The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1929-11-16
MIRACLE CURES
At GRAVES|DE !.
DISPUTED

BOSTON, Nov. 16,-Skepticism
has arisen over three cures re-
ported from the grave Of the Rev.
Father Patrick j. Power, in Holy
Cross Cemetery, at Maiden, which
continues to attract scores of
thousands who are in search of
relief from their irlfirmities.
A doctor said today a woman
who had been able to discard a
flusted cast after a visit to the
grave had acquired a habit Of
invalidisrn, a habit broken by her
experience at the cemetery"
In the other instances, persons
denied their children had been
miracuously cured, as reported.
Denies Som Is Cured
Vincent O'Neill, jr., Z, Of
Somerville, was reported as hay.
ing been cured of congenital
blindness. The boys father said
the boy never had been stone"
blind.
HE has a cataract over one
eye" the father said: "the other
eye has perfect vision. He goes
to school. Without my knowl-
edge, he was taken to the grave
by woman neighbor. He has
not changed a bit. told the
newspapers the facts and they
refused to print them. They
won't listen to me. I have re-
ceived a lot Of pathetic letters
on account Of this and lots of
people have been here. It's
terrible"
Harold sheehan. 7. Of Dor
chester, was reported having
thrown away braces he had on
his legs, deformed by infantile
paralysis three years ago.
His mother denied the tale.
Harold did not remove his
braces" she said, 81 wouldn't let
him. On the way home from
the grave he kicked his right
leg more than before and 1
thought it meant improvement.
I will take him to the grave
many more times"
Moody Case Disputed
In a plaster cast from neck to
hips. Miss Laura Moody, Is, of
Dorchester, kneeled over the
grave of the little-known priest
on ArmiStice Day. Outside the
cemetery she took her first steps
in a year, 1t was reported. Today
she walked about, greeting many
who had come to see her. One
caller arranged to have her speak
before an organization Of women
on her reputed cure.
DR.. Edward j. Leonard, Of Dor
chester, Miss Moody's physician.
said his patient had arthritis in
every joint.
"She had a useless left leg and
q poker back, virtually incur
able, when she left the hospital"
the doctor said. when I sent
her to the hospital she was a
perfectly healthy youngster bar
ring tonsilitis. The arthritis
infection came from the diseased
tonsils."
DR.. Leonard, who was gradu.
ated from the Georgetown Medi-
cal School in 1925, described a
poker" back as a spine stiffened
and curved either by arthritiS in
the vertebrae or by the stiffening
OF the ligaments.
What Hospital Reveals
Records of the Boston City Hos
pital, where Miss Moody was a
patient for IL months, tell a some
wi nat different story. On Febru-
airy 81, after Miss Moody had
undergone various treatments, a
notation on the records says that
the patient does not cooperate
well.'
X-ray photographs OF the spine
were taken on her admission to
the institution and often during
the II months. An early picture
showed faint clouding," indica-
ton Of arthritis, but the remain
Ing pictures were negative.
Discharged from the hospital,
the patient was taught by DR..
Harold w. Dana, who had charge
OF the case, to walk. DR.. Dana
now says that there was nothing
physically wrong with Miss Moody
when ShA 1nft fIa kocv,ifo1 IN,1f