The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-11-03
MANY Legal TILTS
MARKED YESTERDAYS PROCEED
INGs IN THE SELMA CLEWETT
DAMAGE SUIT.
md OF PLAINTIFFS CASE.
1T WILL BE REACHED THIS MORN
ING, SO ATTORNEY BUTTS
PROMISES.
NO VERDICT FOR THE PUBLIC.
Judge Brill Says the Suit Is Be-
tween Miss CIewett and the
Refuge.

tween Miss CIewett and the
Refuge.
In all probability the plaintiff will
rest this afternoon in the suit of Sc
lima Clewett against the House Of the
Good Shepherd. Just before adjourn
ing yesterday, Mr.. Butts Informed the
court that he expected to get all the
testimony for the plaintiff before the
court and jury today.
The first witness called yesterday
forenoon was Miss Bertha Self. She
was asked to testify concerning her
entrance into the institution. The
plaintiff wanted to show that she was
an orphan, and that she was placed
in the house against her will by par
ties who had no authority over her
acts. But Miss Self was apparently a
reluctant witness. When Mr.. Butts,
for the plaintiff, asked her to state to
the jury how she came to enter the in
stitution, she replied:
II don't know
who took you there?" asked the
attorney.
IT don't know anything about It,"
But you know how you got in, don't
you?'
IT don't know anything about it."
Answer the question" commanded
the court.
II don't know anything about it"
replied the stubborn young woman.
Mr.. Butts piled her with question
after question, to all of which she re-
piled that she would not answer, or
did not know.
Mr.. Butts appealed to the court, and
the court again directed witness to
answer, but she wouldn't.
Finally, Gen. Clapp, for the defense,
objected, on the broad grounds, which
had no especial bearing on the case,
that there might be something in the
young woman's record which she did
not care to have made a matter Of
public record. He thought she had a
right to protect herself.
The court sustained the objection.
Later in the session Mr.. Butts re-
called the mother superior and began
by asking her about the method Of de-
liYering mail to the inmates.
You stated the other day that those
letters which come to your institution,
from persons other than the relatives,
were not delivered. Is that SOP"
Did 1 state that they were not de-
ltvered," replied the witness.
well, sometimes they were not de-
liVered, is that it?"
Sometimes; yes"
"HOW do you receive these letters?''
Through the mails"
Prior to their delivery to the In
mates, you always open them?"
Always"
and when they give you letters to
mail for them, you open them, too?''
Yes, sir; they are not sealed when
| they come to me-"
Now didn't you know that was a
serious violation of the postal laws
| for you to open mail2''
THAT is a rule of our institution, -
| replied the witness after long pause.
Are the rules of your institution
above the laws of this land?''
Those rules are made, and people
understand it," replied the mother SUI
peTior.
But do you mean to tell this jury,
above the laws?'
Mr. Clapp-Well, now, If the court
please. it is not shown here that it is
a violation Of the federal law for a
person to open letters where they have
been expressly authorized to do so. I
object to carrying on this line Of ques-
tioning any further
Then Mr.. Butts asked a number OF
! questions regarding the work of girls
| in the laundry and sewing class, the
charge that children under sixteen were
made to work, and also the fact that
| the House of the Good Shepherd was
selling the labor of these girls, in an
attempt to prove that the institution
was violating both the state school
| law and the labor law But Gen. Clapp
| nhiaRtn6 CtrA11JIn1IC1X- TIrIn 1Ty
Butts informed the court that the case
was one of the most important that
| had been tried in the county for many
| years. There was more involved in it
| than the few dollars the plaintiff had
asked; the welfare of the whole public
was at stake.
The Court-This case is not being
| tried for the benefit of the public, but
| for the benefit of Selma CleWett, and
will be tried on that principle The
objection is sustained. Proceed.
Mr.. Butts asked the mother superior
regarding habeas corpus proceedings
instituted from time to time by par
ties DESTROYS Of securing the freedom
of inmates These cases involved the
release Of Molly Hart, Lizzie Presley
and other girls.
Regarding the Presley girl the
mother superior testified that she was
| placed in the house by the judge OF
! the municipal court. The mother SUI
perior wanted the girl to remain six
months, or year longer, and induced
| the parents to sign a contract to that
effect. Later the parents demanded the
girl, and witness refused, having the
parents signature to the contract. The
| girl was subsequently released on a
| writ.
Mrs. Emily Taylor, living at White
Bear beach, sworn, said she had a
| married daughter named Agnes
! tWenty-one years old. Agnes entered
the House of the Good Shepherd when
she was sixteen years of age. She was
taken there by Mrs. James Root. Mr..
Butts asked witness how her daughter
CHANGED to be placed there, but coun-