The evening world., 1911-01-26
Arrest for Practice of Medicine
Unconstitutional, Says
Counsel Jerome.
HITS AT CHURCH RITES.
Cole Discharged, yWomen
Followers of Cult Rush
to Embrace Him.

Willis Vernon Cole. n Christian Sell
ence practitioner win offices at No. 2G
Fifth avenue. was arraigned before
Magistrate Freschl IN Jefferson Market
Court to-day on n charge OF practising
medicine without a license. Tho case,
collapsed because OF the failure ~ the
complaining witness TO appear and a,sj
because the complaint had not been
signed.
The courtroom was packed with prom
lnent Christian Scientists. Former Dis
trict-Attorney Jerome was present to
defend Cole. a tall. good locking young
man. attlred In black and carrying u
g~oldheaded cane. Two scores OF fash
ionably dressed women were In the
courtroom throng, n the majority OF
the men bore every evidence OF pros
pcrity. Among them was Virgil o.
Strickler. First Reader OF the First
Scientist and leader OF the OPP
position to Mrs. Stetson Ia that marble
edihce.
Woman Furnished Evidence.
The warrant upon which Cole was ar
rested had been issued by chief Mas.s-
| trate McAdoo on evidence obtained by
| Mrs. Isabel, Goodwin. a police matron
| who has been active In the recent prose-
| cution Of palmlsts. clairvoyants and as
sorted varieties OF soothJlyers and as
| t~rologcrs.
Mrs. Goodwin has been backed by the
! County Medical Society. and whef
Healer Cole was arraigned to-day AL
muth c.. Vandlver. counsel for the So
ciety, was ready to assist In the prose
cution. Vandlvor was formerly an as
sistant on Jerome's staff.
After Lawyer jerome had called at
tention to the fact thai tho complain
was not signed and that Airs. Goodwin
was not In court, he said:
The statutes provide that persons
shall not be prosecuted In the practice
OF their religious belief. Were the sor
o. prosecution here attempted SUSTAINED
IL would dc away with all religious per
formances and abolish the use OF tn
relies of st. Ann and certain rites oi
the Jewish faith and Interfere Will
many religious functions.
Jerome Hints at Prejudice.
"Reccntly many select arrests have
been made by the police-astrologers
hypaotlsts. fortune-tellcrs, clalrvoyant'
and palmists-and somehow this one
man has been singled out among th'
Christian Scientists; all OF whom who
practIse their religion are as guilty
as he.
"Now," continued Mr.. Jerome. III the
County Medical Society wishes TO ge'
Mr.. cole at any tlmo II will have nc
trouble In finding him. II this sort al
prosecution Is attempted we will tesi
the constltutionallty OF the law unde'
which 1t IL tried In the highest courts
in the land. The Christian Science
Church Is ready to make a test cas'
OF It,"
When Magistrate Freschi announced
that MIR. Cole had been discharged muir
murs OF applause swelled through IN,
courtroom. AS tho young man passed
through the gate there was n rush t.
shake his hand and pat him on tn,
hack. For a few moments he was al,
most smothered with congratulations.
Several young women were on IN,
vsrpe OF embracing him when a pho
tographer pointed his camera towar,
Healer Cole and he fled. Dashlnl
through tho ranks OF his friends. h
aprlnted past the battery OF camera
and rushed up to the ~ platform o
the Eighth street station.