Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1899-06-29
SHEPHERDSTOWN W. VA, THURSDAY, JUNE 30, 1899

avenue, whose landlady alleges that
h. informed her that McCaig was not
at all in a serious condition. Twice
a day, however, morning and evening,
Randall called to minister 10 the dy-
ing man, who hardly ever left his bed.
Several days ago, becoming alarmed
at the condition of the invalid, he
hastily summoned Mrs. McCaig, who
arrived on Tuesday evening only to
find her husband, to use the phrase of
the sect, "fast passing out" He ral-
lied somewhat, however, at her COM
ing and the night before he died was
the most restful for weeks. In the
morning, however, came the relapse
that, before s o'clock, ended in his
death.
Randall was hastily summoned and
at once notified the coroner, who or
dered the removal of the body to an
undsrtakers establishment at Six
teenth street and Columbia avenue,
where Dr. Morton later made the
post-mortem examination that dis
closed the cause of death to have been
heart disease, with dropsical compli-
cations. The coroner summoned Mrs.
McCaig, the widow of the deceased )
Randall, under whose ministrations
he was the family in whose house
he died and fellow boarder.
Randall, who is well-groomed and
apparently cultured man of probably
35 years, when seen at his Chestnut
street offices, seemed in almost a hap
py mood, not at all disturbed at the
possibility Of prosecution.
81 have been practicing Christian
Science, be said, "for about five years,
during which time l have attended
fully five hundred cases of sickness,
ranging from typhoid to cancer In
deed, l can recall having successfully
treated diphtheria, tumor, hip disease
and malformations Of all kinds. This
is the first case | have handled that
has had fatal termination.
81 did not personally know the
NcCaigs until recently, though have
been in correspondence with them for
more than a year. l think that Nc
Caig's reason for coming to Philadel-
phia was largely to escape from the
ant.gonistic spirit that prevailed in
his community rather than to secure
advanced treatment, for | am sure he
did not consider his case serious one
nor did I. Mr.. McCaig never
asked to have a regular physician
called or | should at once have stepped
down and out. On the contrary, he
always professed to be perfectly salts
fed with my treatment and frequently
denounced doctors Of the old school.
He had been for many years drug
gist and had absolutely no faith in
the efficacy Of materia msdica. "
When questioned regarding the
methods of the Christian Scientists
Mr.. Randall stated that their minis
trations consisted solely of readings
from the Bible and from a work by
Mary Baker G. Eddy, of Boston, en-
titled"Science and Health, With
Key to the Scriptures" For these
services he charged according to the
ability of the patient to pay. The
sumptuouI appearance of his Offices
would indicate that Mr.. Randall num-
bered many persons Of wealth among
his patrons, and that he was not IN
the habit of making his charges light
ones.
"We hav. no school teaching Chris
tian Science healing" Mr.. Randall
continued. "Our college closed in
1889, since which time healers have
been qualified by self study or under
the tutelege Of authorized teachers.
I myself had such class instruction.
mo, am not overwhelmed by Mr..
McCaig's death, for have seen too
many miraculous cures to have my
faith shaken by one failure.
Mrs. McCaig, who was also seen,
stated to the reporter that she was an
artist, and had two years ago exhibit
ed a number Of specimens Of her work
in the Pennsylvania Academy Of the
Fine Arts, this city, where she stud
led when a girl. Ever since Mr..
McCaig's illness" she 'aid, II have
treated him according to the doctrine,
we both held, that is, until month
or SO ago, when, public criticism at
Beverly having brought his mind into
an unresponsivs condition, lie came