The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-03-03
CLING TO MRS. EDDY
Leaders of Sect Will Fight
Relatives TO End.
CASE WITHOUT PRECEDENT
Christian Scientists 60 Exert Every
Effort to Prevent Mother of Cult
Being Taken Into COUrs-COunsei
for Defense says No Statements
VIII he Made for Present.

Concord. n. II, March because
George w. Clover. only son of Mrs. Mary
Baker G. Eddy; his daughter, Miss Mary
Baker Glover. and George W. Baker. her
only nephew, filed bill in equity as next
friends" of the Christian Science leader,
seeking an accounting of her property
from the men who surround her at her
home here and the leaders of the church
corporation in Boston. it does not neces-
sariy follow that Mrs. Eddy is going to
be brought into court. or that she viii be
obliged TO make dispositions.
The defendants named by the plaintiffs
In their petition filed IN the Merrimack
County Superior Court propose to fight
the proceedings to the very end, and, in
addition, Mrs. Eddy's personal counsel.
Gen. Frank II. Streeter. says that she
has no sympathy with the action taken
by her blood relatives. and that. although
she seemingly is made the plaintiff in the
/ bill Mrs Eddy was not cOgnizant OF their
int ntions
1t was said tonight by a lawyer who
is familiar with Christian Science business
matters that the proceeding has not any
precedent In New Hampshire, for the rea-
son that Mrs. Eddy Is not in sympathy
with the move, and therefore, it would
not be unlikely If the case were taken to
the Supreme Court Of New Hampshire to
determine whether or not the petitioners
bill was legal.
Case without Precedent.
Should the Supreme Court decide the
/ law questions which may be raised, the
/ lawyer said, in favor of the defendants
and Mrs. Eddy. then the whole case
would be Immediately quashed, and there
/ fore the Christian Science leader would
not be obliged 10 appear in court 10 sub
nit to the examination Of physicians ap-
pointed by the court to determine her
mental and physical condition should
/ the ruling be against the defendants, the
lawyer said. then the case would, OF
course, be sent back TO the Superior Court
\ 10 be tried upon it's merits. and he did not
| see how a physical examination OF Mrs.
I Eddy could be avoided.
! Here IN Concord, where Christian
/ Science is held In veneration, because Of
/ the great benefits which have accrued 10
the city through the gener )sity of Mrs.
Eddy. intense establishment and consid-
cradle anger were exhibited because Of
! the bill filed so Unexpectedly by Mrs. Ed
I dy's relatives.
Lenders of Sect Surprised.
/ That the leaders Of the sect were as
much surprised when they learned of the
bill as any Of the other residents Of the
city. was plainly discerntble from their
movement to-day. At Pleasant View, the
i home OF the leader, there was a buried
] ..r
/ taries, trustees and directors Of the
church as could be reached during the
night. Whether or not they talked things
I over with their pastor, Mrs. Eddy, could
/ not be ascsrtained.
/ Alfred FarlOw. OF Boston, chief press
I agent Of the church. arrived here about
noon and hurried 10 the big white house
I on the hill. Some others whose names
/ could not be learned also came here. but
/ every one refused to discuss the situation
] with the reporters. Gen. Streeter told
the newspaper men that there would be
no statement issued tonight.
Blame Newspaper.
Some Of the citizens say that the move
made by George Washington Glover is the
/ outcome Of the agitation started by a
newspaper a few months ago, and that fl
( paper that he decided TO take the action
1 that he did. They point to the fact that
! Glover sent a long account Of his inter
I view with his mother to the newspaper
/ in question as showing that he is working
I with that publication.
Streeter and Hollis. counsel for Mrs.
Eddy. said to-day that further study OF
the petition fled yesterday had in no
way cleared the situation.
1--WE can only sit iight-headed," said
! Gen. Streeter. 1T is. TO say the least,
an unusual case Ordinarily, there are
! proceedings looking 10 establishing Of
the competence Of people to manage their
lown affairs. after which in the event Of
the court favoring the claim Of incoIn-
potency, there are proceedings toward a
II receivership. Here, the complainants
waive all argument on Mrs. Eddy's COM
potency, alleging only that they think she
has a lot Of money, and they can get
J none Of it, for which reason there should
be n receiver appointed.
"Au this may be legal. OF course, but
the authorities are not ready to hand,
\ Strictly speaking, we are not parties. and
can say nothing definitely
Gen. Streeter Cautious.
Gen. Streeter shut off all inquiries into
the legal status Of the petition as a
weapon for compelling his clients pres
ence in court.
MY position simply is" he said. that
in a matter of such newspaper promi-
4 nence. counsel should not talk at all. In
the general topic of Mrs Eddys mental
competence. ] viii reiterate my previous
statement that the relatives Of Mrs. Eddy
I and the counsel engaged in this pro-
eeedings cannot fail to regret this step
soon. 1 have had three conferences with
Mrs Eddy within a week. She displayed
then a vigor and presence OF mind that
> is nothing less than astonishing in lady
of her advanced years.
. Gen. Streeter continued regarding thC
report that he, as a Christian Scientist
was especially interested in the case by
saying;
"Oh. no: I am not Christian Scientist
though I have apart from my professional
relations a high personal regard for Mrs
, Eddy"
Counsel to Confer.
a conference Of counsel for the plain
= tiffs will be held here Monday night and
: Tuesday.
John W Kelley. of Portsmouth. for
merly county attorney for Rockingham
, County and one of the most prominent
members of the New Hampshire bar will
it was said here to-day, come to Concord
: Monday afternoon to discuss the action
with members of the firm of Martin &
: Howe, of this city. who with Mr.. Kelley
are counsel for the plaintiffs. and also t.
: talk over affairs with ex-United States
( Senator Chandler. who is IN the case as
special counsel with them.