A Case which may assume great interest and importance as a precedent is that in which a grand jury in New York state has just indicted the leaders of several Christian Science societies. The occasion of the indictments was the death of a woman while under the care of Christian Scientists. She had been without the services of a regular physician. The coroner's jury denounced the individuals whom she had engaged to treat her, and later the grand jury made out several indictments.
Were the case simply that of a person who had died because of someone's failure or neglect to procure a physician it might easily be dealt with under existing laws. But it will be interesting to see what the courts will do with a problem so complicated with the elements of religious belief and philosophy as this one is. With those who believe in so-called Christian Science—and many of them are undoubtedly sincere in that belief— it is a religion as well as a means of treatment. They can set up the claims of religious liberty, and they can also point out the fact that if patients die under their treatment so do patients die under the treatment of regularly recorded physicians.
It is a nice problem which the courts of Oneida county confront, and they will have to be wise indeed if they can adjudicate it without appearance of prejudice and absolutely on its merits. — Chicago Record.
