The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-05-30
WANTS MRS. EDDY IOPAY
MRS. JOSEPHINE WOODBURY. DE-
MANDs 100000 DAMAGES
FOR LIBEL
DOOM OF BABYLoNIsH WOMAN
Mrs. Woodbury. Objects to Message
of Mrs. Eddy to Christian
Science Church in
Boston.

cord, N. H, founder Of the Christian
Scientists sect, for libel, was begun in
the Suffolk county superior court here
today and according TO the statement OF
the different counsels it is likely to con-
sumo the greater portion of three weeks.
The suit was brought by Mrs Woodbury.
on the ground that two years ago Mrs
Eddy, in message to the First Chris
tian Science church mere, which was
read four times and afterward published
in local paper, had in mind Mrs Wood
bury when she used the words 1.-The
doom of the Babylonish woman, re-
ferred to in the book of Revelations, is
being fulfilled"
Previous to this Mrs Woodbury. mad
been accommodated by the church.
III her answer Mrs. EDDY admits that
the particular address was delivered III
the places and on the dates mentioned
and declares that neither Mrs. Woodbury.
or any other human being was meant
by the term 'Babyionish woman" the
phrase being used simply to describe a
type Of sin.
Mrs Woodbury. was present III court
today, but Mrs Eddy would not appear,
her deposition having been taken for
Introduction in the case as evidence.
| The court room was crowded with
spectators when the case was called,
while several hundred men and women
Clamorad in vain for admission. Before
the selection Of a jury Mr. Peabody,
counsel for Mrs Woodbury. offered an
affidavit bearing on the case, which he
claimed was made necessary through the
absence of Judge S. E. Hanna, promi-
nc mt member of the mother church,
VINO, he said, caused the message of Mrs.
Eddy to be published IN the local papers.
The court took the affidavit with the
understanding that it should lie admitted
later ir the case should the evidence
warrant It.
The jury was then empaneled and the
plaintiffs declaration read.
Mr. Peabody said that a large number
of the witnesses in the court for the de-
Tense believed in Mrs. EDDY as mar
velous woman, second only to Chr st, and
t. TO- were prC-DTt-d . ctan by ner
through religious motives. He ask. that
they be excluded from the court room.
Judge Bell refused to grant Mr.. Pea
body's request.
William F. Cross one of the EDITORS
of the Christian Science Journal, desccib-
ed the positions held by judge Han and
Mrs Eddy in the society. He tec'tifed
that he did not know where Judge Hanna
was at the present time. Wins SIS was dis
missed, but was stopped by M. Peab dy
asking him if he had not refused recent
ly to state where Mr.. Hanna was W.T.
ness replied that he had. He. st ted that
he had been called up on the telephone
in blunt and surly manner, ard no
reason for the request made had Eeen
given. He did not feel called UPON to
answer the questions of persons wco
said the truth was not to be obtained It
the Christian Science office.
William B. Johnson testified that he
was an intimate acquaintance of Mrs.
Eddy and a director Of the mother
church.
ONE POINT SCORED.
The first victory On either side came
to the defense when Mr.. Peabody sought
by this witness to show that Mrs Wood
bury was the woman referred to by
Mrs Eddy in the alleged libelous state
ment, on the ground that Mrs. woodbury.
had sought and was refused Ami 81 n
to the mother church in 1895, was after
wards admitted and later excommunicat-
ed
Mr.. Elder objected to the admiss'o on Of
this testimony Mr.. Peabody state that
Mrs Eddy made the alleged libe1ous
declarations with full knowledge o. the
fact that they would be constrle1 as
they were.
1--WE PROPOSE" said Mr. Eeabody "to
bring before the jury all the incidents In
the lives of Mrs Woodbury. and Mrs.
Eddy, showing their relation, and this is
one of the most striking"
The court ruled that the time was too
remote, and excluded the testimony, Mr..
Peabody taking exception.
MIR Peabody then sought to introduce
testimony tending to show malice on
the part of the defendant.
Judge Bell said the testimony woIld
be admitted only after it had been shown
that Mrs. Eddy controlled the acton Of
the church.
Mr. Johnson's examination then pro-
ceeded. He produced his books and found
a record for Nov. g. 1895. There was no:h-
ing in that record, he said, to indicate
at whose suggestion Mrs. Woodbury. was
dropped from membership. WitneEs had
received no communication from Mrs.
Eddy relative to Mrs Woodbury's ad-
missions The question of dropping her
from membership in 1899 was not referred
to by Mrs Eddy. Witness said he was
familiar with the handwriting of Mrs
Eddy. Shown a document he said he
should say it was not in the han 1wr't ny
OF Mrs. Eddy, although the sigma ture was
hers. The letter was submitted to at
torney for defendant for examination
after which it was read by Alto 'ney Pea
body. The letter was addressed to Mrs
Woodbury. and reviewed her relations
with the church and with Mrs. Eddy In
it Mrs. Eddy complained that she had
been unjustly treated by Mrs woodbury.,
and quoted from alleged conversations
with her wherein she (Mrs Woodbury.
virtually admitted that her conduct in
the past had not been entirely blameless
Mrs. Eddy claimed in this letter that
she was not responsible for Mrs. Wood
bury's dismissal. The letter concluded
with the following:
IN. BLOW dare you, in the sight Of
God and with your character behind
the curtain, and your own students ready
to lift 1t on you, pursue the path Of
heresy?"
Mr. Peabody then claimed that letter
had been sent by Mrs. Woodbury's stu
dents asking Mrs. Eddy to eft the cur
tain" and offered in evidence sevep4s
kilograms sent to Mrs. Eddy in reply to
her letter.
Mr.. Peabody made several Intellectual
attempts to draw from the witness any
| thing to show on what grounds Mrs
| Woodbury. was communicated. The
court ruled out all of his questions as IN
competent.
Asked whether Mrs. Woodbury. was re-
tnstated at the request Of Mrs. Eddy, the
witness said ne thought that there was a
request by Mrs. Eddy in March 1896, that
Mrs Woodbury. be given another chance
to prove herself worthy to he a MEM
! Der of the church Mrs. Woodbury. was
reinstated, the witness said, by rescind-
! ing the vote by which she was exclude
Mr.. Johnson said that the words 81
legged to have been used by Mrs. Eddy.
drunken with the blood of the saints and
with the blood Of the martyrs of Jesus. -
and this woman, drunk with the wine
of her fornication, would enter the
church." could not be assumed to have
any connection with the book of revsla-
ton referring to the Babylonish woman.