New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-07-11
Appellate Division SuS-
tains Conviction of
Willis V. Cole.
PRACTISES MEDICINE
WITHOUT LICENSE
Mother Church Apologist in De-
fence Alludes to Many Deaths
in Other Beliefs.

In sustaining the conviction of Willis
Vernon Cole for practising medicine
without license. the Appellate Divi
sion yesterday struck hard at Christian
Science healers. Justice Bowling dis
sented from the opinion of the major-
ity. This will make possible an appeal
by Cole and it is understood that he
Will have the financial aid and infiu-
cnce of the Church behind him to take
the case before the Court of Appeals.
Cole was convicted on charges made
by Mrs. Frances Benzecry, a detective
employed by the County Medical So
ciety, who went TO Cole for treatment.
The defendant assured her he could
cure lOcomotor ataXia lust by prayer
and having faith in God" Mrs. Benze-
cry submitted herself TO Coles treat
ment.
The question TO be settled. said JUS
tice Clarke, who wrote the prevailing
opinion. was: "ls commercislized use
Of prayer for the avowed purpose of
treating all persons seeking cure for all
kinds OF ills the practise of the re-
ligious tenets OF church," The court
held that IT was not.
II was the objection of Cole in try
the court had interfered with his OBJ
servance of the tenets of his church.
The court disavowed any purpose or
power TO interfere with a persons re-
ligious belief, but held that the curing
Of ills as practised by the Christian
Science Church was not one of its doc
trines.
Cole had an office for the practice Of
healing for FIVE wears before his con-
viction and for eight years he was an
unauthorized practitioner of the church.
Mrs. Benzecry testified that she APP
piled to Cole for treatment for poor
eyesight. He advised her to discard
the glasses she wore If she would re-
ceive any benefit. She said the treat
ment consisted of the healer's sitting
IN a chair opposite her and holding his
hands over his face about fifteen min
utes The fee for this silence treat
ment was 81. Each subsequent treat
ment was TO cost 81. She paid other
visits to the healer and he assured her
lie could cure any kind of sffliction
relying on prayer and faith. He also
asked the patient" TO buy copy of
Mrs. Eddy's book. :"Science and Health
Justice Laughlin concurred in the
prevailing opinion of the court, but said
that if Cole had given the treatment of
the Christian Science Church in visit
ing members of that Church it would
not have been in violation of the law.
Justice Bowling, in his dissenting
opinion, held that il Cole spent the
time in silent prayer when he treated
Mrs. Benzecry he did not commit an
unlawful act, because he might have
believed he was curing the maladies
Iecounted by the detective.
Clifford p. Smith, of the committee
on publication for the Mother Church
in Boston. issued a statement last night
through the Christian Science Com
mittee on Publication for New York,
al Madison av.
christian Science" he said, "is the
restoration of original Christianity
with its healing power. In principle
and practice it is the same, even
though Christian Scientists have not
become perfect in its practice. Even
as now practised, however, Christian
Science is the most effective agent
known to mankind. To illustrate It's
efficiency one can say that in the
United States more people die every
day under other kinds Of treatment
than the whole number who have ever
died under Christian Science treat
ment.
"The attitude of Christian Scientists
toward compensation is that which
was authorized by Christ Jesus. He
who said, 4 must be about my Father
business also said, The laoorer Is