The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-05-10
Cases Of Smallpox Were Con-
csaIsd by Divine Hea|ers.
MUST ANSWER IN COURT.
Patient; SAID 10 naD Contracted Disease
at N, Meetings Of III, So
Called Sisters

New York, May io.-The three leading
sisters OF Jersey City's numerous band
OF "divine healers" were last night sum
moned to court TO explain the conceal
ment and treatment OF smallpox patients
which the health authorities say is re-
sponsible for the worst outbreak oi
smallpox Jersey City has known in years
Thirteen cases were traced directly to
one OF the cases treated by the sisters. -
and physicians who spent the day .nvesti-
eating the actions OF the heaiers. who
make their headquarters at the Elsie Me-
mortal chapel, on Jewett avenue. say
they believe the chapel TO be responsible
for the spread of smallpox at such a rate
that the physicians have been poweriess
10 check II.
Three physicians OF the health board
visited the chapel, fumigated IL thorough
ly and vaccinated all who were there.
The three sisters" who have been sum-
moned to court are Mrs. ~ Earl. "ch!es
healer" who conducts the services at
the chapel. and Sisters" Carter and
Cressy. her assistants.
"ANoINTED HIM WITH OIL"
The three are Charged with having
concealed the case OF l.. Bells, who lived
at iG7 Monticello avenue. Jersey City.
and who says the sisters" cured him Of
smallpox by amounting him with oil'
and commanding the pain to leave. The
case was reported to the physicians by a
member OF the sect. who said that he
wanted the authorities to take action.
This clue started the physicians to
work, with the result that they believe
tho thirteen cases they discovered are
only part OF those traceable TO that Of
BELLS. Many OF the patients contracted
the disease at the chapel meetings.
Mrs. ID. Snyder OF IS Brunswick street,
who was hired by Mrs. Bells to tend Bel
lis store, caught the disease. She is now
blind from smallpox at the pest house,
and will be in court Wednesday next 10
appear against the "healers''
Mrs. Hotchklss one OF the sect. living
at 3l2 Fourth avenue, was exposed to the
disease. Her nye-year-old son became I'll.
and she and a relative. Mrs. Lyman, ap-
piled the divine" treatment. When the
health authorities called they hid the NJ
tie fellow away In the garrett Mrs
Hotchkiss. Mrs. Lyman and Mrs. Hotch-
kiss little girl caught the disease. Mrs
Mas OF 295 Forrest street. a healer. con
tracted the disease at the chapel A
young man named Bedford. l95 Grand
street, regular dttenuHnt AT the CnHpel
sat by n healer and caught the disease
He died in the hospital last Saturday.
STILL MORE VICTIMS.
Miss Alice Luther. OF 233 Brunswick
avenue. also a member of the sect,
caught the disease while visiting the
Hotchkiss home. Mrs. Bruce, of $40
Grove street, a regular attendant at the
chapel. became Ill with smallpox on Wed
nesday. Her husband was noted divine
healer" and died a few years ago. Jen-
ME Phelan. seven years old, OF 3o3 n
street, got the disease by visiting tho
Hotchkiss children. Tommy Buiger.
OF 3l6 Fifth street, got the disease from
the Phclan girl. Mrs. Quinn, OF
Fourth street, is another OF the sect to
fall victim.
The ''healers" refused to talk about
the cases. Mrs. Earls daughter said last
night:
Mother has nothing TO say. I suppose
she may know about tho Bellis case All
this is fuss about nothing. The doctors
kill hundreds OF people every year and
nothing Is said about II.