Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-12-05
Christian Science Family Give
Remarkable Exhibition of
Stoicism In Davenport
DEATH WAS OF NO IMPORTANCE
Case Of tho Geisner Girl, Who Died
Of Membranous Group, Now Under
Investigation, Attracting Much At
tention-eoth Side. Given Hear
ina-coroner's Inquest.
Special to Times-Repub!ican.


no such thing as death. l am not fal
enough in the understanding to know
what the significance of passing on
and burial are in their relation to this
& life. I feel that my sister Is as muct
with me now as she ever was. MY
physical eyes are not able to see her
That is all. Believing as do can not
see that death is to be looked upon Is
. loss"
This is the statement made by
Louise Giesner, after course of ques-
uoning by the coroners jury yesterday
in the inquest inquiring into the cause
OF death OF her sister Carrie, who died
last Tuesday from a nalady which the
post mortem examination Of the body
developed to have been diphtheria, al
ter a course Of Christian Science treat
ment.
Louise Giesner. Is years old. very at
tractive and Intellectual in appear
ance, sat thru course Of interro-
cations that would have shaken many
an older person, apparently unmoved
and entirely self assured. Her faith
In Christian science was at stake but
she maintained that faith thruout
and presented many interesting side
tights on the science as exempiifted III
her own family. Death, which the
physicians assert was directly the re-
suit Of the Christian science treat
ment, or rather the lack OF some other
treatment, has come to that family.
and leaves every member Of 1t as strong
In the belief as ever.
Hunger and Disease Myths.
.'Chr4stian science Is the highest
faith have ever known. That is
why I believe in It. I'rely wholly on
It for teaching and enlightenment. No
other source Of information save tbs
science books could be Of value to
me. It could not be proven to me by
any kind OF evidence that Christian
science is not the only truth in this
world.
II do not believe there is any such
thing as death. Hence I do not LOOK
on death as loss. The change from
state Of being here to passing on
IL because OF lack Of understanding.
That Is the only way can account for
1T.
''As for myself I do not believe there
Is any such thing al material body.
I do not think there is any need for
material food provided we are far
enough advanced in understanding.
Neither do I believe in disease.
There is no such condition as sick
ness. have not faith in any physical.
measures OF relief. and do not think
q physician would be OF avail in any
case"
Slept While Her Sister Died.
Miss Giesner In addition to making
the statements above noted answered
several questions concerning the
death Of her sister. She said that she
was not concerned in the least about
the condition OF thssSfck child for she
left It all with her pnother. whom she
knew was treating Her. She had con-
ndence In her mother and In the sci
ence treatment two could not be Of
avail. She did not remember Just
when the child died for she had gone
to bed. She know that Miss Mande
Vile was there at the time for she
heard her talking. She did not hear
her mother saying anything in REGARD
70 the child's condition, and did not see
her sister herself until death hal
come.
At no time could Miss Gesner be
Induced to say that her sister was
really sick. As her father and mother
had done the day before she insisted
that she did not know what the cause
Of death was. The members OF the
science faith do not believe that dis
ease has an existence and an admis-
sion that the child died OF any disease
would be a denial OF her faith. Miss
Giesner seemed to have but one idea,
that being to protect her belief m
Christian science even If II gave tbs
impression to her hearers that she
was cold In her feeling toward her
sister.
Several witnesses were examined In
an endeavor to prove that the father or
mother really knew that the child was
sick and that medical attendance
should be summoned II only for the
purpose OF appeasing the law. It did
not SEEM however. that either the
mother or father HAD made any re-
marks to any Of their neighbors In
dicating that they believed their child
was sick at all.
/. Several Of the neighbors stated that
they would have called In medical aid
under the circumstances. Louise Gies-
ner stated that the child had coughei
very much and had coughed up bits of
membrane. The DOCTORS insist that
any mother would have known there
was serious trouble under the circum-
stances. Turnout It all. however, the
evidence goes to show Mrs. Giesner
maintained her beltef in the efficacy
Of science treatment. Nothing appeared
Yesterday to show that she was warned
by any Of the neighbors that there
was danger in the chflds condition.
Miss Vaudeville was called before
the jury late Thursday afternoon. inn
mediately after it had come together.
It was severe ordeal for woman
to go thru, sitting for two hours an
swering stream OF questions from the
coroner and the jurors, relative to
those things which she holds In such
high esteem and which they seemingly
believed in but little. Yet she stood the
test well and only once or twice did
she show any degree OF unrest.
II was called t. the Giesner home
between 10 and IL O'Clock Monday
night" said Miss Vaudeville. Mrs.
Giesner said che wanted help. only
saw the child as see you now. I did
not make any examination OF It. that
Is to say, that ! did not make physi-
cal diagnosis. We DO not think that
is necessary. did not notice that the
child was very sick; thought 1t was