The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1907-10-15
Court.

trial for manslaughter, wednesday morn
ing, and all the testimony in the case was
presented by six o'clock in the evening.
The defendants were charged with the
death of their son, Granville Newton
Watson, aged seven years, it being a
legged that they failed to give him proper
medical treatment. The boy died on Sun.
day, May 20.
| The defendants were represented by
Hall & Hates, of Camden, and Eckard P.
Badd, of Mount Holly. Prosecutor Atkin
son appeared for the state.
After the case had been moved, Mr.. Hall
entered demurrer to the form of the
Indictment, but as there had been nothing
done, there was nothing for the court
to act upon.
Prosecutor Atkinson said the indictment
was found under the statute defining invo-
luntary manslaughter. Under this COM
mon law every person has certain duties
to perform. 1t is duty of parent to fur
nish food, clothing. medical attention and
education to his child. The Indictment
charges that the parents did not perform
their duty to this child, which the law
says they must do.
The Watson family consisted of the
father. mother. Ferdinand and Granville.
The last named was taken sick on May 21.
He was kept home from school on Tuesday.
Wednesday night he was very sick.
Thursday he was worse On Friday he was
very bad, being delirious and suffering
from fever, giving all indications that he
needed medical attention. On Saturday
morning DR.. Stroud was sent for. He
found the child in very serious condi-
ton. In the afternoon DR.. Stroud called
DR.. Joseph Stokes. They made an exam
nation of the child and prescribed for it.
condition, and nothing could be done for
him. eve will show that medical atten-
ton on the part of the parents was not had
at the proper time, !" said the Prosecutor
Mr.. Hall moved that the case be dismiss
ed on several grounds, one of them being
that the state does not charge that the
death of this child was caused by neglect,
and the defendants cannot be held for
criminal negligence, as medical attendance
was called in and the patient prescribed
for. The motion was dismissed.
DR.. F. G.. V. Stroud was the first wit
ness. He said when he went to the house
he prescribed for the child and gave it
medicine The parents said that was the
first medicine the child ever tasted, as they
were Christian Scientists. The father and
mother said their son was not sick, but
they were offering up prayers for him.
The father sent for Mrs A. Clara Starn, of
Camden. The witness refused to give a
death certificate because he was not pos
tive about the diagnosis. Death resulted
from meningitis superinduced by pneu-
monia, which frequently yields to medi
cal treatment. He said the child might
have recovered if treatment had been
given at the beginning of illness.
The above witness was corroborated by
DR.. Joseph Stokes, who said he tried to
tell the parents how sick their child was
and that It would die. THAT is not true. !"
one of them replied.
Ferdinand Watson, son, said his pa
rents we're Christian Scientists, and by
that treatment members of the family had
been cured of ills for several years.
Dr. D. ]. Janney, coroner, of Riverton.
called at the house on May 26. Mrs. Wat
son told him they depended on the in
fiuence of divine power and did not believe
in medicine. That was the reason no
physician was called. They carried the
impression that they did not believe the
child was very III. They said Mrs. Starn
and Mrs. Straub were called to treat the
child from their standpoint of Christian
science A physician was sent for only to
diagnose the case.
Elizabeth Seaman, neighbor, inquired
as to the condition of the boy, and she was
informed that it was bad The parents
said they believed in their religion and that
they had sent for two practitioners of that
faith.
Mrs. Starn, friend of the family and a
member of the Christian Science Church,
of Camden, received telephone call from
Ferdinand on Thursday, saying the child
was ill and needed help, and requesting
her to come up. Granville didn't seem
to be seriously i'll. On Friday evening the
child was more restless, and if it had fever
it must have been inward, as there was no
| flush in his face. She did not give advice
about getting any one else at any of her
visits. She helped them in the way she
knew to be best, which consisted of Christ.
ian science treatment-prayer, and an ap-
peal to God, who can do all good.
On Saturday morning Mrs. Ida w.
Straub, of Philadelphia, was summoned
to the house by Ferdinand. When she
arrived at A. NJ, Granville seemed to
be very sick little boy. She remained
until P. M, and the case didn't suggest
to witness that the child had fever. He
was restless when she went there, but her
presence and treatment improved that
condition. She advised that they get a
physician.
On cross examination Mrs. Straub al.
legged that DR.. Stroud said at first that the
disease might be diphtheria, and advised
that no one should bepermitted to entel
the place, as it was contagious and the
house might have to be quarantined
Then he said it might be typhoid or inter
mittent fever. He had DR.. Stokes take {
culture of the ear to ascertain just wha
the trouble was. He did not say the chile
had meningitis. He said the child ha(
fever, and must have ice bags and medi
cine. He saw that dose of the latter wa
administrated while he was there, and n,
more medicine was given Granville afte
he left. The parents said that as thei
neighbors were not all Christian Scientists
it might allay their fears to send for
physician. They understood that Go,
was able to heal the boy. and for tina
reason they desired no physician.
The state rested.
Mr.. Hall then asked for the discharg
of the defendants on the grounds that tn
: state had not made out case; that the
failed to show that death was not due t
neglect on the part of the defendants; ths
death was not due to culpable negligenc
and that it is neither common nor sta
utory crime. The motion was over
} ruled.
, "The contention in this case" said Nj
: Hall in his opening, sis that the death c
this child was not due to neglect. W
; will show that there is no known specif
, treatment for the disease which the chill
L. nllon.od 70 haun had. that oncnrdinn Z