The herald., 1895-03-23
Testimony Given by the Brother
of the Husband
HAS NO USE FOR DOCTORS
Cook Describes His Peculiar Methods
of Treatment
PRAyS WITH PATIENT TO ALLAY FEAR
If Possible, Somebody Will Be Punished for
the Criminal Carelessness Resulting
in hrs. Samis' Death

If it is possible, somebody will be pun
shed for the criminal negl ect to which /
due the death OF Mrs. Alice Samis, tn
young wife of the Whittier blacksmith
the story of which was printed in yester
days Herald. The testimony before the
coroner's jury yesterdsay showed pretty
clearly who was guilty of this careless S
ness. At least that is what the member
of the jury thought, for they brought in
verdict which definitely fixes the blam'
on Jesse Samis. the husband and Rich
ard Cook, the Christian Science healer
Here is the verdict word for word:
I'VE, the jury, find that Mrs. Alice
Samis came to her death through blood
poisoning. owing to the criminal neg lect o
her husband, Jesse Samis and one Rich
ard Cook, through the practice of Christ
ian Science, and neglecting the ordinary
means Of cleanliness and disinfecton.
There is no mistake about that verdict
The jurymen believed that tue men
named we're morally responsible for the
poor woman's death. Coroner Campbell
and Humane Officer Wright will see
whether they are not legally responsible.
The matter will be looked into by. the
District Attorney today, and very likely
will be presented to the grand jury for
consideration.
There was good deal of testimony
brought before the coroner's jury. and
some of it was extremely interesting. Be-
fore the inquest was begun. however an
AUTOPSY was performed and the organs
found in a horrible condition. 1t was
clearly evident that not the slightest effort
had been made to cleanse the wound nor
TO check the progress of blood poisoning.
Jesse Samis. the widower, was not
placed on the stand He sent word to the
coroner that he was i'll. His brother,
however, was sworn as a witness. Like
the blacksmith, he is an ardent believer
in the doctrine of Christian science, and
expressed the belief that the method of
prayer and faith was the only one with
winch to combat disease. Coroner
Campbell asked him whether he had not
suggested that physician be called when
he saw how i'll his sister-in-law was.
Very emphatically he replied thaG he had
not, because at no time did he think it
necessary. She was being treated, he
said. under the rules OF Christian science,
which he believed much more efficacious
than anything that could be done by a
regular practicing physician.
had called on Mrs. Samis at various
times during her illness, were placed on
the stand. Everyone expressed the ut
most contempt for physicians and doctors
and insisted that Christian science is the
only way that sickness can be cured
Mrs. Hatch, Mrs. Armstrong and Mrs.
Isabel all testified that they had seen Mrs
Sams in her delirium but that they were
perfectly satisfied because she was under
going treatment at the hands of Dr.
Cook, noted Christian scientist.
Mrs. Cook, the.wife of the man who
was called to attend Mrs. Samis, was
sworn. She testified about the same as
the other women.
DIR. Campbell questioned sthem pretty
closely as to their belie1s and reasons
for holding such doctrine. He asked
those who had been mothers what treat
ment they had been under during confine.
ment, and every one of them answered
that she had received the benefit OF the
services of regular physician. But
they said that was before they knew any
thing about Christian science, which
they had since learned was the only true
way to cure disease and sickness. Rich
ard Cook, who lives at 2l7 West Twenty
first street, Los Angeles, is pleasant
looking man, perhaps 40 years of age. He
things but is very strong in his belief in
the efficacy of Christian science. He is
the man who attended Mrs. Samis in her
last sickness. Yesterday he told the cor.
oner and the jury how he had received
telephone message asking him to come to
w Hlbllcl W dbbtuu MIS-, CdIlllS. NAT WAS
after her baby was born. He went out
and gave her treatment. Cook ex-
planned at some length the nature of a
treatment. 1t consists principally of
prayer and an endeavor to soothe the
patient and allay his or her illness.
"Chrstian Scientists, - said he, "be-
leve that all disease and sickness is due
to fear OF some sort. On that account we
pray with them and urge them to forget
their fears and believe themselves to be
well That is what | did with Mrs.
Samis. | did advise at one time that a
regular physician be called in, and Dr.. ]. |
b. Cook of Whittier was summoned. He |
made brief examination of the patient
and stated that there was no danger
am not a Physician myself, nor do !
claim to be. simply practice Christian |
Cook stated that as Christian Scientist
he did not believe in any of the methods |
usually employed by physicians in similar
cases such as irrigation, application of
lisinfectants, etc. He just urged the pa
iient not to be afraid but to Get well. He
tailed to explain, however, how he could
make Mrs. Samis understand what he was
talking about while she was tossing about.
and screaming in delirium.
DR.. J. b. Cook of Whittier. regular
testified that he had been
,alled in, but did no more than examine
The pulse of his patient. At that time she
lid not appear to have any fever. He did
not examine the patient very closely on
account of the surroundings.
Humane Officer Wright testified as to
lis efforts to have Samis call a doctor,
and some other evidence was presented.
1t appears that for some time before
ler death Mrs Samis was so delirious
rom the extreme pain that it WAS neces-
,ary for two or three people to hold her
lown.
Coroner Campbell says that there is a
GOOD deal OF feeling against Samis among
his neighbors, and that the Christian Sci
'ntists, OF whom there are quite IA num-
'er IN the town are also regarded with
,ood deal of displeasure.