The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1912-03-30
CHRISTIAN SCIENCE
HEALER BEFORE JURY
Cole, in Second Trial. Says He
Would Not Advise Medical
Service for Pneumonia.
HIS INCOME OVER $1,000
Would Treat Even Contagious Diseases,
He Admits-Mrs. Benzecry
Tells Of Visits.

The testimony in the second trial
OF Willis Vernon Cole the Christian Science
practitioner charged with the illegal
practice OF medicine. was all put before
the jury yesterday. Mrs. Frances Benze-
cry. an investigator for the New York
County Medical Society. the sole witness
for the prosecution. took up the major
part OF the morning session before Justice
Seabury in the Criminal Branch Of the
Supreme Court. In the afternoon the
defence produced its one witness.
Cole himself.
The first trial OF Cole ended on March
in a disagreement. the vote standing
four for conviction and eight for acquittal.
Mrs Benzecry. who gathered the evil
dence on which Cole was arrested.
told Of her four visits to Coles office in
the Brunswick Building at Twenty
seventh street and Fifth avenue. The
first OF these was on January 10. 1911
Mrs. Benzecry said she told Cole she had
trouble with her eyes and asked him il
he could help her. He said he could
and that il we have faith in God he will
help US and heal our troubles" she testi.
fed She said she also mentioned having
friend who had cancer and Cole
replied. BY all means send her up to
me-
Il can cure stomach trouble by Chris
tian Science she says he also told her.
When Cole took the stand in the after
noon he said that he was poet and ha d
written books Of verse. He said that
when Mrs. Benzecry asked him about
taking off her glasses he hai replied
that there was no reason why she should
not take them on
Il told her had taken mine Oft after
wearing them for years" he contin ued
He also said he had told her he had been
an invalid md had con suited various
no cure until he tried Christian Science
He continued that he had told Mrs
Ben2ecry to eat what she wanted-what
was set before her.
Il didn't tell her | could cure stomach
trouble" he went on. but l remember
diseases and could cure one thing a
well a. another" He said also he did
not tell Mrs. Benzecry that he could cure
locomotor ataXia when she had men
toned a child having that disease. but
that he told her Christian Science had
cured locomotor ataxia. l told her that
had no more power than she habitat
II was God who had the power and that
prayer was the only means"
On her fourth visit Mrs. Benzecry
brought her daughter, Lucille, 10 years old.
Lucille wore glasses and Mrs. Benzecry
asked If she should take them of Cole
sa Id he told the mother he saw no reason
why she should not take them Off Il
looked down at Lucille" he said, "and
said to her: Lucille, wouldn't you like
smiled sfe and S ySoreS sasseSS head The san shd
prayer, Later I told the mother not to
fear. that her fear might reflect on the
child and that we must overcome fear and
apprehension.
On the cross-exa mination there was a
saying that I'VE do not recognize dis
ease. A minute afterward he men,
ease"
MIR. Mott brought out that Cole makes
between 5000 and $4,000 a year as a
where around 5000 calls a year. There
was no case, he said, that he would refuse
| to treat. including contag ious diseases
/ thought the conditions warranted IL. +"
He said he would recommend consulting
physician and would see that the proper
tagious diseases. But he admitted that
II woman brought a child to him suf-
tering from pneumonia he would advise
her not to take the child to a physician.
Pressed further by the question, "No mat
said, Il would do what seemed best under
the circumstances.
Samuel Untermyer. attorney for Cole,
objected to the cha of the cross
examination. insisting that the Christian
Science Church was being put on trial
when testimony of the efficacy of the
Christian Science methods had been
ruled out.
Justice Seabury finally characterized
one OF Mr.. Untermyer's remarks as @en-
tirely unwarranted and Objectionable.
The court room was Allied with Christian
Science practitioners and others inter
Gated In tho subject. The case will 20
TO the Jury this morning