RT Journal
T1 "Divine healing" homicide
JF Journal of the American Medical Association
JO Journal of the American Medical Association
YR 1899
FD December 23
VO XXXIII
IS 26
SP 1621
OP 1621
DO 10.1001/jama.1899.02450780053011
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jama.1899.02450780053011
AB A "divine healer" in Montana claims to have, by silent prayer, caused the death of one who was arguing with him and whose demonstrations, he claims, had become threatening. This may be taken as an additional argument for the regulation, or rather suppression, of these irregular practitioners. The coroner's verdict, it is true, found that the decease was due to heart disease, but the reverend healer still claims that it was his influence with the Deity that caused it. If "divine healers" in Montana are going to be thus homicidal in their claims, it is time to look out for them. An indictment that so and so "did maliciously and feloniously assault, slay, injure, kill, murder," etc., with "silent prayer," stated with all the tautology and surplusage of the law, would seem to be next in order. At least, such an indictment ought to be valid before some of our