New-York tribune., 1912-03-02
NO VERDICT IN TRIAL
OF SCIENCE HEALER
Failure Of Jury to Agree Proves
a Real Disappointment to
Believers in Court.
CONSIDERED CASE A TEST
Prosecution Plans Another Trlai
of Willis Vernon Cole on Charge
of Practising Medicine
Without a License.

The Jury that tried Willis Vernon Co'e'
Christian Science healer. for prac'isins
medicine without a license. returned 10
yustice Seabury. in the Criminal brahch
OF the Supreme Court. at 3:5o O'CLOCK iaS'
evening. and said 1t could not agree upon
verdict. The jurors had been out
about an hour and half and three pal
lots had been taken. each OF whlch
showed eight for acquittal and four 1or
conviction.
The courtroom was filed with spec'a-
tors. many of whom were active ana ir-
dent scientists To them the prospect or
y disagreement was a real dtsappoinl-
ment. Conviction. anything, would nave
pleased them better than that as the
Christian Science Church regards the
trial of this healer as test case. and II
stands ready to carry il to the tnteu
States Supreme Court in the event 81
conviction in order that the right to heal
the sick through faith may he estdb-
lshed by law.
Gentlemen. don't you think that by
luTlIfl uNlpCI dNlcAi y pN' N'''' NN''~
unanimous decision? Remember. this is
very important case" said Justice Sea-
bury. George G. Webber. the foreman.
shook his head. Then ]. Charles An
drews. the last man in the box, asked
permission to speak.
we arc unable TO agree as TO what
constitutes medical practice in the ver-
sion Of the statute or what constitutes a
violation of the statute" he said.
There's no use voting again. The four
that stand for conviction say they will
never never vote for acquittal" eX-
claimed Mr.. Andrews.
Healer Win be Tried Again.
Justice Seabury proceeded to discharge
the jury. and the defendant was con-
tjnued in the same hail. Another trial
will ne ordered for Cole, either in the
Supreme Court or in General Sessions,
according to Charles G. Mott jr., As
sistant District Attorney. who, With
Morris Koenig, prosecuted. In the mean
while Cole, confident and smiling, ac-
cepted assurances and even congratuia-
tions from Judge Clifford p. Smith. presi-
dent Of the mother church in Boston;
John V. Dittemore, chief lecturer Of the
church in Boston; Richard p. Verrall.
first reader OF the First Church of Christ,
Scientist, in this city; f. r. Cox, head Of
the Christian Science publicity commit
tee, at No. ] Madison avenue. and A
number of women Scientists more or less
. prominent in the First Church.
The morning session was taken up
with The testimony Of Mrs. Frances
Benzecry, the detective for the New
York County Medical Society. who took
four treatments from Cole at his office.
No. 225 Fifth avenue, for defective eve
sight. backache and stomach disease,
paying him 50 for the first visit and 81
for each subsequent visit She said the
and told her she could be cured through
prayer. He advised laying aside her
glasses and removing a porous plaster
from her back. Then he sat opposite her
in PRAYER. with his hands over his eyes
for several minutes. after which he said
announced his fee. she said. She paid
him 81 and went away.
Thc healer took the stand after the
noon recess. He said he was formerly
IN art student Of independent means.
Ills conversion 10 Science. he said. came
about through his miraculous cure from
threatened blindness, after he had been
treated without success by several of the
Lost known eye specialists in the coun-
ny. He found it difficult TO tell the
prosecutor how much money he took in
from his Science practice every year. but
ne thought it might he as high as $1,000
He WAS sure it wasn't much as
$1,000. When Mr.. Mott tried 10 bring
out his expenses. such as rent, etc.
Salnuel Untermycr. Coles counsel. OBJ
jcctcd and Justice Seabur: sustained the
objection.