The Detroit times., 1913-09-03
CORONER PROBES
DEATH OF GIRL
OF FIVE YEARS
Parents Refused to Give Medi,
cine Left by Physician, Roth
acher is Told
FATALISTS ARGUMENT
is THEIR EXCUSE
IF It's Gods Will Shell Be TAX.
.en; If Not, She'll Be
Restored

Ruth Margaret Bayless, beautiful
lhve-year-old daughter OF Charles
Rayless, door walker tor a downtown
store, died In her home, No. 466 Ly
caste-ave.. Monday night, while med
ticines prescribed by DR.. H. G. Pal
mer, OF No. 420 Baldwin-ave.. lay un
touched, the little girls parents ex
planning to the indignant physician
III 1t is Gods will that she be taker
from US. she will be taken. II not
she will be restored to US"
| Coroner J. w. Rothacher is making
a thorough investigation OF the case
He has not been able to interview
the parents OF the child, but he left
word for Chester Bayless to report tc
him at the coroner's Office, and make
his statement Of the case.
The parents of the little girl are
members OF the Pentacostal Mission
Of which the Rev. l. C.. Grant IL the
pastor.
Mrs. Bayless' father. Eugene
Phipps, of No. 443 Lycaste-ave.. mem
Der of the Burns-ave. church. and not
| In sympathy with his daughter
views OF his little granddaughter
illness. begged DR.. Palmer to do wha,
he could for the dying child, whose
illness had been diagnosed by the
| physician as rheumatism OF the heart
II left medicine for the child. ane
they refused to give II to her." DR.
Palmer told Mr.. Phipps. when asked
to make another visit. II know tina,
my services are not welcome"
! We'll, you call again. and I'll set
that she gets the medicine" Mr.
Phipps told the doctor.
DR.. Palmer made his first call 9
week ago, diagnosed the case, anc
left the medicine. Mr.. Phipps' att
tude, and the gossip Of the neighbors
who we're indignant because the sich
child was not receiving medical at
tention. caused Dr. Palmer to ot
called by the parents OF the child, !,
| Is said.
But when the doctor returned later
learned that his medicine had not
been given to the child. and found heI
condition worse. the parents gave tht
excuse given above, he says.
He left, but later was appealed u
by Mr.. Phipps, and agreed to go back
and see the child. She was dying and
beyond aid when he called, Monday
night She died at 10 o'clock.
| Or. Palmer notified Coroner Roth
acher. who Immediately investigated
but could not see the child's parents
who were out making funeral arrange
ments. Mrs. Bayless' sitter was II
the house. and another woman. dev
otee of the Pentacostal faith, repeated
to Coroner Rothacher the statement
that the child's death was Gods will
\ and medicine would have been OF M
use, anyway. She would not give heI
name to the coroner
I Coroner Rothacher immediatel,
/, planned to interview Mr. and Mrs
Bayless. but could not locate them
He then decided TO have a postmor
tenn examination OF the childs body
made, IN case II was decided to take
criminal proceedings In the matter
but he learned that the body was EN-
balmed by Undertaken Geist. foilins
the accuracy Of a postmortem. W
Hut | intend 10 take the matter
up With Prosecutor Shepherd" saf
Coroner Rothacher. Tuesday mornir 2
plainly showing his indignation ovel
the case. IF the child was Is year,
iold or over. and knew her own min,
sufficiently 10 decide whether sh,
WANTED to follow certain. faith, q
accept medical treatment. shouls
pay no attention TO 1t. but here Is tn
case OF one of the most beautiful IN
tie children one would care to see
left To die--without efforts at medica
treatment being made. on account o