New-York tribune., 1902-10-24
HEALER AND FATHER HELD
CHRISTIAN SCIENCE CASE FOR GRAND
JURY.
WHITE PLAINS CORoNER's JURY FINDS
CHILD's DEATH WAS DUE TO NEG
LIGENCE OF PARENTS.

The coroner's jury to examine into the death
on Sunday Of Esther Quimby yesterday at
White Plains decided that she .'came TO her
death from diphtheria and general septemia,
owing to the culpable negligence of her parents
John Quimby and Georgianna Quimby; also
certain so-called healer named John Carroll
Lathrop. in failing TO provide proper medical
care and attendance. The evidence warrants
the holding Of the three persons under the
Penal Code on charge Of mansla ughter-
Judge Plau held both men in $1,000 bail. They
waived examination. and the case will go direct
10 the grand jury. Mrs. Quin.by. who has tom
silitis. will not be called TO plead until she re-
covers.
The death Of seven-year-oId Esther Hunter
Quimby has been characterized as IAN atrocious
crime" White Plains is indignant at her sacri-
nce, and the disregard Of danger 20 the village
by the Christian Scientists. Her sister Bessie
who caught diphtheria from her. is recovering.
and her brother is not in immediate danger. A
new case was reported yesterday that of child
who attended school with Esther Qumhy. Mrs
Quimby's symptoms are apparently those of
tonsiltis.
Mrs Quimby Was examined AT her home yes
terday afternoon by the coroner A record was
taken. which viii he used before the grand jury.
She said she had studied and praetised Chris
tian Science for ten years She had received
lessons from John Carroll Lathrop. the textbook
being The Key 10 the Scriptures" otherwise
Mrs Eddy's Science and Health" For these
lessons she paid 500 for the degree Of c. 5,
although she could not tell wherein the instruc-
ton benefited her more than a mere reading Of
the book. She had practised on friends and
her own family. often receiving therefor fee.
She told Of the custom in healing TO deny
the error mentally" When Bessie became III
she sent for Lathrop. as she considered him
higher teacher than herself The course of the
claim in the dead child's case was explained.
The testimony Of Lathrop. the healer, was
an exposition and defense OF Christian Science.
He said he was an impersonal pastor in the
Christian Scientist Church, had attended the
Metaphysical College in Boston, and had re-
ceived instruction from Mrs. Eddy.
He found Bessie Quimby. he said. under a
claim Of tonsilitis. He then explained the
Christian Science ideas of treatment of disease.
saying that all diseases were errors Of mind.
and that consumption and broken leg should
be treated in the way.
He admitted that man would probably need
food in a material sense but should be able
10 live without il if he We're spiritually high.
To what would you ascribe Esthers death?'
asked the coroner.
Nothing, from a Christian Science point of
view, II was real in your sense l suppose
the reply
In his treatment he said. he used as high a
realization of the power Of Goa possible He
did not believe in death. as outsiders" did. He
received pay for his treatment sometimes SO
and carfare, usually a dollar The fee de
pended the mental state OF the patient" In
examining him, Coroner Banning covered al
most the entire ground Of Mrs. Eddys book,
which he had evidently read recently.
The ease viii be pushed rapidly possible.
l. is said that Health Officer Birch may also
and Lathrop for failure TO report cases Of con-
tagious and infectious diseases.