Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1913-09-10

the right to compel free born
American citizen to employ pnys1-
clans and have them administer medi
clnes to member of his family,
when such treatment is in strict op-
position to religious belief of the
family and the patient, is ITO be
determined by Judge J. NJ. Elliott in
the Jefferson chancery court !. this
afternoon, when an application for
an injunction to restrain doctors
from going to the home of D. c.
Leach, of No. Us Walnut street, to
examine or administer to his four
teen year old daughter, Miss Edith
Leach, who is a Christian Scientist
and who is said to be improving
under Science treatment.
The application was prepared yes
terday by AAttorney a., H. Rowell,
counsel for MI. Leach, who. at the
instance of Miss Julia Houston, chief
probation officer for the Juvenile
Court, was ordered by Judge
Phipot to appear in court Tuesday
morning and show cause why his
daughter should not be given medi
cal attention, it being alleged that
she was not being properly treated.
MIR. Leach appeared in court with
his attorney, who is said to have
also been employed by the local
Christian Science church organiza-
tio1, and defended his action and
strongly denied the charges made
against him.
Mr. Leach testified briefly after
Attorney Rowell had made lengthy
argument, contending that the Juye-
nile Court had no jurisdiction in
such cases. Judge Philpot ruled
adversely to him, however, holding
that he thought he had jurisdiction
in the matter. He said that he would
prefer, however, for higher court to
define his authority, and before send
ing physicians to the Leach home to
make report to him, he would give
counsel for Mr.. Leach time in which
to secure a ruling from Judge Ell
liott. He named DR.. w. H. Blank
enship, county health officer. and
DR.. wv. T. Lowe, city physician, to
visit the Leach home, provided the
higher court decides they may 40 10.
The application for the writ will be
argued before Chancellor Elliot this
afternoon at o'clock.
DR.. w. r.. Lowe informed Judge
Philpot yesterday that he had been
TO the Leach home ten days ago and
was cordially received there. He
saws he found Miss Leach suffering
from slight fever and that she ap-
neared to be emaciated. Mr.. Leach
said that his daughter has improved
considerably since that time. DIR.
Lowe did not administer to the young
lady.
Mr.. Leach further told Judge Phil
not that his daughter was q firm
believer in the teachings Of Christian
Science; that any interference by
nhyscians would be suicidal and that
| he believed the shock would kill her.
Judge Philpot informed 'Mr. Leach
that he dislikes to take action in the
| matter for fear that the shock, as
he said, might prove serious to his
daughter, and then again he would
fell that If no medical aid was given
the young lady and her illness should
result fatally, then he would also
blame himself. The position he Il
in. he said, was delicate one, and
he promised to act as he Thought was
hest for all concerned.
Attorney, Rowell has been looking
lhpsmdny laathorities tn7silhiiar cases
shd IIthete Isl possibility Of his ao'
uusbfns the tnjunc1ton proceedings
Z = - xsI1a ether feSa1 ntopo 1pfl