Dr. Charles B. Lesher & Dr. Mabel G. Lesher

DR. CHARLES BYRON LESHER and his wife, DR. MABEL GRIER LESHER, practiced medicine and taught in Camden for many years.

Charles Byron Lesher was born in Council Bluffs, Iowa on May 31, 1878, one of five children born to Charles H. and Edith Lesher. His parents, natives of Pennsylvania, returned there shortly after his birth. His father was a farmer. Charles Byron Lesher graduated from Northumberland PA High School in 1897 and from there went to Bucknell University, where he graduated in 1901. He studied medicine at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, receiving his M.D. in 1908. He apparently married fellow doctor Mabel Grier, a classmate at Bucknell, shortly after the 1910 Census. Dr. Lesher interned at St. Agnes Hospital in Philadelphia, then spent the next two years as an intern at Cooper Hospital in Camden.

Mabel Grier Lesher was born in Salem NJ on July 30, 1880. She graduated from Salem High School in 1897, and like her husband, Bucknell in 1901, then on to John Hopkins University School of Medicine where she completed her studies in 1905. She interned at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital in Syracuse NY prior to her marriage. The Lesher’s daughter, Mabel, was born in Syracuse on August 1, 1909.

The family had settled in Philadelphia at 5624 Kingsessing Avenue when Dr. Charles Lesher registered for the draft in September of 1918, and were at 4606 Springfield Avenue by the end of 1919. They were in general practice and Charles Lesher was doing some surgery, and in 1918 completed some post-graduate work at the Polyclinic Hospital in Philadelphia. His wife received specialized training from the United States Public Health Service in 1920. Between 1910 and 1927 the Drs. Leshers spent time in China with a hospital affiliated with the American Baptist missions. Dr. Lesher was director of the Chaoyany Dispensary and Kit-yang Hospital, Kit-yang, South China up until 1927. Dr. Mabel Lesher was Physician in charge of the Women’s Clinic, Kit yang Hospital from 1922 to 1925; then was employed as physician by the Shanghai American School in Shanghai, China from 1925 to 1927. She also taught at the Women’s Medical College at Shanghai in 1926 and 1927.

The Lesher’s returned to the United States in June of 1927 via England aboard the SS Berengaria. They eventually settled at 331 Penn Street in Camden. Their daughter, Mabel, graduated from Camden High School and then, in June of 1933, from Bucknell University. Dr. Charles Lesher went back into practice. Dr. Mabel Lesher, after receiving training from the American Social Hygiene Association in 1927 and 1928, followed a career in education. She taught at Camden High School, Clara Burrough Junior High School, was professor of social Hygiene at New York University, Rutger’s University, Trenton State Teacher’s College; Temple University, in 1946 at the University of Utah, and the Teacher’s College of Rhode Island.

Besides being with his wife a member of the Camden County Medical Association, Dr. Charles Lesher was a member of the China Medical Missionary Association. Dr. Mabel Lesher was active with the American Social Hygiene Association. The author of several books and articles, she was, without a doubt, a pioneer in the field of social hygiene, what we today would call sex education.

Dr. Charles Lesher gained a bit of unwanted notoriety when he was prosecuted on drug charges in 1930, for prescribing narcotics to a known addict. The charges were dismissed on the day of the trial.

The Leshers were still at 331 Penn Street as late as 1947. Dr. Charles B. Lesher passed away in 1951. In 1958 Dr. Mabel Grier Lesher was awarded the Service to Humanity Award by the Bucknell University Alumni Association. Last a resident of Lewisburg PA, Dr. Mabel Lesher passed away in 1969.

Dr. Charles B. Lesher, being a duly licensed physician, did unlawfully administer, give and prescribe a certain quantity of a preparation, admixture or compound containing morphine, or a salt, derivative or chemical compound of morphine unto Doris Jenkins, known to him to be a habitual user thereof, said preparation, admixture and compound not having been then and there administered for the cure or treatment of some malady other than the drug habit to the evil example of all others in like case offending, contrary to the form of the statute provided, against the peace of this state and government, and the dignity of the same.

Prosecutor Baldwin read the indictments into the court records to be submitted to the Supreme Court. The anti-narcotic act is contained in Chapter 301, laws of 1929, supplement to the Crimes Act. It reads:

“No physician or dentist shall sell, dispense, administer, distribute, give or prescribe any drugs to any person known to him to be a habitual user of any said drugs, unless said drug is administered, distributed, given or prescribed for the cure or treatment of some malady other than the drug habit;

Provided, however, that if any physician desires to undertake in good faith the cure of the habit of taking or using opium or any of its derivatives in any form, said physician may prescribe or dispense opium or any of its derivatives to the patient;

“Provided that such opium or its derivatives are prescribed, dispensed in good faith for the purpose of curing such patient of such habit and not merely for the purpose of satisfying the craving for drugs.

Dr. Lesher was arrested January 22 last, shortly after he had appeared before Police Judge Pancoast as a witness in the hearing of Mrs. Jenkins, who was charged with attempting to abandon her child a second time.

Dr. Lesher testified at the last hearing of the woman before Judge Pancoast that she came to his office on August 13 last and complained of severe internal pains. After learning of her condition, the physician said he advised an operation, but she said she could not afford it.

Mrs. Jenkins, according to Dr. Lesher, owes him $1080 for drugs and services which she has made no attempt to pay.

The physician’s records of Mrs. Jenkins in possession of the prosecutor’s office are said to show that he had given her 300 hypodermic injections.

Dr. Mabel Grier Lesher, social science instructor for girls in Camden senior and junior high schools, will take part as a teacher in the 1933 program at the Chautauqua (N. Y.) Summer School.

Miss Lesher will instruct in social science at the Chautauqua Institution, conducting their sixtieth annual six weeks’ courses.

Dr. Mabel Grier Lesher, of 321 Penn Street, accompanied by her daughter, Miss Mabel Lesher, a recent graduate of Bucknell University, leaves today for Chautauqua, N. Y., to remain until the end of August.

For the second consecutive year, Dr. Lesher will conduct a lecture course at the Chautauqua Summer School on “Adolescent Adjustment.” The course is planned for teachers, parents and social workers. It is accredited by the New York University.