The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-12-03

Preliminary trials OF much Importance
took place in the Sixth district court be-
fore Judge Sweetland tbs morning. as
they involved according to the opinion
OF the counsel for the defendants. con
stitutional question affecting the right to
worship God and do the Masters bidding
according to the teaching of tho Bible.
The command was to go into the world
and heal the sick and this command was
being obeyed by Christie n Scientists.
That the subject was of vitol interest To
Il large mum Ter of some of the best known
citizens was made manifest by the pres
ence in the court room of more than a
hundred ladies and gentlemen who prob
ably never were in the place before and
are not likely TO DO there aR ain unless IL
becomes necessary TO defend their faith
in similar manner They sat through
the nauseating details OF assaults, Italian
cutting affray details and the minor
offences that go to make up the bulk of
business in this court.
The place swarmed with police officials,
detectives, witnesses from the scum side
Of society and criminals and vicious per-
sons OF varying degree. The presence Of
men and women of gentle breeding be
t0kened that something unusual and ex-
It consisted OF the preliminary trial of
w. E Mylod, Christian Science healer, Al
Hudson street, and David Anthony,
Christian Science healer. 33 Westminster
street. These gentleman were arrested by
members OF the detective force last Satur-
day through the agency OF the State
Board OF Health under the state law pro-
hibting any person from practioipg the
art OF healing unless provided with a Ger.
tifSate authorizing the same from the
State Board OF Health. The gentlemen
named Were not In possession of such GER
tiflcates or licenses. and now the Chris
tian Scientists Of this city. numbering in
all about TO- 900, propose to find out II the
constitution will uphold the law as inter.
preted by the State Board of Health. Mr.
Henry >. Taft Of 20 Exchange Place was
also arrested by the detectives for the
same alleged offence, but Attorney
Spooner was not ready TO proceed with
the trial and IL was postponed for one
week.
Attorney Walter L. Angel appeared for
Mr. Anthcny and Attorney George A.
Littlefield was counsel for Mr.. Mylod.
Mr.. Lttlefleld was ready and so was Mr..
AnRolL MIR. Mylod's case was beard first
but as the testimony was practically the
same In both cases and taken so IL could
be certified to and sent TO the appellate
division of the Supreme Court, its final
reviewed together.
DIR. Swarts. secretary OF the State Board
| of Health stated that the persons com
| planned OF had never been granted
license or authority to practice
medicine and that Warrant
charged practicing medicine and surgery
without authority. There was the as
| sumption TO treat disease for fee and re-
ward. lie gave the following definition
| OF practicinR: The ATTEMPT Co cure dis
ease in every form by any means. lie sd-
| mitted that there were about 80 persons
practicing medicine in this city who were
| not regular physicians. There are no
| Christian Science heolers in that list
! The latter could not pass the necessary
| medical examination. The me, form
| ing the 60 alluded TO were practlcing be-
fore the law was passed in 1899 and the
state board OF health had not interfered
| with them.
This admission showed that there was
| politics in the work OF the legislature
when the bill restricting the practice Of
medicine TO the graduated physician able
TO pass an examination received the sane
tion necessary TO MAKE law. Dr. Swarts
stated that the defendant had ATTEMPTED
to cure disease and he knew this by state
ments by other persons. He had never
applied for n license. III IL could be shown
that he was an honorable ractitoner be-
fore January, 1892. he would never have
Deen disturbed. The witness also said
that 10 was not necessary To administer
drugs Many cases are treated by regular
doctors without the use of drugs.
Everstt HULA policeman, and Clarence
j.. Vaughn, boy employed as police
messenger in the city hall. were tie
persons VINO obtained the evidence against
Messrs. Anthony and Mylod They went
TO the headquarters Of the Christian
Scientists and pretended tn be afflicted
witt disease, and To make their spy work
complete they resorted To- deliberate false
hood TO deceive the Gen who were actual
ed by Christian desire TO do them good
and possibly heal them of ailment
Both witnesses detailed the process they
saw of accomplishing the cures and they
agreed that M drugs were used and that
the treatment apparently onsisted of
silent prayer in their behalf
Each paid 81. and the regular fec was
80 week. Both recsivod pamphlet
setting forth the objects and aims of the
science. Two visits were made at differ
ent times and they were fof the OBJECT OF
securing evidence.
Both were instructed to be cheerful