The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-03-06

An inquest into the death of Ray
fnond Weaver, the boy whose Christian
Science parents did not have medical
attendance for him, during a fatal i'll
ness of diphtheria, was held in the ar
bitration room of the court house last
night, after several postponements.
Discussions between Coroner Roberts
and the witnesses and the difficulty
which some of the jurors experienced
In arriving at an understanding Of the
Christian Scientists doctrines were the
features.
The Jurors were: Howard Davis. Ed :
ward Coons. T. Ellsworth Davis, Dd"i l
Owens, Peter Cosgrove and John l..
Gaffney. Attorneys I. II. Burns and
c. L. Hawley appeared in the interest
Of the Weaver family, and before the
inquest started made formal protest
to the proceedings on the ground that
the coroner had no Jurisdiction. The
objection was noted and the. herring
begun,
What prompted the inquest was the
fact that the boy died without having
had the attendance of a physician. It
was also the desire of the coroner 10
bring forth whether or not the parents
were guilty of a violation of the law
in not reporting the contagious dis
ease to the board of health. Further
he wanted to inquire into the action
OF DR.. H. d. Gardner in giving a death
certificate, when he had not attended
the case, and was not called in ntil
after death had occurred.
THE WITNESSES HEARD.
Mr.. and Mrs. George L. Weave,
the parents, and Miss Lydia Weaver,
the sister of the boy; David n. Me-
Kee, professional Christian Science
healer. and Miss Chapman. a Christian
Science nurse. and DIR. Gardner, " ere
the witnesses heard.
The Christian Scientists all averred
that no law had been violated by them
Mr.. Mckee attended the boy almost
daily and, while they did not recognize
the disease as diphtheria, because
their religion does not 60 into dis
tinctions in the matter of ailments.
they, nevertheless, out of considera-
ton for others. accepted that it was
so-called diphtheria, took every pre-
caution to prevent the spread of the
disease that the general public de-
mands.
In their belief contagion is prevented
by the same means that disease is
cured, 1.-The realization Of the presence
and omnipOtence of God" However,
that those not of their faith and not
in position to avail themselves Of
this means of avoiding disease might
be protected they caused the bow to
be quarantined in one of the rooms
of the house with nurse: Miss Weav-
er was kept home from her work in
the International Correspondence
schools, and Mr.. Weaver changed his
clothes on going out, drove in a car
riage when he occasionally went to his
office and did as much of his business
as possible by telephone.
The father. with tears In his eyes,
told how his boy fully realized the
doctrines of Christian Science. "He
was born a Christian Scientist" the
father said. "He realized the power
of God to heal. He was a noble, true
boy, doctor. oh, IL you only knew
him. He lived as he died. true Chris
ton Scientist. Did he understand?
Why. doctor he would come home from
school and, finding his mother not
feeling well, would read to her from
our Science and Health, pray with her
for while, and then saying Mother,
now guess you're all right would
run off and play"