Omaha daily bee., 1900-01-09
BLAME FOR A GIRLS DEATH
Faith Heaters Are Held Responsible for the
Fate Of Ethel Yates,
PATIENT WAS WELL ON ROAD TO RECOVERY
Physician Was Discharged, However,
by the order of the Mother and
the Victim Met Her Death
from pcritOnitis.
PATIENT WAS WELL ON ROAD TO RECOVERY

Coroner Treynor yesterday morning com
pleted the inquest over Ethel Yates, the
young woman from Tabor, Ia, who died
in this city last Friday night, the
victim OF her parents belief in faith
healing. The jury returned a verdict
to the effect that in It's opinion the death
Of Ethel Yates was due to neglect, and that
the Brother James mentioned In the eV-
idence and Mrs. 2. b. Yates, the mother of
the girl. are responsible for her fate.
The witnesses examined yesterday were
DR.. Donald Macrae, jr, and DR.. j. NJ. Bel
linger. DR.. Macrae, who held the autopsy
on the remains of the young woman, testified
that he found her suffering from appendi-
citis. with rupture OF the sac, which had
caused general peritonitis. The pelvic cavi-
ties were filled with pus. He stated that in
his judgment there would have been every
chance to have saved the girls life had she
been properly treated.
DR.. Bellinger testified that he was called
to attend Miss Yates on Christmas day and
continued to treat her up to January l,
when he was discharged from the case by
the mother of the young woman. He testi-
fed that when he left her she was improv-
ing and was quite bright and cheerful. He
considered that at that time her condition
was most favorable for recovery and he ex-
pected that she would recover. In answer
to a question from one Of the jurors DR..
Bellinger said that he considered absolute
rest and quiet essential in sickness of the
character from which Miss Yates was suf-
fering and that the reverse would be most
harmful.
At the close of the inquest Coroner Trey
nor decided not to issue warrants for the
arrest of Healer James and Mrs. Yates,
-. r.- ~ 4 IT. --.-N. A.A
as the grand jury will be in session today.
Defense of silas James.
REV" Silas ]. James of South Omaha,
the healer referred to in the finding Of the
jury, called at The Bee office yesterday to
make a statement as to his connection with
the case of the unfortunate girl. He ex-
planned that he is a leader of the Church of
Christ, a sect which accepts divine healing
on the authority of the scriptures, that "the
prayer of faith shall heal the sick"
81 was first called to attend the sick girl
on New Years eve," said Mr.. James, when
L was conducting a watch meeting in Coun-
Gil Bluffs. l only knew her mother slightly
and had previously called at the house only
q few times. l did not advise Mrs. Yates
to discharge the physician, as in my opin-
ion the principle Of divine healing should
never be thrust on anyone, but only offered
as a privilege.
Mrs. Yates wished me to sit up with her
daughter, which did during two nights.
She also asked mo to pray with the sick
girl, which l did. l was misrepresented,
however, in the statement that l forced Miss
Yates to listen to my prayers. I did not
even pray in her presence, but retired to
another room. While l was with her the
girl slept we'll and was apparently improv-
ing. l did not hear her ask for a doctor
and did not advise against one being called.
l was simply there as a minister Of the
gospel and took no responsibility in the
case whatever. If Mrs. Yates discharged
the physician and did not yield to her
daughters pleading, that was done on her
own responsibility"