New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-05-21
HITS AT OSTEOPATHS.
HEALTH OFFICIAL ANGRY.
Death Certificate Starts Inquiry by
Department.

The police and the officials OF the Health De-
| partment making a rigid investigation into
the death Of Miss Louisa W Cries q teacher
OF languages who died at her home. No 252
West S5th street, May IA from heart disease.
She was under the treatment OF DR.. E e.
Beeman. an osteopath. OF No. 800 Fifth avenue.
Miss Cries had been under Dr. Beeman's care
for several years She died on the same day
that Governor Hughes signed the medical unity
BILL which regulates the practice OF osteopathy.
DIR. Beeman had been treating Miss Cries for
chronic pericarditis since last December. On
May he was called 10 the house and found
that Miss Grtes's condition much worse
He did not her again until Informed of her
death by the undertaken II. A Comfort. OF
No. 300 West ADD street. when he called for
death certificate. DR.. Beeman was surprised
to learn of her death. Not being sure. under
the new law. whether he could issue GER
tihcate of death. he called UP the Health De-
partment. DR.. William H. Guilfoy. register OF
records when ne learned OF the facts in the
case. refused to accept DR.. Beeman's certificate
and told him 10 report the case to the coroner's
office.
The undertaken being unable TO obtain a certifi-
cate from the osteopath. went back 10 the family
and told them he must have certificate before
he could bury the body.
Miss Augusta Cries, sister of the dead woman
who had been under the care OF DIR. E. d. Wilcox
a woman physician of No 307 West 9Sth street
then remembered that her physician had pre-
scrbed for her sister a few days before her
death The undertaken then went to DIR. Wilcox
and got the necessary certificate When he pre-
sented IT to the Health Department TO be
changed for burial certificate DIR. Guilfoy. see
ing that it contained the signature OF a ply
sIcian unknown to him In the case. communicated
with the detective bureau. Lieutenant Beevins
was put the case.
Dr. Guilfoy wanted To find out how IL that
another signature appeared on the certificate,
when Dr. Beeman had told him the dead woman
was his patient. Beevns worked on the case all
day Yesterday When he returned he told DR..
Guilfoy he had learned that Miss Cries had been
treated by Dr. Wilcox at Intervals and that the
last time she saw her was May IL. DIR. Gull
foy however was not satisfied with this ex-
PLANTATION and sent for Or. Wilcox. She told the
Health Department official that the family never
informed her Miss Cries was undergoing treat
ment by an osteopath.
"I knew that some physician was attending
her" Dr. Wilcox told DR.. Guilfoy IT didn't
know whether 1t man woman. II had
known it was an osteopath who was treating
Miss Cries certainly would not have signed
death certificate. 1 supposed that l was the last
doctor who attended the patient and felt that
was Justified In filling out certificate. 1 was
under the impression that a regular physician
was attending Miss Cries
DIR. Wilcox, who lives In Riverside Drive. has
been practising medicine for thirteen years.
DIR Guilfoy said DIR. Wilcox had put herself
in a bad light by signing the death. certificate
without having looked further into the case.
1--WE have number of similar cases every
month" said he. Some doctors send in false
reports We have to watch them very closely
There are q number OF cases pending In the
courts now. 1 took this matter up to be the
safe side. especially where an osteopath is con-
cerned / will put the whole case up to Commits
sioner Darlington. He doubt will take some
definite action. The investigation is not over
vet There is something behind this, and IL we