Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-05-30
MRS. EDDY CASE.
Jury Trial Begins With Crowds
CIamoring for Admittance.
The Suit Is Brought by Mrs. J. A.
Woodbury. for Alleged Libel.
Is Tor the Sum Of $3.50, 000.. Yesterdays
Happenings in Court.

| hdy o. ne III st udy VI tIt
celebrated libel suit for $l50.O00 dam
eyes brought by Mrs. Josephine Curtis
Woodbury. against Mrs. Mary Baker G.
Eddy, founder of the Christian Science
faith. which opened in the superior
court today before Judge Bell. was de-
void of sensations.
In opening the case Judge Bell asked
whether the six other cases rela ting
to the same matter might not be tried
simultaneously with this one. After a
|.brief consultation Counsels Bartlett
and Peabody agreed that those cases
largely depended upon the decision of
the present case. Judge Bell then gave
pei mission to proceed
The plaintiffs counsel was placed at
a disadvantage and his plans were
materially upset by the unlocked for
absence from court of Judge Septimus
J. Hanna. editor of the Christian Sci
ence publications..
In the absence of Judge Hanna. VIM.
r. Johnson was expected to be the
most important witness, but Attorneys
Elder and Bartlett by skilful manipu-
lation Of the firmer points OF the law
blocked the plaintiff at nearly every
turn. The action of the court in ruling
out testimony presented by Attorney
Peabody to show that Mrs. Eddy in
1895 had caused the accommodation
of Mrs. Woodbury.. or had refused her
admission 10 the church because it was
too remote to have any connection with
her alleged defamatory declarations
three years later Is expected to shorten
the trial.
The suit is brought by Mrs Woodbury.
49,, 4, NJ
Eddy in a message to the local Chris
tian Science church. which was read
four times ana afterward published in
Ia local paper, had in mind Mrs. Wood
bury when she used the words THE
doom Of the Babylonish woman refer
red Ia in the Book of Revelations is be
ing fulfilled"
/ Previous to this message, Mrs. Wood
bury had been communicated by the
church.
Mrs. Woodbury. brought suit against
Mrs. Eddy for $150,000. The court room
was crowded with spectators when the
lease was called, while several hundred
men and women apparently intensely
interested in the case, clamored in
vain ut the doors.
Mr.. Peabody said that large num-
Der Of witnesses in the court for the
defence believed in Mrs. Eddy as a
marvellous woman. second only to
lChlist and that they We're prompted to
fstand by her religious motives. He
Iasked that they be excluded from the
lcourt room.
Mr.. Bartlett saw no reason for such
faction and Judge Bell refused to
lgrant Mr.. Peabody's request. The first
WITNESS was Hugh Grigsby. the colored
butler to Judge Hanna. He testified
that he did not know where his en-
tployer was or when he would return.
| Willis +. Cross. member of the
editorial corps of the Christian Science
IJournal. was next called. He described
the positions held by Judge Hanna and
| Mrs. Eddy in the society. He testified
that he did not know where Judge
Hanna was at the present time but a
week ago the judge was in Harrisburg.
Pa. Witness was dismissed but was
stopped by Mr.. Peabody asking him
if he had not refused to state where
Mr.. Hanna was. Witness replied that
he had. Mr.. Peabody then asked as the
court to allow Gross to take the stand
lagain to explain, which request was
granted. Witness stated that he had
been called upon the telephone. in q
blunt and burly manner. and no reason
for the request made had been given
He did not feel called upon to answer
| the questions of persons who said the
truth was not to be obtained at the
Christian Science Office.
! VIM. Il. Johnson testified that he
was an intimate acquaintance of Mrs
Eddy. He testified that he was a di-
rector in the First Church Of Christ
Scientist. His specific office is secretary
of the board of directors. an office
which makes him executive officer of
| that body. He was !, member of the
board since 1892 and in 1895 was the
one to notify members in case they
| We're dropped.
! The first victory on either side came
to the defense when Mr.. Peabody BY
this witness Johnsom attempted to
show that Mrs. Woodbury. was the
woman referred to by Mrs. Eddy in her
| alleged libellouS statement. on the
|ground that Mrs Woodbury. had
sought and was refused admission to
the First Church of Christ in 1895. was
lafterward admitted and later excom-
municated.
Mr.. Elder objected to the admission
of this testimony, basing his objection
on the ground of the difference in
time between the two events. the al
| legged application for admission to the
church and the address of Mrs. Eddy.
To this Mr.. Peabody replied that
Mrs Eddy made the alleged libellous
declarations with n full knowledge of
the fact that they would be construed
as they were. I'VE propose" said Mr..
Peabody. Ito bring before the jury all
the incidents in the lives of Mrs. Wood
bury and Mrs. Eddy, showing their re-
lations and this is one of the most
striking"
The court ruled that the time was
too remote and excluded the testimony.
Mr.. Peabody taking an exception.
Mr.. Peabody then sought to introduce
the testimony as tending to show ma
lice on the part of the defendant and
Judge Bell said if the plaintiff should
show that Mrs. Eddy controlled the ac-
| ton of the church then it was admis-
sible.