The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-06-06
FAILS TO SHOW THAT
SHE WAS SLANDERED

COntfnued From Page One.
was brought in. The Judge. in addressing
them. said that while the plaintiff had sus-
tafned her case in the matter of publica-
tion. there had not been evidence to show
tnat anybody In the church had under.
stood the alleged libel as applying to Mrs.
woodbury.. and that she had shown no in
jury from It. tt
The jury might have found. he said.
that the publication In the Christian
Science Journal and Sentinel was a repe-
tition Of Islander. as there was at least
one witness who had understood the libel
as APPLYING to the plaintiff.
But the question which troubles ma
most" he said. 'is whether there is any
evidence that the defendant. in composing
and issuing this address to the First
Church. intended II to be understood as
meaning the plaintin. On that point, I
have great doubt"
After referring to the evidence of rela-
tionship between Mrs. Woodbury. and Mrs.
Eddy. ruled out on account Of remoteness
Judge Bell said the attacks published By
Mrs Woodbury. in the Arena and certain
newspapers might be important II they
came to the attention Of the defendant as
1t might be probable that she would reply
to them. He did not however, think that
alone sufficient ground for identification. un-
less there was something in the libel itself
applicable to the plaintiff.
The Judge said:
Taking the libel itself. I see nothing
which can in any fair way be said to indi-
cate the plaintiff in the first part Of the
libel. An absolutely false statement about
a person. such as calling a white person
black. while It might be offensive II spoken
In certain parts Of the country, does not
tend to identify the person spoken Of So
here the libel says Of the defendant that
she used certain language but while the
language might be intended to be libelous
1t could not be a matter of identification.
Identincation Not PalpabIe.
Now. as to drunken Of the blood of the
saints and with the blood OF the martyrs OF
Jesus- nobody has suggested that this wom-
an has ever been guilty OF the blood OF
saints or the blood of martyre The only
thing in the libel. 1t seems to me. which, by
any reasonable Interpretation, might be said
TO serve as a means Of Identification. is the
word widow In the latter part of the mes
sage.
Il have come to the conclusion that even
that reference does not absolutely identity
the plaintiff and II seems to me that the
plaintiff has not made out a case here which
I can let go to the jury. shall, therefore.
be obliged to order a verdict for the de-
fendant.'
1t was done SO quickly and quietly that
even the members of the jury. who had
counted on hearing the whole inside history
or christian Science. seemed as much dis
appointed as the fashionably attired wom-
q n he-U to
as nice. cool place to spend the warm
afternoons.
Mrs. Woodbury. Testimony
II Mrs. Woodbury. was disappointed. they
did not have the satisfaction of noticing
1t. She had been on the witness stand
earlier In the day.
''win you please state what belief the
members Of the First Church Of Christ have
regarding Mrs. Eddy?' asked Mr.. Peabody
of Mrs. Woodbury..
''She Is regarded as having been specially
selected by God-the special object of a
special revelation. being Christian Science.
which was to this age what the revelation
Of Christianity was 1000 years ago through
Jesus Christ"
WAS there any belief among the MEM
bers in regard to biblical prophecies?',
1T was that Mrs. Eddy was the woman
referred to in Revelations. having the crown
of stars on he- head and her foot upon the
earth. and who had the position Of bring
ing to the world the light which was to su-
persede Christianity. she being the author
Of little book prophesied by John"
WAS there" asked Mr.. Peabody, 'uni-
versal belief In that church as to whether
Mra Eddy acted merely as the instrument
for God In the writing Of that bookr'
Cleaning Science and Health. With Key
to the SriptureA'D