Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-02-09
PARENTS ARE HELD
IN ''HEAL|NG" CASE
Child, S, Allowed to Suffer Five
Days From Burns-Doctors
Against Faith
NEIGHB0RS HEARD SCREAMS

For allowing their FIVE year old
daughter, Jane, to suffer terrible ago
MICS from burns. because they believed
that to obtain medical attention would
be violation of the tenets of their re-
ligion, Mr.. and Mrs. John Draper, of
2T63 Helen street were arrested today.
They were held under $500 bail each
for hearing Wednesday in the juve-
nile branch Of tho Municipal Court.
Mr.. and Mrs. Draper attended Faith
tabernacle, at 2739 North Second street.
and it was on the injunction of Ambrose
Clark. elder of the tabernacle, it is
said, that the parents refused to sum
mon medical aid when their child was
terribly burned in trying to rescue her
Bible. which her brother had thrown
into the kitchen stove.
For five days the child. who now faces
Disagreement for life. suffer ed untold
agony. Instead of soothing bandages
and medicine. the little girl had cold
water put on her burns, and both her
parents prayed for her, "leaving the
rest to God.
Finally neighbors. unable to with
stand the shrieks of the baby, reported
the ca to the Society to Protect Chill
drcn i.Om Cruelty and agents had the
little ,s'tim hurried to St. CHRISTOPHER s
Hospital.
Albert G. Richter attorney for the
society. had warrant issued by Judge
Bartlett. of the Municipal Court. and
n writ server from the Office of Robert
Foster. a deputy sheriff of the juvenile
branch. this morning arrested the man
and his wife. They furnished their own
bond.
To Investigate Elder
Mr.. Richter said that immediate &C
ton would not he brought against Am
brose Clark
I'VE have plenty of time to deal with
Clark, said Mr.. Richter. land if he is
shown to be in any way responsible for
the criminal neglect of the Draper child.
through religious fanaticism, no effort
will be spared to punish him.
Mrs. Draper is quoted as saying:
He told me 10 go home and pray
and leave the rest to God.
II knew my little girl was suffering
terribly. but | was following the dictates
of my faith. If We had hno2 left alone
Jane would have been healed by God
before now. I was not neglecting her.
bathcd her in cold water once daily
The rest was in Gods hands.
Don make me laugh, my liHS will
crack"
Thus did Clark comment on the case
of the disfgured child, when asked
this morning if it was true that
the mother had followed his instruc-
tions.
Would you have used your own
medicine had your child been burncd?"
he was asked.
II have nothing to say. won't
say anything shouted the man. push
ing reporter from his doorstoop and
slamming the door in his face.
Law Provides for Case
Mr.. Richter said he had gone into
the case thoroughly and had found nu-
mcrous convictions in PENNSYLVANIA for
similar offcnscs
The law provides against the in
human possibility of suhiccting chill
dren TO torture because Of the religious
fanaticism of the parents" he said
Heavy penalties have been imposed in
this state in similar cases.
SHOULD the child die. any one know,
to have influenced her parents against
obtaining proper medical attention viii
undoubtedly lc held criminally liable. -
The criminal action against the
Diapers is Delng brought under m act
Of 1879, Hscribiug penalties for the
neglect of children and for cruelty to
them.