Article August 19, 1905 Issue

A Decision Favorable to Christian Science

Chicago Chronicle

In 1902 in New York, for the first and only time in this country, an indictment for manslaughter was found in consequence of the death of a patient under Christian Science treatment.

A great many people will remember the incident. Little Esther Quinby was taken ill with diphtheria and her parents placed her under the care of a Christian Science healer, Mr. Lathrop, an refused to permit any regular physician to prescribe for her. When the patient grew worse popular indignation was manifested, but the parents adhered to their belief until the little girl died. Then the indictment was found.

The case never got beyond the county court, and was decided the other day by Judge Platt in the defendant's favor on a demurrer. As the State could not appeal, the opinion of the higher courts will never be known. The decision was that the facts as set out in the indictment did not describe a crime under the laws of New York, because the parents had an natural right to prescribe treatment "within reasonable bounds" for their children in illness, and probably also because there was no malice and no intention to kill.

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