The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1916-01-07
CORONER CLOSES
PROBE OF DEATH
OF x-SCIENTIST
No Criminal Responsibility
Attached to- Case of John
MacIlroy.
CHRISTIAN SCIENCE
READERS SAW HIM
Physician, Coming at 11th
Hour, Kindly Received,
But Dismissed.

Coroner John +. Phe1an has COM
pleted his inquiry into the circum-
stances attending the death of John
MacIlroy OF Stratford, who was i'll
for 10 days, and who was visited by
his death. The coroner finds no GRIM
inal negligence in connection with the
death of MacIlroy, pointing out that
both he and his family, were prompt
ed by their leanings towards Chris
tan Science to prefer Christian Sci
ence to medical practitioners.
Through the investigation it tran
spired that the condition of Mac
Troy became steadily worse, his wife,
who was also a believer in Christian
Science teaching; impertuned by the
-neighbors, called in DR.. DeRuyter
Howland. While receiving the physi-
clan kindly, Mr.. MacI1roy declined to
receive treatment from him. He died
thre hours later. The coroner's report
follows:
THE undersigned having notice of
the death of John McI1roy, a white
male SO years old, late of the town
of Stratford. who on the Srd day of
January, A. D., .,1916, died an untime-i
" death >at<117 Warwick Ave, in the
town OF StTatford, having made i'm
mediate inquiry concerning his death,
do hereby certify that said John Nc
Ilroy died in Stratford on the 3rd day
Of January A. D., 1916, from bron-
cho-pneunonia following influenza
grip.
1T appeared upon inquiry, the de-
ceased. who was an ardent believer in
Christian Science teachings, became
sick on Sunday, Dec. 26. 1915. He
thereupon> requested his wife, who is
an interested believer in the tenets
of Christian Science also, to call a
Mrs Hodge, known as a practitioner
or healer OF that faith to attend and
give him such treatment as is ususaI
and approved by the practices of
Christian Sciences The practitioner
named, as well as one Mrs. Conrad
also a. like practitioner, attended him
at his home during his Illness minis
tering to him as above. They failed
inS their efforts to save him, however,
as he died on the date above shown.
During the period OF the Illness
the wife of the deceased, upon the
suggestions OF neighbors, as well as by
her own earnest promptinga,. besought
her husband many times during the
week to allow her to call her family
physician to prescribe remedies and
treatment. The deceased. however,
having full belief in the treatment of
the practitioners named, expressed /
the desire that Christian Science
treatment be continued instead. On
Sunday, Jan. 2, 1915 said wife be-
cause of the continuance rather than
the apparent danger of the Illness,
without her husbands consent, called
a physician to treat him. The latter,
then very weak and i'll, while kindly
receiving the physician, desired ana
received no materia-Ssoedi edication from
him. but instead insisted on continuing
the Christian Science treatment, In
which he at all times expressed un-
bounded faith.
enquiry failed tosshow any con-
d11ct on the part of the wife or friends
of the deceased in reference to ms
proper care and treatment as could be
c1assed as cri1ninally negligent, but
instead he received at the1r n1nus us
every comforting attention desired by
him in the carrying out of the treat
ment of his cure justified by his per-
sistent faith in Christian Science
teachings.
II ther fore hold the deceased died
at the time, place and from the cause
stated, and am satisfied that sa1d
death was not caused by the criminal
act of any person or persons
Neither Mrs. Hodge or Mrs. Conrad |
are known to the local officials of the |
Christian Science church. here. There |
is no branch of the church IN slrat- |
ford. Frederick A. Peitzsch, a factory
ofncialt is the principal reader for the
society In this city. The society has /
rooms at 81 Lafayette street MT.
Peitzsch has declared that MI Mac
Ilroy was not member of the church |
in this city and that he was not at /
tended by any Christian Science read.
ers.
Miss Jessie Kinsley Of North avenue
is the second reader in the church
here.
The services at the funeral of Mr..
MacIlroy were conducted by the 1sev.
Kennedy, rector Of Christ
Episcopal church of Stratford. The /
ritual for the dead was also
exemplif1ed by officers of st. Johns
lodge of Stratford.