THE PECULIAR "PEOPLE."

Dunstan Times, Issue 1842, 12 November 1897, Page 6

THE PECULIAR "PEOPLE."

Dr E. K. Houchin held an inquiry at Poplar, on July 8, concerning the death of Ruth Elizabeth Adams, aged five months, the daughter of a laborer at the East London Waterworks. Eliza Adams, the mother, stated that on Sunday morning at ten o’clock the child was seized with a fit, and as she still remained in it witness sent for the elder at 2 p.m. The Coroner : Who is he ? Witness: Mr Rayment. I belong to the “ Peculiar People,” The Coroner: What did he do?— Laid hands on the baby and offered prayer. The child died at 12 45 on Monday morning. Elizabeth Bell, of 74 Bygrove street, the wife of a laborer, also a member of the “ Peculiar People,” gave similar evidence. The Coroner : It is not my duty to upset your religious belief, bub you ought to have called in a doctor. I think it outrageous ithat you can calmly and religiously look upon a child in danger of its life and yet nob call in a skilled person to it.—(Hear, hear.) It is your ignorance. Witness : Bub I have proved the Lord so many times in the case of my own children. The Coroner : What would you do in the case of a broken leg? Witness : I suppose we should do like other people—go to a hospital. (Ironical laughter from the jury.) A Juror : But you would have a doctor then. Witness: While we live to the Lord I don’t think we shall get a broken leg. (Renewed laughter.) The jury returned a verdict of “ Death from convulsions, natural causes,” and requested the coroner to severely censure the mother and the elder.