Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-07-07
DIVINE HEALING.
A Case Where 1t Failed to Operate
successfully.

A Case Where 1t Failed to Operate
successfully.
AT 2 o'clock yesterday afternoon, the
hour set by Coroner Meredith for the in
quiry into the cause of death of Howard
Shepard, 2-year-old child, the under
taking parlors of Messrs. Nickelson 4
Chase on Second street were crowded
with interested spectators of both sexes,
most OF whom were members of the East
Side Holiness church. The examination
of the witnesses, of whom about thirty
had been subpened, was conducted by
Deputy District Attorney B. M. Marble
and all the testimony WAS taken by a
stenographer.
The first witness sworn was Mrs.
Laura Sherard. She testified that she
was the wife of the Rev. William E.
Shepard, and that they lived together at
No 73 Workman street, in East Los An
geles. About two weeks ago her husband
was taken sick, and was obliged to take to
his bed, but she did not know what dis
ease he was suffering from, although
several persons had pronounced it diph-
liberia. No physician was called in, be-
cause both she and her husband were
firm believers in divine healing; but, as
the sick man grew worse, Sisters Boyer,
Hill and Foley, and Brethren Ashford,
Foster, Hill and Jeffreys were called in
to pray on behalf of their beloved pastor,
and in a short time the disease left him,
compelled him to remain in bed, he
completely recovered. A few days
ago their little SOD, Howard, a
child aged two years and eight
months, who was playing about
the house, Was attacked by the same
malady and high fever set in on Tues
day night. On Wednesday evening,
however, Sister Boyer prayed over the
sick child, and in a miraculous way the
fever subsided suddenly before her first
prayer was concluded. Little Howard
got up the next day as usual and ran
about the house apparently entirely re-
covered, but on Thursday night he had a
relapse and died in very few hours in
spite of all the prayers of the believers.
She explained that she did not realize
that anything serious allied the child
until the night OF it's death. When asked
to explain the theory of Divine Healing,
Mrs. Shepard quoted numerous passages
of Scripture on which their faith was
based, but further said that it would be
impossible for an unbeliever to uLder-
stand it's true inwardness.
Mrs. Foley, the next witness called,
said that she had been believer for the
past five years, and had discarded physi-
clans because she thought God was bet
ter able to cure than they. She corrobo-
rated the testimony of Mrs. Shepard.
Miss Emma Boyer, who lived with her
parents at 73 Workman street, where the
Shepsrds also resided, was one of the
The most interesting witnesses, and she
interspersed her testimony with quota.
tions from Holy Writ in manner which
showed that she must have made the
matter subject of no little study and re-
search. After reciting the facts con-
nected with the question at issue, and
her efforts to save the child's life by
praying for its recovery, she
stated that she did not believe that
the boy had diphtheris, but was
of the opinion that he was suffering from
bad cold only. She said that she was
one Of the charter members of the Di-
vine Healing organization, which was
founded six years ago, and that formerly
she belonged to the Methodist Church.
When asked what led her to pray at the
child's bedside, she quickly replied,
"The Lord" She denied having re-
ceived any compensation for her services,
that every member should help the rest
as far as lay in his power. She further
said that if she had known of the Lord
sooner, she would not be as she was, and
lifting her right arm with difficulty, she