The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1907-05-23
FIRST REAL FIGHT
ON IN EDDY SUIT
Lawyers Clash Today in Arguments Over
"Next Friends" Plea Of
Scientist"

CONCORD, n. H., May 2O.-Although
the celebrated suit in equity to secure
an accounting CT the property of Mrs.
Mary Baker G. Eddy has been a matter
of record for almost three months, the
first legal battle of counsel engaged in it
took place in this city today, when argu
ments were heard on the motion of the
trustees of Mrs. Mary G. Baker Eddy's
estate that they be substituted for the
next friends plaintiffs in the original
suit. The hearing today was in the Mer
rimac county courthouse, where Judge
Robert NJ. Chamberlin of Berlin is hold
ing Il term of superior court
On March l, 1907, there was filed in
the court bill in equity proceeding
signed by George w. Glover of Lead City,
). d., the only son OF Mrs. Mary Baker
Glover Eddy; his daughter, Mary >aker
Glover, and George W. Baker of Bangor
Me, the only surviving nephew OF Mrs
Eddy.
An Accounting Asked.
These three as next friends" in legal
parlance OF Mrs. Eddy. comylaincl
against Calvin \, Frye, Irving &. Tom
hnsOn, Herman :. Dceriug, and Lewis
{. Strang of Concord Alfred Farlow.
Ira O. knapp, William Il. johnson, auJ
Joseph Armstrong of Boston Mass;
Stephen \, Chase of Fall River, Mass,
and Edward \. kimball of Chicago, al.
leging, that Mrs, Eddy is, and has been
for some time, incompetent To do buSi-
ness or to understand business tranSaC.
tons for her by others; and that the
defendants have possessed themselves OF
her person and property and that there
&c q, fAa lt,ks hV Fr,,lt
fully converted her property to their own
use.
On these grounds the plaintiffs ask for
an accounting on the part of the defend
ants and the creation of a rcCeivership
for Mr.. Eddy's estate.
On March II, Ehenczer j. Foster
Eddy of Waterbury, Vt, an adopted son
of Mrs, Eddy and Fred Walter Baker of
Epson. \. H., her nephew joined as
plaintiffs
Mrs. Eddy Turns Over Wealth.
On April >, announcement was made
that on five days after the institution of
proceedings. Mrs. Eddy had conveyed all
her property to board of trustees, Hen.
ry NJ. Baker of Bow, \, H., Archibald
Mcclellan of Boston, Mass, and Josiah
Il. Ecrnald of Concord, \. H. These
trustees asked of the court the right
TO intervene and be substituted rs PLAIN
next friends" in the suit of Eddy IS.
Frye.
Bad Faith Is Charged.
Counsel for the next friends" com
tered this step on April Is, by asking that
the trustees be joined rs defendants in
the original suit instead of as plaintiffs.
TO this on April Is, the trustees made
answer and prayed for a speedy hearing
on their motion, On the same date the
original defendants filed their answer to
the original bill, entering II general donia.
of its allegations and charging n lack of
good faith in the institution of the pro.
ccedings.
Meanwhile yoluminous afldavits have
been filed on both sides. including a let.
ter 10y Mrs. Eddy herself To the pre-.
siding judge, expressing her disbelief in
the good faith of the original proceed.
ingS.
Long Fight Ahead.
Judge Chambcrlin has granted already
motion made by counsel for the original
plaintiffs, asking for iiftccH days after
his decision on today's proceedings to hie
supplemental bills and plcadings, and il
is known that whichever way his dcCi,
sion is made, the matter will hc taken up
to the supreme court upon appeal The
latter court does not sit between June
and September, so amy final decision OF
the case seems months away,
Allan Hollis of counsel for the trus
tees, opened the hearing today, and for
the original plaintiffs, the next friends"
Dewitt &. Howe of Martin and Howe
of this city, made the opening. Tn,
closing arguments will be made by vii
liam Il. Chandler for the next friends
and Frank Il. Strecter for the trustees.