The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-06-05
Tells of Her Relations with the De-
PENDANT and How She Became
Christian Scientist.
DEFINES THE LETTERS m. A. M
MEiN "MALICIOUS ANIMAL MAGNET
ISM" A HIGH CRIME.
Testimony of Septimus j. Hanna,
Reader of the First Church
of Christian Science.

BOSION, Mass, June 1.-The trial or the
$l50,O00 libel suit of Mrs. Josephine c. Wood
bury against Mrs. Mary Baker Eddy was
resumed to-day. with Septimus ]. Hanna,
reader of the First Church of Christian
Science, Boston. editor of the Christian
Science Journal and a close friend of Mrs.
Eddy, on the witness stand. Judge Hanna
was asked if he had in his possession the
original of the message sent by Mrs. Eddy
to the Christian Science Journal in May.
1897. The witness replied that he had a
copy of the Journal containing the message.
and this was offered as evidence by the
counsel for Mrs Woodbury., who said that
Mrs Eddy's reference to Mrs. Woodbury.
as a person unfriendly to Christian Science
showed malice The Journal was admitted.
subject to exception. simply question OF
malice. Judge Hanna admitted that the
message was published after Mrs. Eddy
had refused the request of the witness to
reply TO a magazine article by Mrs Wood
bury attacking Christian Science.
The article by Mrs. Woodbury., which was
offered as evidence yesterday. was again
presented and excluded. Later the court
ruled out the bylaws of the Christian
Science Church as not having any connec-
ton with the present suit. Exception was
taken by plaintiff.
The witness admitted that, as an employee
of the Christian Science Publishing Society,
the amount of his salary was determined by
the board OF trustees The deed of trust
given by Mrs. Eddy in 1898 to Messrs.
Bates, Neal and Mckenzie. as trustees of
the Christian Science Publishing Company,
was admitted evidence. BY this deed
business of all Christian Science publica
tions, subject to her supervision at all
times, and subject to her right to Withdraw
at any time any publications i'm which she
holds the copyright. Witness could not
say whether, during the nine years he
had beer editor of the Journal, every single
message of Mrs. Eddy had been published,
but admitted that all of Mrs. Eddy's mes
sageS were published through him. He
said he knew nothing about the publication
of the message in controversy in a Boston
newspaper. He knew the reporter of the
paper and had given him matter for pub
LEGATION. He saw him at the church where
Mrs. Eddys message was read, but denied
that he knew what he was there for. Wit
ness said it was the custom on some occa-
sions TO publish Mrs Eddys communica-
lions in Boston papers.
Mrs. Eddys book, Science and Health, "
was produced, and witness was asked II IL
was not the Christian Science textbook.
Witness said much of the Christian Science
belief was based upon it.
Mrs. Woodbury., the plaintiff in the case,
followed Judge Hanna. Mrs. Woodbury.
said she met Mrs. EDDY in 1879 i'm Boston.
At that time she never had heard of
Christian Science. Subsequently she be-
came a believer i'm Mrs. Eddy. studied
Christian Science with her and was admit
ted to the Christian Science Association.
college where Christian Science was taught,
signed by Mrs. Eddy as a doctor of
Christian Science. This document was Of
fered in evidence.
application to her in 1895 for admission to
the First Church (Scientist), and was
directed to send her application directly
10 the church. In closing the letter con-
veying the direction Mrs. Eddy used this
expression: Remember that malicious hyp-
notism is no excuse for sim Mrs. Wood
bury was asked to define malicious hyp-
notism. but she was not allowed to an
swer
After the recess another letter. dated
Nov. 25 1895 from Mrs. Eddy to Mrs.
Woodbury. was read. i'm which the writer
said that she had pleaded with the direct
ors, but that she had failed, owing &c
a report that Mrs Woodbury. had written
letter which said that the church could
go along on its own account. Mrs. Eddy
said that that had sealed her lips, and
she had come TO the conclusion that Mrs.
Woodbury. was not fit TO enter the church.
At this point a representative of the bus
mess office of the Boston Herald was
called TO show that a large number of
copies of the paper were purchased by
Mrs. Eddy on June 5. the day after the
alleged libelous message of Mrs. Eddy
was read in the First Church, but witness
could only say tnat the papers were oe-
Mrs Woodbury. then resumed her testi-
mony. and a passage in Mrs. Eddys let
ter of April Is, 1898. was read: In which
TO go for one year without telling false
hood. practicing cheating or breaking the
Decalogue." Mrs Woodbury. denied that
she ever told a lie or cheated.
Mr.. Peabody said he had several letters
which had passed between the plaintiff
and defendant which he desired to have
Eddy told Mrs. Woodbury. to remember the
Mrs. Woodbury. SAID that these letters
meant Malicious Animal Magnetism"
At Judge Bells request Mr.. Peabody sub
mtted the list of letters to be introduced
The court examined some of them: Mr.
Elder declared that there was nothing In
the letters to show any anlmoslty or malice
on the part of Mrs. Eddy. He averred that
the letters of Mrs. Eddy breathed intense
Christian charity. The judge said he would
admit Mrs. Eddy's and other letters i'm
mediately. peruse them at leisure and rule
later Mr.. Peabody accepted the PROPOSE
ton.
doned the Christian Science religion two
years ago in April, 1899. That was an abso-
lutte abandonment.
Question: You allege in your declaration
that Mrs. Eddy accused you of possessing
a power of mental action to cause sickness
and death? Did she so accuse you?"
Mr.. Bartlett objected and the question
was withdrawn. Mr.. Peabody explained
that malicious animal magnetism was the
highest crime known to Christian Scien-
lists Mrs. Woodbury. was excused.
Mrs Helen VI. Winchester, of Maiden, a
very intelligent young woman. who had
been a student under Mrs. Woodbury., was
the last witness of the day. She testified
she bought Boston Herald of June 5. 1899,
containing the alleged libelous message. but
could not remember whether she did this
of her own accord or at the suggestion OF
plaintiff. When she read the message. she
had instantly an idea TO whom il referred.
When asked to whom. in her opinion IL
did refer, Mr.. Adler objected and proceeded
to argue that il was not plain that witness
did not secure the paper and read II at the
request of Mrs. Woodbury.. The court eX-
cused the jury for the day.