“PECULIAR PEOPLE.”

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9386, 4 March 1909, Page 7

“PECULIAR PEOPLE.”

JUDGE’S STRICTURES. An 1 interesting dialogue between Mr Justice Grantham and a witness took place at the Old Bailey, wnen George and Eliza Horsnell, Plaistow, members of the sect known as “she Peculiar-People,” were charged with the manslaughter of their four-year-old daughter. The child had measles, followed by pneumonia, and elders of the sect were called in to pray over it, bnt it died. An elder of the sect—-the Wife of a labourer —was in the witness-box, and had explained that “we believe •in the teaching oi St. James.” Mr Justice Grantham: Did our Saviour ever tell you you should not have a doctor? Witness : I have not read where He tells us to, have one. Our Saviovr says the whole require no physician. 1 That rather indicates that the sick do?—I understand that means the sick of soul. Ido not know why you put the apostle before the Saviour, Why was your husband called in? Would not your prayer do as well? —I did pray, and God heard my prayer. Tour husband prayed too, but it did not save the child?—l merely asked God to bless the child. Mr Justice Grantham : We can all do that. ' Addressing the jury, the prisoner, George Hprsnell, said he had an honest belief in God. The King, when Prince of Wales, suffered from typhoid fever, and on prayer going, up throughout the land His Majesty recovered. ” Referring to this in his summingup, the judge said that his recollection was that Sir William Gull was unremitting in his medical! attend ance upon His Royal Highness. “These people,” he said, “evidently glory in their beliefs, which they obtain by harrow interpretations of Biblical passages. They would rather sacrifice their children than their pet hobby. ” The jury found the prisoners guilty, and each was sentenced to three months’ hard labour.