The Sun.
London, England, 1869-02-06 00:00:00

THE CONVERT CASE.

SAtrßni V. STARR AND KEN. NEM —lf the Court of Queen s
Bench had been six times as large as it is, it would rot have

been large enough to afford room for all who yesterday

went down to Westminster on the chance of obtaining a
glimpse of the " sister." Not to have the building crowded
to an extent which would interfere with the business before
it, the Lord Chief Justice gave special orders to the officials
'as to the way in which the right of admission was to be
granted. As it was, many members of the bar were
ruthlessly shut out, for those who had secured
either seats or standing room stuck to their
privileges throughout the day with a persistency
wonderfully unanimous. In the body of the court were a
large number of the Roman Catholic priesthood, and the
gallery at the end was occupied by Sisters of Mercy, in the
habits of their order, who will be called as witnesses. The
examination of the plaintiff was resumed yesterday,
when she said, in further evidence of the con-
duct to which she had been subjected : About
30th May, 1865, I reached the convent from school about
four o'clock. I had a little tea and bread, and then I went to
the community-room. In passing Mrs. Starr's room, she
called me in. Mrs. Kennedy was there. The door was
then closed. Mrs. Starr desired me to take off my clothes.
I hesitated for a few moments, and then I remembered my
vow of obedience. I then took off my veil, habit, cincture,
and beads. I waited a little while between each, but
The hurried me, and helped to pull them off, and
examined each article. She unfastened a pocket and
pulled it very roughly from me, and threw it to Mrs.
Kennedy. I asked her to let me have my handkerchief
that was in it, as I was crying, and Mrs. Kennedy gave it
to me. Mrs. Starr then directed me to take off my skirt
and stays. I did so, but each article she rudely pulled
from me. Each article as it was taken off was examined.
I never saw my pocket nor the contents afterwards. Mrs.
Starr undid my last skirt and examined me.
The Lord Chief Justice : Did she convey the idea to you
for what purpose ?
Plaintiff : No, my lord. She dragged the scapularies
off my neck, and also a small rosary I was wearing. She
then threw me back some of my clothes to put on. I did
so, and when dressed I left the room by her orders. My
examination book which contained entries relative to confes-
sion was in my pocket. The articles produced were taken
from my desk, except one examination book that was in my
pocket. About Dec. Ist or 2nd, 1865,1 was sitting at work
in the morning in the community-room. Mrs. Starr came
into the room, and by her orders I went into the small
room adjoining, and in the presence of Mrs. Dawson, now
a community sister (Sister Mary Winifred), but then a
novice, I had to undress standing opposite the open door,
with the sisters constantly communicating with Mrs.
Starr. My clothes were all taken off except my
inside tunic. This occupied a considerable period.
I was standing all the time, and felt very cold. I put the
habit over my shoulders, but Mrs. Starr rudely pulled it
off. She told Mrs. Dawson she could not tell how I could
stay in the house, and that I might go as soon as I liked.
She appealed to Mre. Kerr to know if it was not inJuly that
the bishop wrote to her saying he had got a dispensation
to absolve me from my vows, that she was to be ready for
a quick despatch, and to have a secular dress ready for
me ; but she said she had had it prepared for a long time.
The bell was rung for prayers. I asked permission
to write to my friends. She refused, but later
in the day she came to me, took an old letter
out of her pocket, tore off the flysheet, and gave it
to me, saying I had a quarter of an hour in which to write
a note to my mother, but I was not to attempt to ask her
to come and see me because she did not want to be annoyed
by her. I wrote a letter, and gave it to Mrs. Starr, but I don't
know what became of it. I was astonished at being dispensed
from my vows, and on the Sunday following she gave me
permission to write to the bishop. I asked for an
envelope, but she said she knew her duty and would send
it herself. I expressed a wish in my letter to see the
bishop. I got no answer to that letter until I received
notice of the commission. I had a severe
illness in September 1865, and on one occasion
during that month I was so ill that I could not kneel in
chapel. I worshipped seated, when Mrs. Starr ordered me
a high seat in front of her. She knocked me with
a book on the head or shoulder during mass.
She frequently did it. Just before the commission
much writing was going on in Mrs. Starr's
room. Every sister receives a ring from the bishop at her
profession. It is regarded with peculiar reverence by
them, and is looked on as a symbol of the Church. I wore
it on the third finger of the left hand. In August
1865 Mrs. Starr told me I had left some thread
on the mat in the corridor, and then she asked
me for my ring. I was greatly surprised. I, how-
ever, moved it a little way down my finger,
when she pulled it away, and I never saw it after. This
occurred after my Jesuit brother calle d. When he
called I had not seen him for eight years. Mrs. Starr, the
following morning, touched me with the book before mass
was concluded, and told me that I was not to go to holy
communion that day, but she gave me no reason why I
should not go. She made a sign to me after mass to
follow her. I did so, and when I got to the door
she put a quarter-hour sand-glass in my hand, as is usual
when friends frequently call, signifying the time that we
were allowed to be together. I never knew of any limited
time being fixed in the case of relatives. Mrs. Starr opened
the visitors' room, and pushed me in, where I found my
brother. I remained with him half an hour. On the follow
ing morning Mrs. Starr asked me why I did not acknowledgs
staying so long in the reception room with my brother as
a fault. I said I thought I had permission. She told me
she had had a long interview with my brother. I did not
see her again. From that time I never saw the bishop.
The Rev. Mr. Mathews came in November 1865. On
the Ist January 1868, there was much writing going on
between Mrs. Starr, Mrs. Kennedy, and Mrs. Kerr, both in
the library and the community room, and on the 2nd of
January Mrs. Kennedy handed me a note from the bishop
announcing the commission. I afterwards destroyed it.
It did not state the date when the commission would
meet, and I wrote to know the day, and asked what I was
charged with. I also expressed in my letter to him m 3
wish for him to be present, and that I would abide by
his decision. He replied that they were breaches of my
vows.

The Roman Catholic Bishop of Beverley was called,
and produced that letter.
In the course of her further examination, the witness
(amongst a variety of other matters) stated that on the
12th of February Mrs. Starr, advancing to her bed, said
she required the whole of her religious dress, and told her
that she was to leave the convent. Mrs. Starr left her a
secular dress to wear. Witness replied that she would
not go; she would rather die than leave the convent of
her own free will ; but it pleased God to leave her at the
mercy of the Superioress, and she might do as she pleased.
Mrs. Starr said, " I cannot put you out." To this wit-
ness answered, " I will die where I am."
The case still proceeds.