The Washington times., 1901-09-15
A DEATH DUE TO NEGLECT.
Grand Jury As 'led to Enquire Into
Christian Science Practices.
The COroner's Investigation Into
Lila Belle Walkers Case Results
in n Plain Rceomne ndn tiOn-Hcai-
ers Admit Receiving Payments.

in n Plain Recon, IN e IA da tiOn-Hcaf-
ers Admit Receiving Payments.
The Coroners jury yesterday walveo
responsibility in the case of mrs Liza
Belle Walker colored who died while
under the treatment of the Christlai
Scientist "healers'' at her home, 62 Fen
ton Place northeast Wednesday night,
and recommended that the matter be
thorouehly investigated by the grand
Jury. The inquest was held at the New
Jersey Avenue police station, and was
presided over by Coroner J. Ramsay New
lit, assisted by Deputy Coroner Glaze
brook a small following of the believers
in the faith were present and intentiy
followed the entire proceedings. The evi-
dence adduced showed that the woman
had been attended by Christian Science
"heaIers' who testified that they would
refuse to have anything to do with pa
| tient who WIS attended by physician
or who partook of medicines of any kind,
In the face of this DR.. Glazebrook, who
performed the autopsy, testified that
death was due to peritonitis, superin-
duced by the bursting of a tumor in the
abdomen that could have been removed
by simple surgical operation, in the like
of which the mortality is extremely low.
After reciting the time and place of death
the verdict reads: I'VE believe that Mrs.
Walkers death was due to lack of
proper and prescribed medical treatment.
We refer TO the grand jury for its inves-
tigation the practice of Christian Science
as healing art in this case"
As it was necessary to take the jurors
to 62 Fenton Place northeast, to swear
them over the womans body. it was near
of ha
day, DIR. Frank Gray Johnson, of Gal Sec
ond Street northeast, was called. DR..
Johnson testified that he was called to
attend Lila Belle Walker about o'clock
last Wednesday night. She was lying on
the bed in apparently exhausted condi-
ton Her answers to his questions were
not satisfactory and he told her husband
that she was beyond his aid He exam
ined her and found distenSion of the
abdomen, due, as he thought, to the
presence of fluid. She apparently had
no feveIs but did not seem to realize her
condition. The husband told the witness
that his wife had been i'll for some time
and that upon her request and that of
her mother, she had had only the care
of the Christian Scientists Later he de-
termined to have a physician. He told
the witness that he was paying the Chris-
tian Scientists. The witness remembered
that Miss Minkes name was one of those
mentioned, together with another woman,
and man who works in the branch
postoffice in the Union Building The
names of the latter he could not recall.
VIM. Ii. Walker, colored, who is
waiter in a barroom, testified that he
ordina rily LIGHTHOUSE affairs to his wife,
but that owing to the serious condition
of her health he had determined. de-
spite her wishes, to call in DR.. Johnson.
He said that Miss Minke was at the
house twice and prayed for his wife, who
told him that she was much better as
resslt of the. prayers. He had started
several times. to call doctor. but his
wife had objected, and he had, therefore;
a Mrs Walsh had also called in, but
witness did not know that any of them
had ever received any compensation. He
said that his wife told him that Miss
Minke had suggested that he secure
doctor His wIre had also suggested, he
said, that they should give something to
the cause of Christian science.
VIM. l.. Post. who lives at the Driscoll,
had known Mrs Walker since December.
when he was called upon by the woman's
mother and asked to call on her daugh-
ter as a Christian Scientist leader he
was told that Mrs. Walker was suffering
from nervous prostration. The witness
has been a healer for three years and
receives compensation for his work. He
had knowledge of medicine, as the
Christian Science does not deal with the
diagnosis of symptoms, but with what
the patient believes. Witness stated that
it would not be material whether bro
We're all that were necessary. Witness
said, he had received. 81 from Mrs. Walker
on previous occasions.
Have you ever recommended the dis
continuance of medicines or of the SER
vices of a physician" Coroner hewitt
asked. ...4s. .ii-..
We never treat cases where physi-
clan is employed" was the response. The
witness said that he graduate of
the Massachusetts Metaphysical College.
Detective Sergeant Browne told of hav-
H..
summons on the several witnesses. He
stated that he was unable to serve one
on Mrs. Walsh, who out of the city,
and that employees at the Land Ofhce.
where she is employed, refused to accept
the summons for her. Mrs. Lucinda Rob
inson. colored. Mrs. Walkers mother, told
of her daughter being taken i'll on Mon
day and of her death on Wednesday
night Miss Minke was known to be
witness as a healer and was called in
at the request of the sick woman MISS
Minke had called Tuesday morning ana
once thereafter. She told the witness that
She Miss Minke, had not the time to
care for the case and suggested that a
physician be called. Witness did not
know of Miss Minke or Mr.. Post receiv-
ing any compensation for their services.
Miss Emma Minke, a music teacher OF
lll5 Ninth Street northwest, stated that
she had been acquainted with Mrs Walk
several occasions advised Mrs. Walker to
send for u physician, but Mrs. Walker
had refused to do so. Witness was and is
a Christian Science healer, and Mrs.
Walker had asked her to come and pray
for her In the last illness witness was
sent for to pray for Mrs. Walker, but did
not take the case" She did not take
cases." and only prayed for the recovery
of the sick. In response to a question from
Dr. Nevitt Miss Minke said that there
was no difference between that which she
done as healer" Witness had never
received any compensation for her ser
vices If anything had been given her it
would have been as a friendly act and
not as compensation. She had received
car tickets from Mrs. Walker on several
occasions Witness always advised that
a physician be called in every case. but
II would be inconsistent with her belief
TO treat a patient who was under the care
of a physician and she would refuse If a
phvsician- was in attendance. She also
believed that physicians were Superfiuous.
Miss Minke concluded that she does not
treat cases, but prays for the recovery
of the sick. God is the healer.
Deputy Coroner Glazebrook told of hav-
ing performed the autopsy upon the body
of Mrs. Walker, and said that death was
due to peritonitis, which followed the
bursting of an ovarian tumor. Death was
due therefrnu;. The case was Il simple
one. and such as is handled every day by
surgeons with an extremely small mortal
ity In the opinion of the witness proper
surgical care would have saved her life.
This concluded the testimony. and the
jury's verdict. as stated, was rendered.
SADIE STEWART ARRESTED.