Hattiesburg daily news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1907-1908, 1907-09-03

out OF court. Neither have we the
power to prevent their unconditional
surrender in the middle of this hear
ing before the masters. They voltn-
teered to begin this wretched assault
upon the person. property and relig-
ious faith of an aged citizen of New
Hampshire, and now six months later,
when their charges have utterly col
lapsed, they run to cover. This is
their legal right, but speak Of the
legal rights of Mrs. Eddy. Let me
temporarily review the situation.
"She is an honored citizen of this
state, entitled to the protection of its
| courts. She is the founder and head
of great religious organization, with
/ many hundred thousand devoted fol-
lowers. On March l, last, she was liv-
| ing peacefully in her own home, sur
rounded by faithful friends of her own
choice. She was possessed of large
property, acquired almost solely from
the sale of her religious writings. It
will some time after appear that after
providing literally for her own kin,
she has devoted much of her estate to
the promotion of the religious views
taught by her. She was good citi-
zen. She was and is entitled to the
protection of the law. On that day,
March /, last, this suit was instituted
by great newspaper, which had hired
and paid eminent counsel to bring 1t.
1t was primarily an attack upon the
religious teachings Of great religious
leader. A son and an adopted son in
considerably loaned the use of their
names as next friends; and the agent
of this newspaper, who visited and
persuaded the son at Lead, November
20, and the adopted son at Waterbury
Vermont, March s, and persuaded
them to cooperate, is now writing in
the presence of Your Honors at the
reporters table.
1.-THE suit was brought in her name
against ten honest men, alleging first
; that she was incompetent to protect
her property, and, second, that these
ten defendants have wrongfully mis-
, appropriated her funds. Not one Of
the ten defendants had taken dollar
, of her money. They have answered
| under oath. The truth of their an
swer is admitted. The suit was based
on false pretenses. The situation waf
unique in legal history Mrs. Eddy, II
! the eyes of the law, was not de
l PENDANT, although the proceedings
l were, in fact, being directed solely
| against her. She was not plaintiff
: the suit was brought against her will
. Her trustees, who held and were man
' aging her estate under valid deed
! prayed for leave to intervene. Theil
petition was denied. She personally
q appealed to the court for protection
r She uregd that the maintenance o
these proceedings by said alleged
( next friends was an abuse of thu
Y processes of the court and an unwar
/ ranted interference with her constitu
!: tional and legal rights, and that sht
s was entitled to speedy relief.
S She represented that under the con
l. stitution and laws she was of RICH
s entitled to determination of the ques
| ton % whether her property inter
S ests have been and now are fully pro
i. tected and whether there is any Lawful
:. or just occasion for the maintenance
e of these proceedings by said mex
/, friends; (2) whether the trust dee,
e md the appointment OF trr7+ees an,
Y attorneys by her was therebQP her fire.
/ and intelligent act and carried out he
t wishes; (3) whether the proceeding
( were brought In good faith for he
u personal benefit; and as citizen sh
Y prayed for a speedy determination G
y these and other questions-all withou
+ avail
o These so-called next friends he
g assailants, bitterly opposed her pet
e tiohs and they were denied. They il
s Y sisted that her competency should
q determined by the court and their r.
II quests were granted against her pre-
d tests.
n "You were appointed masters
L. pass on the question submitted in you
y commission.
e. knowing that upon the evidenc
n there could be but one outcome of thi
n hearing, she did not hesitate to sui
It nit to your decision, She has COO