A PECULIAR PEOPLE

Patea Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 116, 27 September 1895, Page 3

A PECULIAR PEOPLE

On Monday night at Canning Town (says the Leeds Times of July 15th) Mr C. Lewis opened an enquiry concerning the death of two children whose parents arc members of a sect known as “The Peculiar People.” The names of the deceased wore given as Joseph Daakins, aged 23 mouths, and Edith Laws, aged six years.

Rose Darkins, mother of the boy. said that deceased first appeared unwell on Friday week, when she noticed he was feverish. They did not call in a doctor, but prayed to the Lord for His assistance. On Sunday they look the deceased to their church, and called upon the Lord for His help; they had, however, to take him out of church, as he sneezed.

The Coroner —Did you put any poultices on his chest f 'Witness—No, sir.— But surely your people don’t object to that?— Yes, we do.- Then nothing whs done for the child ? —ITo, only our supplications to the Lord. Witness said that on Tuesday evening l they called in Sister Jaivis.—Coroner--What did she do? Witness—Only prayed to the Lord. On Thursday morning the child died. Coroner—l can’t understand what you think doctors ore educated for. The law provides that if a child wants medical aid it can get it. All you do is to take it out and help to kill if. I thought by this time you had seen the error of these foolish ways.

Witness—We annoinfc the child and trust to the Lord. A Juror-In my opinion this child’s death has been accelerated by neglect. Coroner—Doctors always order their patients suffering from influenza to keep to their beds; you take the child out. Trusting in tbe Lord is not sufficient. If your child is ill it is your duty to get a doctor. E'.iza Jarvis, who described herself as a “sister,” deposed that she had been a member of the sect for 35 years. When she saw the deceased it appeared to bo suffering from influenza. Coroner— Yet you did nothing ? Witness—An “ elder ’ was sent for, and he laid bands on it and prajed for it. They did not cull in a doctor, as they trusted wholly and solely in the Lord. The jury returned a verdict that the deceased died from natural causes, but expressed the opinion that if medical aid hud been called in the child’s life might have been saved, and they hoped that they would take some steps to have a doctor in the future. The Coroner said he quite agreed with the opinion of the jury. If something was not done they would find some day they had a serious charge to answer, and they would be severely punished.