Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1907-08-16
Detailed by Counsel For Next
Friends" In the Eddy Suit
QUESTION OF COMPETENCY
Claim That Certain Acts Show
Christian Science Leader Not Ca
pable of Manag ing Her Own Affa RS
--She Will Not Appear In Court

Concord n. H.. Aug. 14.-At sit
ting of the masters, to determine tho
competency of Mrs. Mary b. G.. Eddy
at the courthouse here, William +.
Chandler, counsel for the next friends"
in his opening statement contended
that Mrs. Eddy had seven delusions,
and Frank S. Streeter, counsel for Mrs
Eddy, stated that his client was unable,
on account of insufficient strength. Ia
appear in court but would be glad to
receive the masters at her home and
confer with them. 1t was then ar.
ranged that such a visit should take
place.
At the afternoon session Chandler
said that the incOmpetency of Mrs.
Eddy was established by the trust deed
which she executed on March 6 and in
which was transferred all her property
out of her hands and beyond her con.
troll. Her incompetency is further
shown by her evasion of taxes in tho
city of Concord, an act which she
would never have committed, or al.
lowed her agents to commit, had she
been in her right mind. Chandler then
went into the subject of Mrs. Eddy's
decisions. of which he detailed seven.
as follows:
FirSt-The fundamental delusion of
the non-eXiStence and non-reality Of
the physical universe
Second-The dclusion of the super
natural nature Of the science which she
calls her own and of its supernatural
revelations to her.
Thrd-Delusions concerning the dis
eases of mankind. their cure and pre-
vention.
Fourth-The deusions as to the re-
latiOn of the science she called hers
to philosophy and to Christianity.
Fifth-The deusion as to the nature
and existence of malicious animal
magnetism.
SiXth-DelusiOn as to the alleged op-
GRAFTON of this malicious animal mag
netism in the causing and the curing
of disease.
legged operation of this malicious ami
NAL magnetism in the preparation of
crime.
He stated in closing that Mrs. Eddy
is the victim, not of a solitary delu-
sion, not of Il notion, even an insane no.
ton, but of a series of systematical de-
lusions which influenced her whole
life and has resulted. or will result, in
senile dementa.
There were two witnesses that were
briefly examined. The first was John
II. Quimby. an assessor of Concord.
who produced an inventory of her
property, which was signed by Mrs.
Eddy in 1901. He also had those of
succeeding years, signed by Calvin A
Frye These gave Mrs Eddy's estate
as amounting to $4,000 up to 1906,
when the further sum of $50, 900 was
added. The amount of the trust Gre
ated by Mrs. Eddy in March exceeded
$4,000.
The second witness was George Ii.
Moses of this city, who produced a
bundle of letters he had received
written by Mrs Eddy, who contended
and tried to show the existence of the
decisions mentioned by Chandler
Just before adjournment Judge Aid
rich. before whom the hearing was be-
ing conducted, asked what opportunity
the masters were to have TO examine
Mrs. Eddy herself. Streeter replied
that she had not sufficient strength to
come into court and undergo an eX-
animation. but she would be glad to re
! ceive the masters at Pleasant View and
confer with them there.
Judge Aldrich said that in view of
Mrs. Eddy's advanced age he thought
il would be proper for the masters tC
visit her, accompanied by one counse
on either side, and he suggested thai
counsel endeavor to agree upon some