Called Ethel Marrianne in the GROE birth index.
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At the time of the 1901 England Census Ethel M Oates, aged 28, born in Heckmondwike Yorks, single, head of private school, was living in Ings Cottage, Mirfield Yorkshire.
At the time of the 1911 England Census Ethel M Oates, aged 38, born in Heckmondwike Yorkshire, single, principal of private school, was living in High School, Mirfield, Yorkshire. With her was sister Jessie Mary Oates.
In May 1928 Ethel Marian Oates, spinster, was granted Probate of her late mother's personal effects.
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REFUSED TO SEE DOCTOR
MIRFIELD CHRISTIAN SCIENTIST
LIFE MIGHT HAVE BEEN PROLONGED
An inquest was held at Mirfield on Thursday respecting the sudden death of Miss Ethel Marian Oates (62), who for forty-two years had been joint principal with her sister of the Mirfield High School for Girls, and who was a pioneer of the Christian Science movement. She was well known in Huddersfield.
Miss Jessie Mary Oates said her sister had not been at her duties for nearly a fortnight. She had complained of shortness of breath for twelve months, and particularly during the last three months.
The Coroner (Mr. C. J. Haworth): She had not received any medical attention from a doctor?—No.
Who has attended her?—I had a Christian Scientist.
What was her name?—Mrs. Woodhead, and she treated her right up to the end.
For what?—She has had Christian Science treatment.
Witness added that her sister had been confined to bed since last Thursday and died suddenly yesterday morning.
The Coroner: I take it your sister did not believe in having doctors?—That is quite correct.
But did you not think it desirable to call anybody in?—No sir. We trusted in Christian Science.
Answering Dr. Sutherland, the county pathologist, witness admitted that her sister's neck had been swollen thirty-three years, and that it had gradually got bigger.
CURVATURE OF THE SPINE
Witness further admitted that her sister had had curvature of the spine all her life, and that her legs and feet had been swollen for about two months.
Answering Dr. Sutherland, she said they had asked the practitioner about the swollen legs and feet.
The Coroner: When did a medical man last attend her?—About thirty-five years ago.
Mr. Brown, of Bradford, who appeared for the relatives, asked witness how long her sister had been a Christian Scientist. She answered, "About thirty-five years."
Mr. Brown: So that practically she was one of the pioneers of Christian Science in this country?—yes.
And all that time she had relied on Christian Science treatment?—Yes.
Do you consider that Christian Science treatment as she understood it helped to keep down the effects of the goitre?—I do, splendidly.
And was she of the same opinion?—Yes.
Was any pressure brought to bear upon her that she should have Christian Science treatment?—No. She wanted that herself.
If she had wanted could she have had a medical man?—Certainly.
Dr. Sutherland said a post-mortem examination had revealed curvature of the spine, goitre on both sides of the neck, chronic nephritis, and extreme anaemia. The cause of death—was cardiac failure, chronic myocarditis, and goitre.
The Coroner: Are you prepared to say if she had had medical attention it would have made any difference?—It would probably have prolonged her life.
HER OWN RESPONSIBILITY
It was her business if she did not like to have a doctor?—It was.
Mr. Brown: Do you consider that Christian Science treatment had helped to keep the effects of the goitre?—I don't think it would effect it one way or the other. Nothing but the knife would have made any difference to the goitre.
The Coroner said that as Miss Oates was a Christian Scientist, she did not believe in having medical attention, and if a person in full possession of her faculties, as he understood she was, liked to take that line, it did not affect the matter whatever the jury's personal views might be. In that case deceased was a person of some responsibility, and he did not think anything which might be said about Christian Science had anything to do with the death, which was purely a natural one.
The jury returned a verdict of death from natural causes.
The Huddersfield Examiner, Saturday, 28 Jul 1934, p. 3
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Ethel Marian Oates of Ings Grove Cottage Eastthorpe Mirfield Yorkshire, spinster, died 25 July 1934. Probate Wakefield 7 September to Jessie Mary Oates, spinster. Effects £715 6s. 2d. 3
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