Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-06-05
THE EDDY TRIAL
increases in Interest and Prom
ises to Be Sensational.
Judge Hanna Declines to Give
Church's Opinion Of Mrs. Eddy.
Mrs. Woodbury., tho Plaintiff, Opens Up
Malicious Hypnetism" Matter.

Tue slmom ibci SUIT or Mrs. Josephine
c. Woodbury. against Mrs. Mary
Baker c. Eddy. founder of Christian
Science in their places in the superior
court room the space left for specta-
tors is mcasrc and this morning as on
previous days it was as far too small
for the crowd that wanted to get in
AS the hours passed the doors of the
court We're throngcd by those waiting
for a chance to get inside.
The fact that the testimony of Judge
Scptimus J. Hanna, reader of the First
church of Christ. Scientist. Boston. edi-
tor of the Christian Science Journal.
and u close friend of Mrs. Eddy. was
unfinished yesterday, gave added in
tcrcst to the opening of today's pro-
cccdings. The first question to Judge
Hanna, this morning. by Mrs. Wood
buryS counsel was.
Have you the original of the mes
sage sent by Mrs. Eddy to the Christian
Science Journal in May, 1892"
II have copy of the Journal, con-
tanning the message" was the answer.
Counsel offered the publication re-
ferrcd to as evidence, saying that Mrs.
Eddy's reference to Mrs. Woodbury. as
being unfricndly to Christian Science
showed malice. The evidence was ad-
mittcd. subject to exception, simply on
question of motive.
Judge Hanna admitted that the
message was published after Mrs.
Eddy had refused the witness request
to reply to an article in a magazine by
Mrs. Woodbury. attacking Christian
Science.
Counsel endeavored to bring out the
nature of the conversation between
witness and Mrs. Eddy over Mrs.
Woodbury's article. He said he could
not recall what he said. but admitted
that he went to Concord especially to
see Mrs. Eddy regarding the article
and had it with him, but did not show
it or read it to Mrs. Eddy.
Again the article by Mrs. Woodbury.,
in the magazine. was offered as evil
dence but the court said that 1t had
not yet been shown that Mrs. Eddy
had read the article. MIR. Peabody
said that the witness went to Concord
with the express purpose of obtaining
Mrs. Eddy's permission to reply to the
article. and that Mrs. Eddy in refus-
ing must have known its nature.
The court said. however, that it had
only been shown that Mrs. Eddy knew
that some attack had been made, but
did not know the exact natur" OF such
attack. The article was excluded.
Mr.. Peabody then offered the by
laws of the Christian Science church,
but counsel for the defence objected.
as they were the bylaws of 1899. Eut
the court ruled them out, as not show
ms. any basis for the articles in which
the present suit is based. Exception
was taken by the plaintiff. The wit
ness next admitted that he was in the
employ of the Christian Science Pub
fishing Society. the amount of his
salary being determined by the board
of trustees.
Counsel then asked if at the time OF
the publication of the libel there WIS
any one in the employ of the publish
ing company that did not hold his or
her posjtion, subject to the good VIII
and favor of the defendant. The court
told the lawyer to modify his question.
ca as 70 eliminate the words good VII.
and favor.
the deed Of trust given by Mrs EDDY
to Messrs. Bates. New Il MckehZie' as
trustees of the Christian Science run
fishing Co. was called for. rms was
produced and offered as evidence. IL
was admitted. Counsel read il 10 the
Jury. 1t showed that Mrs. EDDY con-
viewed to the trustees the publishing
business of the Christian Science jour
nal and other Christian Science publ
cations. subject to Mrs. Eddy's super
vision at all times. Mrs. Eddy fur-
ther reserved the right to Withdraw
from the trustees the Christian science
Journal and other publications. III
which she holds the copyright. Inc
deed is dated January. 1898.
Witness could not say whether dur
ING the nine years he had been editor
of the Journal every single message
Of Mrs. Eddy had been published in
either the Journal or Sentinel.
Witness admitted that all of MIS- Ed
dy's messages were published through
him and that she used this method of
reaching the public. He said he knew
nothing about the publication of the
message in controversy in Boston
newsnoper. He said he knew the re-
portnr of the paper had given him
matter for publication. He saw him
at the church on the 4th of June. when
Mrs. Eddy's message was read. but
denied that he knew what he was there
for.
Mr.. Peabody tried to show that
large number of papers containing the
message were brought by the trustees
for distribution but it was excluded.
Witness said it was the custom on
some occasions to publish Mrs. Eddy's
in Boston papers.
Mr.. Hanna could not give exact fig
ures of the circulation of the Journal.
Mr.. Elder said the figures were avail
able and the circulation of the Journal
was about 10000 and about the same
number as that of the Sentinel.
Counsel then asked witness of he had
over known Mrs. Eddy to use such
language as cited in the libel before in
any message or communication. This
was ruled out. however. with the usual
exception.
CONTINUED on page 2.)