The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-11-13
A CHRISTIAN SCIENCE FANATIC.
Pclice officers of Providence Inter
fere to Save the Life of One.
From the Providence Journal


From the Providence Journal
AT 1:S0 o'clock afternoon "Dr." E. H.
Greene, the Christian Scientist, after much
urging from Chief of Police Baker. went
70 the bedside of Mrs. William M. Will
ward, who has lain at her house. % Chap
in avenue, for ten days refusing to eat or
drink or speak.
In three minutes he brought her out of
her condition, so that she spoke. and ate
and drank for the first time since a week
ago Friday Before entering this condi-
ton, into which she has fallen several
times, she said she wished most earnestly
to see DIR" Greene. And such devoted
follower of his faith is she that she has
given the most explicit orders not to al
low physician to approach her
Capt. Marston, who lives a few houses
from the woman, heard of her state, he
came fearful of her death by starvation If
some medical attention were not soon given
her, and reported the case to Chief Baker
The head of the police insisted that a Dhy-
sician be ordered, and to obey him her
stepsister, who is caring for the fasting
woman, now fallen away TO little more
than a skeleton, with a thin covering of
skin, summoned DR.. George s. Matthews.
He could not get Mrs. Willward to touch
any food or to utter a word.
Capt Marston meantime went to Chris
tan Scientist f. H. Greene, who lives at
SO Angel street, and is head reader of
the First Chamber of Christ Scientists
$50 Bowen street, and the officer said that
something must be done. DIR" Greene
replied that he thought so, TOO, but he told
his visitor that he had given the case lp.
He hadn't the least objection to her having
a physician to attend her
Medical Examiner Palmer and nr Mat
thews spent most Of Friday afternoon try
ing TO get Mrs. Willward out of her dumb
fasting, but they made not the least prog
ress. Then they decided that unless the
woman should come out of her spell bv
the next day she would have to be ad-
judged insane and put in some asylum
So all that night her stepsister and an
other attendant begged her to speak and
TO take some nourishment. They told her
that her life was in danger unless she
stopped her folly, and they impressed upon
her that the consequences of her refusal
would be that she would have to be taken
from her home and placed in the Butler
Hospital for, the Insane. But Mrs. Will
ward, the believer in Christian Science.
continued to starve and still refused to
quench her thirst or to make one articu-
late sound.
In the morning Chief Baker summoned
Or" Greene to his Office. 1t was time.
he thought, for something final Such a
state could not long continue. Among the
physicians who visited her there seemed to
be the opinion that Mrs. Willward was
deranged on the subject of Christian
Science. She had spoken of DR." Greene
very often before she began her strange
silence, and even during her peculiar i'll
ness she had made signs that showed her
desire to see the well-known teacher So
they thought that she might come out of
her fit if he would visit her as she an
peared to believe that he had for her some
powerful revelation. This was the thought
that prompted Chief Baker to request
Doctor" Greene to try to help the woman
The Christian Scientist obstinately re-
fused for some time evidently fearing
that the police were trying to incrminate
him. AT last, however, assured that they
wished his services for the sake of the
woman, who could not go many more DAYS
without food or drink, he decided to go to
her.
About 1870 the teacher entered the room
of the sick woman. He said: ''VVhat are
you doing there? Come, this will never
do" Mrs. Wiliward looked up into his
face and broke the silence Of ten DAYS TO
say; I'm so glad you've come" Then she
began to cry. Soon she took the water
that was offered her, and putting her
parched lips to the glass, drank. Then she
ate. She seemed all run down, and nerv-
ously Frustrated, but Doctor Greene Is
sure she is sane
He says that Christian Scientists can do
vastly more for such cases than can doc
tors of medicine. IAN the latter seem abla
TO accomplish he explained. 'fs 10 tnrn
such patients over to an insane ASYLUM