Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-06-04
THE $150,O0O SUIT
Of Mrs. Woodbury. Against
Mrs. Eddy for Libel
Calls Out An Immense Crowd and
Proves Very Interesting.
Sec.- Clerk johnson, Judge Hanna and Others
on the Stand.


of Mrs. Josephine c. Woodbury. against
Mrs. Mary Baker G. Eddy, head Of the
CHI istian Science church, which was
begun last week. but which was adj
iourned over Decoration day, was re-
sumed here. today. For two years the
case has been pending and as it is al
legged that the libel against Mrs. Wood
bury. who formerly was q disciple of
Mrs. Eddy. was contained in passage
Of Scripture which was read I'm the
First Church of Christ. Scientist, here
after some trouble had developed be-
tween the women, the interest is unus-
ural. The court room was packed the
minute the doors were opened, and
scores upon scores were turned away.
There was additional interest in the
resumption of the case. today. because
it was understood that Judge Septimus
J. Hanna, the reader of the First
Church Of Christ. Scientist, who last
week. could not be found by the court
officers. had returned from vacation
and would appear as witness. Judge
Hanna was in court.
w. r. Johnson, secretary of the
board of directors. and clerk Of the
First Church of Christ, Scientist, who
was witness. last week. resumed the
stand. today. He expressed n wish to
correct an answer previously made
He did receive n letter from Mrs. Eddy
between the time of the reinstatement
of Mrs. Woodbury. and her excommuni-
cation. Following this. the cross-exam-
ination of Mr.. johnson was resumed
Mr.. Elder. counsel for the defendant.
objected to the question propounded
by Counsel Peabody as to the meaning
Of the words mystery of iniquity."
contained in the alleged libellous mes
sage from Mrs. Eddy to the church.
The court ruled that the question
might be answered but the answer
should have no weight to show what
Was intended by Mrs. Eddy.
Judge Bell said the plaintiff must
prove two things. namely, that the de-
PENDANT intended the language she used
To apply to the plaintiff and that her
hearers and leaders SO understood it,
The question was then repeated to
Witness johnson, who said:
BY mystery is meant something
which has never been solved. AS re-
CARDS iniquity, that is something
which the courts and church people
have tried unsucCessfully for genera
tons To define. and | am therefore I'M
able to explain what ii means
Mr.. Peabody read the passage from
the message in which the words "mys-
t.ry of iniquity' occur. and asked the
witness if he meant the jury to under
stand that he did not know what they
Il l.
Mr.. cabOdy then took up n letter
written by Mrs. Eddy to Mrs. Wood
bury on March "a. 1896. and reading the
first paragraph in which Mrs. Eddy de-
MED that she had any part in the en-
communication of Mrs. Woodbury..
asked the witness If Mrs. Woodbury.
had been accommodated at that time
Witness at first answered No" bu,
VIXEN his attention was called to 1t by
4 subsequent question he said he wish
ed to change his answer to yes
Witness was asked whether there
was any difference between dropping
from membership and 'eXcommunica-
ton" and answered that he did not
know whether there was any difference
or not
providing for the accommodation OF
4 member Of the Christian Science
church.
a telegram received by witness on
June 5. 1895. in which Mrs. Woodbury.
was mentioned by Mrs. Eddy had been
sent back to Mrs. Eddy's secretary by
witness. The contents of the message.
so far as it referred to Mrs. Woodbury.,
was:
IF Mrs. Woodbury. is i'm this audi
ence. she is included in an invitation
to visit Concord
Mrs. johnson said she had read the
dispatch at the meeting but could not
tell how many people We're present at
the time
Lawyer Bartlett. in his cross-exam-
inatiOn. asked witness the number Of
people forming the membership of the
church. June 5, 1899. Mr.. johnson said
that there were about $4,000.
Mr.. Peabody then offered copy Of
the record of the copyright of the mes
sage which forms so interesting a por-
ton of the case. 1t is entitled: Mes
sage to the Mother Church by Mary
Baker Eddy, Concord. N. H.. May,
1899"
Joseph Armstrong said that he was
the business manager of the Christian
Science Publishing Association. the
having been sold to Mrs.
Eddy in 1898. Mr.. Armstrong said that
since Mrs. Eddy secured them the pub
locations had been copyrighted in her
name rs proprietor.
Joseph Z. Clark. a trustee. said in re-
ply to Mr.. Bartlett that the profits of
the publications went to the First
Church Ct Christ. Scientist.
Henry D. Num-. assistant editor Of
the Journal Of the Christian Science
Co.. testified that a copy Of
the alleged libellOus message read in
church was furnished the reporter of a
certain newspaper.
Mrs. Clara +. ChOate was the next
witness She said in reply to questions
that she was not member of the
church, having been refused admis-
sion. She attended the service when the
libe llous communication was made. She
said that she never understood it re-
ferred to anyone in particular
Mrs. Anna f. Chamberlain, next
called. referred to the conversation she
had with Mrs. ChOate subsequent to