Evening star., 1933-05-24
PLEAD NOT GUILTY
IN CANCER CASE
Two Physicians Arraigned
on MansIaughter Charge
at Rockville.
By STAFF Correspondent Of The Star.

BY STAFF Correspondent Of The Star.
ROCKVILLE, Md. May 24.-The
story Of the death in Baltimore May
last Of Mrs. Cora L: Britton, 39-
year-old New Jersey woman, was being
unfolded In the County Police Court
before Judge Donald A. Delashmutt
here today in the preliminary hearing
Of manslaughter charges lodged against
DR.. H. r. Street and DR.. Sherwood
Ferris as a result of the death.
The hearing opened shortly after 10
O'Clock with the court room crowded
with spectators, among them a number
of residents of the northern section of
Montgomery County who have been
treated by and who have appeared here
voluntarily to testify in behalf of Dr.
Street and his assistant in the event
counsel for the defense decides to call
upon them.
Not Guilty Plea Entered.
A plea Of not guilty to the charge
was made by Joseph c., Cissel, chief Of
counsel for the two physicians, when
the manslaughter warrants on which
DR.. Street and DR.. Ferris were ar
rested were read at the opening Of the
proceedings by Clerk of Court Frank
I. Davis.
Mrs. Britton died in the South Bal
timore General Hospital on May 4,
one month after she had been removed
from the home of Dr. Ferris, where it
was said that she had been treated
by the two doctors with q secret salve
that devours cancer"
The first witness called to the stand
was DR.. Roland L. Britton, husband
OF the dead woman, who told the court
that he had endeavored in vain to
persuade his wife to place herself un-
der the care of physicians and sur
geons In Atlantic City and Phila-
delphia, but she had refused and gone
to DR.. Street in Washington instead.
DR.. Britton was questioned by States
Attorney Stedman Prescott. Prescott
was assisted in his examination Of the
witness by Assistant States Attorney
Albert H: Blum OF Baltimore. who in
vestigated Mrs. Britton's death and
who came here to assist Prescott in
the case.
Gives History Of Case.
DR.. Britton said that his wife had
complained for more than a year of a
small lump in her breast prior to ap-
plying to DR.. Street for treatment and
that X-ray taken by Atlantic City ply
slcians found no involvement that would
defnltely indicate cancer He said that
his wife placed herself under the care
OF DR.. Street on January 30, last, and
that the Washington physician came to
the immediate conclusion Mrs. Britton
was suffering from cancer after making
nothing other than surface examination
He testified that his wife went to DR..
Ferris home in Chevy Chase several
days later and began to take the treat
ment Of DR.. Street.
The New Jersey physician said that
ne returned to his home in Mays Land
Ing to care for his patients there, but
visited his wife on numerous occasions.
ne said that the salye applied to Mrs.
Brltton's breast caused large wound.
The physician testified that his wife's
condition steadily became worse until
she finally had to be removed to the
Baltimore Hospital on April /.
Under direct examination, DR.. Brit
ton said that zinc chloride had been
known to the medical profession as a
treatment for cancer for more than so
years, but had been bitterly condemned
as terrible corrosive and a poison
that destroys, eats tissues, chars them
and burns them" In addition, he said,
1t eats everything in reach, even bones,
and Is hard to control"
No testimony to show that zinc
chloride was contained in the salve was
brought out during examination of DR..
Britton,