The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1908-03-21
HEAD OF CULT
MAKES STATEMENT
IN BRONN CASE
Aged Leader Breaks Long Si-
Ience in Exclusive Statement
to THE EVENING STAR.
OFFICIALS DETERMINED
TO PUSH PROSECUTION
Rich Farmers Sisters Won't AS
sist AuthOrities-County
Physician Indignant.

Mrs. Mary Baker Eddy, the venerable
head of the Christian Science Church,
through Albert Farlow, of Boston, her
chief assistant on publication, author
lied statement to THE NEWARK
EVENING STAR today regarding the
arrest of Charles $. Brown and William
II. Best, the Christian Science hcalers
now held to await the action Of the
grand jury regarding the death Of
Frederick Bronn, the wealthy farmer OF
Ramsey, Bergen County.
The statement which follows is tho
first made by Mrs. Ed'dy in the past
six months 10 any newspaper.
Il do not believe that it is wise for
me to say anything regarding d matter
which is in court. l understand, how
ever. that Mr.. Bronn applied to Chris
tian Science after he had despaired OF
recovery under the doctors care.
Therefore. 1 trust that no Partially
will be shown By the court, but that
the doctors who failed 10 cure the man
III the ineipieney of his disease viii
share at least part of the censura
which falls to the Christian Scientists,
who failed to cure him when the dis
case had become more formidable."
While the Christian Scientists are
thoroughly aroused over what they con-
slider the unwarranted arrest of Brown
and Best, the county physician and
county prosecutor of Bergen County
are equally determined that they were
justified in their action in holding the
healers for the grand jury.
Bronn's Sister Won't Aid Prosecution.
County Prosecutor Koester proposes
to go before the Grand Jury and ask
that both men be indicted for man
slaughter One great drawback to a
successfully prosecution of the healers,
however, is that the brothers and sis
ters of Bronn decline to testify against
them, and declare that they are guilt
less of having caused their brothers
death.
County Physician De Mund was in
dignant when appraised today OF the
severe criticisms of him made by j. v.
Dittemore, head of the Christian
Science Publication Committee In New
York and by George IL. Letter 5. Of
Passaic, counsel for the accused
healers
"Any accusation that | attempted to
prejudice the coroner's Jury at the
Bronn inquest at Ransey is absolutely
and unqualfiedly false" said Dr. De
Mand to an EVENING STAR reporter
in Ridgewood today.
when | know that | am right moth
ing shall deter me from my duty
felt convinced that these two Christian
Science heelers ought 20 be held for
the Grand Jury. 1t is for that body to
determine the extent of their culpa-
bihty. / would not be surprised. how
ever, if indictments were handed down
charging them with manslaughter.
Calls HenIer's CharEc Absurd.
"a coroner's inquest is not a trial
and for that reason the charge made
by the Christian Scientists that l did
not allow their lawyer 10 eross-eS~
anime witnesses is absurd Nobody
was on trial The inquest was held
for the purpose of attempting to estah-
lish the causes of Mr. Bronns death
and the culpability of the two Dealers.
1T is the duty of the coroners in
quest to determine certain facts pre-
liminary to a Grand Jury investigation.
1t is then the duty of the Grand Jury
to take action
County Prosecutor Rooster said to-
day:
ANY charges of conspiracy on the
part of the county officials in this mat
Lti 10 dhSuIu. IItlt ~ ilp NiSktaAAAJH
on the part of the county prosecutor TO
act unfairly toward Christian Scientists
or the members of any other cult. 1t is
the duty of the prosecutor to consider
all persons innocent until proven guilty
In the case of Messrs. Brown and Best
the coroner's jury felt justified in hold
ing them in $1,000 BAH for practising
medicine without license in New
Jersey.
II shall certainly 80 before the Grand
Jury. / may ask for an Indictment for
l may ask for an in
dictment on less serious charge At
present they are held for a misde-
punishable with an imprison-
ment, fine, or both.
a remarkable feature of the investi-
cation into Bronn's death is the attitude
Of Miss Jeanette and Miss ceclie
Bronn. the sisters Of the dead man. who