The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1904-01-20
Mrs. w. II. Davis. Christian Sci
enlist, Would Not Take
Medicine.
INVESTIGATING HER DEATH.
Mrs. J. c. Appel. Il "Healer",~ Ar
rested on Charge of Culpable
Neglect-Mather Held as
Accessory.

According to a verdict eturn yes or
day by Deputy Coroner Frank Boogher.
| the death Of Mrs. William II. Davis. who
died of croupou pneumonia Monday morn
ing. was due "a the culpable neglect and
criminal carcleSSness of Mrs. ]. {. Appel.
a healer" living AT No. 263l Russell ave
nue.. Mrs. Louisa Punt. wife of William
c. Punt of No. 1915 Grattan street. Mrs.
Davis's mother. was named as an acces-
sorry.
Mrs. Appel and Mrs. Punt We're arrested
by Special Officer Daniel on complaint Of
Coroner Furkhouser Immediately after
the inquest yesterday morning and taken
10 the matron's room at the Four Courts,
where they were held for further mvestI-
cation.
Mrs. Davis. who was not quite ~ years
old. WAS the wife of William II. Davis. an
engineer on the Terminal Railroad. They
We're married December %. 49, Blood
poisoning set in after the birth Of Il boy
SIX Weeks ago. when Mrs. Davis was at
tended by Mrs. Caroline Brown of No. 3l3>
South Compton avenue.
Mr.. Davis said Yesterday that his wife,
who was a Christian Scientist. persistent
~ refused to have a physician called. Mrs.
Appel. he asserted. was called and treatei
Mrs. Davis according 10 he Christian
Science method until her death.
once. he said. Mrs. Davis consented 20
~ a physician called. Doctor I. r.
konzelman of No. 225g South jefferson
avenue. Went 10 the house about December
Is. diagnosed the case as blood poisoning
and prescribed. Mrs. Davis, the husband
says. refused to take the medicine.
The physician did not call again, and, n,
her husband that she would not take any
medicine. saving that she was nor i'll. He
also said that Mrs. Appel and Mrs. Punt
prevented hin from doing anything for MS
wife.
ABSENT TREATMENT.
According to the testimony Of Mrs
Appel at the inquest yesterday morning.
she called at the Davis home three of four
times a week. giving her patient absent
treatment" meantime. She said that she
had ben a healer for sixteen years ana
attributed Mrs. DaviS's death to the hos
tility of Mr.. Davis. who was opposed to
Christian Science. Everything she had
done to cure Mrs. Davis. she said, had
been thwarted by the hostile mind
waves set in motion by Mr.. Davis.
Mrs. Appel said that she did not refuse
to allow a physician to he called. She
said she told Davis often that he could
call a doctor if he wished. on this point
Mrs. Appel said:
Il called three or four times a week and
each time l called | made the statement
that they could call a physician ii they
wished. and | tried to rid myself Of the
case. but she chung to me and | wanted
to give up because her husband was so
'Hk'S''A ~ alStlii ENIifli'F-
Did she look like a healthy woman
asked Deputy Coroner BooEher.
No. I couldn't make any such foolish
statement as that" answered Mrs. Appel.
Il suppose the statement Of the doctors
was holding her in bondage-the diseases
he named were holding her in, bondage"
When Mrs. Davis became critically i'll
she was bundled in a shawl and carried
from her home on Dolman street to that
Of her mother. Mrs. Punt. at No. iol6
Grattau street. Just around the block. her
husband said. She lied of acute croupous
pneumonia. according to Doctor r. r.
Gradwohl OF No. J00l Fairmont avenue.
who made a p0st-mortem examination
yesterday.
The funeral of Mrs. Davis will be held
at . O'Clock this afternoon from the resi-
dence of her mother. at No. lrl6 Grattan
street. with burial in 81. Andrews Gene
terry. Mr.. Davis said that he did not
know whether a Clergyman would Off
C!ate. saying he presumed the services
would be In charge Of Christian Scien-
fists.
Last night Judge Moore accep'cd 800
bond for the appearance of Mrs. Appel and
bond in the same amount for the appear
ance of Mrs. Punt. James Bryant and
John Halms qualified as Sureties.