New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-09
FAITH CURISTS HELD.
DEATH OF MRS. BARGUET, OF MOUNT
VERNON, INVESTIGATED.
THE coRoNER's JURY FINDS TWO OF HER
CHILDREN GUILTY OF CULPABLE NEG
LIGENcE AND THE HEALER"
ALSO GUILTY.

ALSO GUILTY
, Coroner Banning and jury In Mount YER
non yesterday held an investigation into the
: death OF Mrs. Charlotte NJ Barguet, who was
under the care Of Christian Science "healers'
during her illness. Many interesting explana-
tions OF the beliefs held by the followers Of the
new faith were made. large crowd attended
the inquest, among those present being score
OF Christian Scientists from Mount Vernon and
| New-York City Coroner Banning first quoted
| from the Sanitary Code showing that In cases
OF death a certificate must be signed by a
! licensed physician. and that in cases when this
is not done the Coroner must fill out the GER
tifcate and then investigate the death.
He then called Pascal Barguet, who testified
! as to his mothers illness and said that Mrs.
| Clarence Fowler. a Christian Science healer y
had attended her. He said Mrs. Fowler is the
wife of Clarence Fowler, a printer, living IN
Mount Vernon. He did not know what her
treatment was, but had her there. His
mother did not seem to improve after several
months treatment. and he begged her to get a
physician who could really help her. She was
persuaded against medical treatment by other
members Of the family. Finally, when his
mother grew worse, Mr.. Barguet went to Cor
oner Banning and asked him to investigate the
The Coroner told him that he could only answer
calls when any one was dead or seriously In
Jured He volunteered. however to go and see
the dying woman a friend, and try to per-
suade her to accept medical treatment.
Eugene Barguet another son, and his wife.
also tried to persuade the family to call
physician. The patient told Mrs. Eugene Bar
guet that she had only one physician, and he
then she did not desire to live.
Mrs. Pascal Barguet testified that she
frequent visitor to her mother-n-law's house
during her illness, and tried frequently to see
her. but did not always succeed. She was told
that she could not her. because Mrs Fowler
was giving her treatment This occurred
great many times. week before Mrs Bar
guet's death she put forcby out Of the
house by Liston Barguet, jr., believer In
Christian Science.
OTHER RELATIVES GIVE TESTIMONY.
Liston Barguet. sr. husband of Mrs. Barguet,
admitted receiving advice from Coroner Ban
ning who urged him to call a physician, and
said that he had transmitted II to his wife. She
had sent word back thanking DR.. Banning, but
assuring him that it was out of the power OF
any earthly physician to help her. Her treat
ment by Mrs. Fowler had consisted Of reading
from books, principally the Bible and Science
and Health" by Mary Baker Eddy In answer
10 a question by juryman, Mr.. Barguet said
he thought this constituted systematic treat
ment
Liston Barguet Jr and his sister, Miss Ethel
Barg,et a New-Yori school-teacher. also gave
testimony. Young Barguet is a Christian Science
healer, and holds the degree Of c. and g.. for
which he testified he paid 500 His sister is also
a believer In the faith.
MRS. FOWLER ON THE STAND.
Mrs Margaret Fowler testified at the evening
session. She is teacher OF Christian Science
and a graduate Of the Brooklyn institute OF that
faith. She told the jury that on several occa-
sions she had said to the patient that If she felt
that medical attendance would do her any good
she at liberty to summon 1t, and that the
patient had invariably declined to entertain the
idea She denied that she ever compelled Mrs
Barguet to wear weights to walk about the
room for hours to reduce the swellings caused by
dropsy.
Mrs Fowler was closely questioned by Dis
trlct-Attorney Andrews. who went into the
Christian Science belief deeply in order to learn
II their practices are such that they are danger
to the community.
DIR. George C. Weiss. one of the doctors who
made the autopsy. testified that the actual
cause Of Mrs. Barguet's death was dropsy. He
was positive that life could have been pro-
longed IL the proper medical treatment had been |
applied
At midnight last night the jury brought In a
verdict that Mrs. Barguet died from acute |
pleurisy, which could have been cured If the |
proper medical attendance had been procured |
The jury held Mrs Fowler. Liston Barguet jr, !
and Miss Ethel Barguet, guilty of culpable |
negligence. which the public welfare demands |
should be stopped. and recommended that ac-
tion be taken to punish them.
Coroner Banning then announced that he |
would sit as a committing magistrate, and !
ordered the three persons named to be brought |
before him. He told Mrs. Fowler and Lston |
Barguet jr that he would hold them for the |
Grand Jury. He was not inclined. he said to
be so severe on Ethel Barguet, but would hold |
her as an accessory and not require any bail.
David Carpenter. of New-Rochelle, furnished
bonds for the prisoners In $1,000 each
MARCHAND REPORTED KILLED.