The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1914-07-16
CHRISTIAN
SCIENCE HEALERS
WITH VIOLATIONS

AS the result of the death of Cath
crime Murray, the 4-year-old daughter
of Mr.. and Mrs. Roy Murray, 42S Pearl
street, from diphtheria, after being i'll
week, during which time the child
received no medical attention and the
case was not reported for quarantine,
affidavits were this afternoon filed in
the circuit court against two Christian
Science practitioners, Ada Converse,
Arden apartments, South Fourteenth
street, and Edith Cloyd, 1024h Main
street. Each woman is charged with
having, in the Catherine Murray case,
practiced medicine without license.
The trial of the two women on these
charges promises to attract more than
statewide attention, for a multipric-
ity of legal questions promises to
spring from it and a conviction OF the
defendants would be of serious conse-
quence to the Christian Science
church throughout the country.
Expects Church Fight.
1t would not be surprising to Prose
cutor Keller if he finds arrayed against
him in this case the national body OF
the Christian Science church.
I'm the affidavits l have filed
against Mrs Converse and Miss Cloyd
charge practicing medicine without
license, notwithstanding the fact
that Christian Science practitioners
taboo the use. of medicine" Prosecu-
tor Keller said this afternoon. But
the charge I have filed against the
two women is in accordance with the
state law, which provides that any I'M
licensed person who heals, cures or
relieves or attempts to heal, cure or
relieve any disease of mind or body
shall be deemed guilty Of practictng
medicine"
Mr. Keller says that for treatments
administered to Catherine Murray her
parents paid Mrs. Converse, who is the
widow of the late William Converse,
at one time judge of the city court,
the sum of $3.50, while Miss Cloyd re-
ceived $500.
Catherine Murray died the night of
Friday, July 3, after having been Ill
since the previous Sunday No physlc'
ian was notified of her illness nor was
the health officer A few hours be-
fore her death Miss Cloyd held the
child in her lap and gave her a per.
sonal treatment. When the child fell
asleep Miss Cloyd said the treatment
had been effective and the child would
upstairs room and placed on a couch,
and, Coroner Pierce says, left alone.
Later when her father entered the
room to see what her condition was
he found her on the floor. Then a
physician was summoned. He said
the child had died before his arrival.
While the child was i'll, Coroner
Pierce says, several neighbors called
and were exposed to the disease,
which Mrs. Murray later contracted.
Il realize that Christian Science has
been of great benefit in many cases.
said Prosecutor Rellar today, land
believe if Catherine Murray had been
woman of mature years no person
could be blamed for her death If she
had elected of her own free will to
take Christian Science treatments, but
inasmuch as Catherine was merely a
baby and had no view in the matter
believe l am justified in the action
am taking. The charge against the
two women only constitutes mis-
demeanor but to the best of my
knowledge there is no other charge
l can prefer against them"