by the health department and he hastened to comply.

Dr. Hedderley pleaded guilty, but he was examined by the court. Judge Dickinson gave the three men some wholesome advice.

At first Mr. Kelly was inclined to pay his fine and resist, but when he found that if he paid his fine, they would still insist upon vaccinating him, and if he refused, arrest him again, he submitted. Fines of $10 were imposed in both cases, and they turned themselves over to the health department representatives.

The Minneapolis Tribune; “Each Pay Fine of $10. Two Men Who Refused to be Vaccinated—Another Released.”; Jan. 8, 1902; p. 6.

Smallpox

http://www.amnh.org/explore/science-topics/disease-and-eradication/countdown-to-zero/smallpox

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