The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-11-04
DEFEnSE'S SIDE0FIT
PLAINTIFFS TESTIMONY IN THE
SELMA CLEWETT CASE IS
ALL IN.
0'BRIEM'S OPENING SPEECH.
ATTORNEY BUTTS APPEALS TO
THE COURT FROM THE VIC
OROUS LANGUAGE.
INSTITUTIONS LAWYER TALKS ON.
Mabel Clark, Nj. l.. Hutchins, DIR. II.
}. O'Brien and Sister Zephrine
on the Stand.

The feature of the Clewett case yes
terday was the opening address to the
jury delivered by Jonn D. O'Brien in
behalf Of the House of the Good Shep-
herd. Mr.. O'Brfen fairly castigated
the counsel for the plaintiff and those
who, he declared, had instigated the
plaintiff to bring the suit and were as
sisting her in prosecuting it. So bitter
was Mr. O'Brien's inyective that upon
two occasions Mr.. Butts interrupted
him and demanded that the court di-
rect counsel to apologize for his Ian
guage. This the court declined to do.
On the opening of court in the fore
neon, Mr.. Butts, proceeding with the
plaintiffs case, called Mrs. Clara Tan
ner to the stand. Mrs. Tanner, who
resides at 538 Burr street, testified that
she knew Selma CIewett and lived in
the same apartment house with her
after plaintiff escaped. Mrs Tanner
remembered the escape of Miss Clew-
EFT 5ast winter, and described her dress,
which she said was very scant and
threadbare.
Nellie Drummy, the next witness,
nineteen years old, said she went to
Viz. LlDltSST OL TIC NIOOt olASE'ilClo III
1896 and was sent there by her father
and mother. She was seventeen years
of are at the time, and became Of age
while in the institution. She was plac-
ed In the laundry and worked with
Miss CIewett. She sometimes worked
from in the morning until 10 OR II at
night She went over the bill of fare,
which other witnesses have testified to.
Sometimes the girls had apple sauce
ana apricots. She asked to get out
several times. and was refused.
Gould you not have gone out, if
you had tried top asked Mr.. Butts.
mo, sir; 1 could not"
"Why?"
Because the doors were locked and
there were bars On the windows"
Emma Richardson, one of the sis
ters Of the house and the secretary of
the House of the Good Shepherd cor
pCration, was sworn. She said she
kept the books of the institution and
entered the names of the girls when
they entered, etc. She did not open
the mail. This was done by the mother
superior She was asked the ages of
the inmates, and replied some were
thirteen and fourteen, and one was
about 100 years old.
so the ages range from II to
100 years, do they?" asked Mr.. Butts.
The witness replied in the affirma-
tive, causing a smile.
Selma Clewett, the complaining wit
ness, was recalled for the purpose of
testifyiRg as to the condition of the
House Of the Good Shepherd as it used
to be, and as she found It day before
yesterday when the jury went out
there. She swore that She found ev-
erything "slicl1ed up and improved
Thursday" The laundry had been
painted and whitewashed, the dormi-
tory fitted out with iron beds, ETC.;
there We're. more wash basins, more
towels, better food, etc
AT this point the plaintiff rested.
Then Mr.. O'Brien arose and began
his opening address. When he
reached the climax of his speech, the
attitude and general appearance of
the spectators indicated the most in
tense interest. The first time that Mr..
Butts seemed to show any concern
was when MIR. O'Brien, in calling at
tention TO one Of Mr. Butts state
.ments in the latter's opening, stated
that Mr. Butts had stated what he
knew to be a malicious lie and a false
hood, when he said he would prove
that the sisters of the House of the
Good Shepherd were parties to Grim
ipal operations performed upon the
prisoners.
Mr.. Butts interrupted Mr.. O'Brien,
Saying that he apologized for having
made the statement; that he had made
IL in good faith, and expected to prove
1t by witness who had effectually
resisted his search for her.
Mr.. O'Brien declared emphaticaIly: