The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-11-02
SEEKING WAY TO
GEORGE MOTHER.
Coroner Threatens amin
quest in Case of
Other Deaths.
DIR. OPPENHElMER
VISITS THE HOUSE
Mrs. Palmer Sent for Physician
Yesterday, But Dr.. Barksdalc
Refused TO Go-Seems
Almost Willing TO
Yield - City
Stirred.

While a5mothcr franticaly clings TO
faith that has already killed her husband
and three. year-old boy, and brought her
self to the point OF destitutlon. four little
children, tho eldest but nine and the
youngest a prattling infant. eight months
old, arc facing peril and possible death,
from which apparently. no hand can
& snatch them unless the woman's obsti-
nate zeal relents before 1t is too late
rhc spectacle is gruesome, and tho
Fulton tragedy, that began a week ago.
when Paul Palmer, the boy. was allowed
N to suffer and die without medical atten-L
lion, has assumed proportions and taken
on possibilities Of a seriousness sufficient
10 arouse the entire city. The lives Of
four innocent and unsuspectng children
nrs al stake. and. while officials and peo.
rlc look on, willing, but helpless. all may
hc sacrificed to the whim Of q mother
whose mind has been preyed upon BY the
teachings Of o dangerous cult. Twice the
woman had waycred before, and yester-
day wavered again; to-day may find her
rpholding the faith once more, or It may
be al last consenting to the interven-
ton Of physicians. In her present condi-
ton 1T Is not possible to say In what di-
rection she will next bend.
Meanwhile the city authorities have
taken the matter up. and though up to
astsnight no possible means OF effectively
dealing with the case had been discov-
Fred. 1t is likely that steps OF some sort
will be taken to force the mother into
submission. The coron T. threa tens to
hold an inquest that will result In the
lt.>l OF Mrs, Palmer for n1ansaughter,
n :, Ar ~ ro,-1,, ,l,t-
luel We're sent to the Denny Street house
during the day. The Mayor and the Com
monwcaltf's Attorney both looked into
5E The question OF the authority Of the city
TO interfere.
Sent for Doctor esterday.
SO far as can be gathered the four
children have given as vet no symptoms
Of the dlphtheria with which little Paul
died last Saturday al midnight. They
were all, however, closely associated
with the sick hoy. and in hourly danger
of falling victims to the infection unless
they are inocuated with antitoxn. Cases
have been known in which children
similarly placed, have escaped the disease,
but the risk is very great, and in the
majcvty Of instances, persons so COM
pletely exposed TO the disease have soon
ruccumbcd to it themselves.
f,
DR. George Barksdae, who when sum-
rioned at the last moment. tried vainly
to save the dying child Saturday night.
Al that time the mother had refused
10 allow immunizng doses to be admin
2 istered TO the living children. Monday
she agreed .tot permit this to be done.
Tuesday morning when Or. Barksdale
went TO the house the woman ordered
him away. Tho physician sent the virus
bnck to the health Office. and yesterday
when the Palmer child came after him
IS again. her refused to respond to the sum
mons. Mrs. Palmer had evidently relented
again. but DR.. Barksdaie said last night
nc was tired OF being trifled with, and
would have nothing more to do with the
case. Whether or not the woman caned
upon any other physician. Is not known.
III is known that she did not ask the
trvices Of one other we'll known doctor
Of Fulton.
From this ii seems possible that Mrs.
Palmer may after all consent 70 the
protection OF the children. DR.. Barksdale
mas Withdrawn from the case. but city
nhys:cians will take it up at once If
they are allowed TO do SO. II the mothers
resolution to consent TO the treatment
holds out until to-,aly it is likely. there
fore tina the matter Will come to an end
here.
The Coroner's Threat.
Acting upon his personal responsibility,
Coroner Taylor yesterday conferred VIII
Judge S. B. Witt, of the Hastings Court
ana commonwcalth's Attorney D. G.
Richardson to discover IL any steps were
POSSIBLE to prevent the. sacrifice Of the
nther Palmer children TO the fanaticism
of the Apostolic following consulta-
lion will be held with Mayor Mccarthy
to-day, unless tho mother relehts ~ me
meanwhile. The Mayor was out OF me
city until last night. When seen aller
his return, he said he knew nothing auout
,he case. beyond what he had read in
Tho papers. He was unable TO ssayrwhat
the city would be able to do, Hc-declared
that, while there is a law to compel vac
cination, he knew OF no statute under
which people could be forced to summit
10 incubation With antltoNin.
There is, nevertheless. a growing sen,
tment in the city that something should
be done to protect the four helpless
children. The position OF Coroner TAYLOR,
who is himself endenvoring to secure
such action, In some way as yet un-
known. lis rather remarkable, and might
be ridiculous IT the matter We're not SO
serious The hands Of the coroner are
asd, 'lsd III lie can do nothing unless there Is
hnother death, which would be exceed
lnsly unfortunate the victim. 1t would
I be possible, even now, to hold an inquest
pver the dead hoy, Paul. but this Is not
likely, since IT. would necessitate the dis
lnterment OF the body
If another child dles,'' said Coroner
Taylor last nlGht, II shall certainly hold
mn inquest. & this is done the verdict
will unquestionably DO death from crim!-
nal negligence, and this would mean tho
trial of Mrs Palmer upon the change Of
nlanslaughterS
Such a development ns this might l,rlng
Apostle John w pougherty and his en-
tire following Into court. where the doc