Los Angeles herald., 1907-08-29

been and now are fully protected, and
whether there is any lawful or just occa-
sion for the maintenance of these pro-
ceedings by said next friends; (2) wheth-
er the trust deed and the appointment
of trustees and attorneys by her was
thereby her free and intelligent act and
carried out her wishes; (3) whether the I
proceedings were brought in good faith
for her personal benefit; and as a citi-
zen she prayed for a speedy determine
ton of these and other questions-all
without avail.
"These so-called next friends her as
sailants, bitterly opposed her petitions,
and they were denied. They insisted that
her competency should be determined by
the court, and their requests were granted
against her protests
you were appointed masters to pass
on the question submitted in your COM
mission.
knowing that upon the evidence there
could be but one outcome of this hearing,
she did not hesitate to submit to your de-
cision. She has co-operated with you TO
obtain a full investigation, and has as
sented to every suggestion made by the
masters to enable them to arrive at just
decision. She has submitted herself to
your personal examination in the presence
of counsel for the alleged next friends.
and the stenographers report thereof, in
accurate in many respects, has been given
to the world. She has been asked to sub
NIT herself to the examination of hostile
alienists and for the purpose of enabling
you to reach just decision in your own
way she has assented. Nothing tfsf< your
honors thought would aid in the asset> hin
ment of the truth has been objected tNNby
her or her counsel. -
This trial has been proceedings five
days and with the exception of fSr own
examination before you the only evidence
submitted is a few letters selected out of
thousands written by her and a few frag-
ments of her other writings. Upon the
charge that her money has been msap-
propriated, that her property was not safe
guarded, not one word of testimony has
been introduced. The charge that she is
incompetent has utterly collapsed and
now these altruists, who pretended and
represented to the court that they brought
| this suit as her friends, for her protec-
| tion and in her interests, have made their
public confession to the world. 1t will be
| found in the columns of a Boston news
paper published this morning, wherein it
| appears that they regard the success in
| the present proceedings as hopeless; that
they cannot succeed in demonstrating Mrs.
| Eddys incompetency while she is living,
but Il quote) 'it is now proposed to await
| Mrs. Eddy's DEATH and when she can no
longer speak to contest her last will and
| testament
Wished. to Avoid Decision
'It is there stated that these eminent
attorneys have Il quote) agreed that the
shrewdest plan was to suddenly and un-
expectedly do away with the lawsuit now
in progress and to have in store as reserve
ammunition all the evidence as to Mrs.
Eddy's alleged delusions which they have
thus far succeeded in placing on the court
records during the masters hearing; and
they withdraw for the admitted purpose
of preventing a finding by you that Mrs.
Eddy is competent-a finding which they
think would be harmful in their will con-
| test.
| "Under these circumstances we submit
that Mrs Eddy has a legal right to
| finding of her competency-to such finding
on the case as it now stands. If you think
otherwise, then to a finding on such
further evidence as she may produce.
ANY other result will bring reproach in
the eyes of the world upon the adminis-
tration of justice here.
"I speak not only for Mrs. Eddy but for
every other aged citizen of this state
whose property, persons and religious con-
victions are now endangered.
"In their name and in the name of this
aged and honorable and honored woman
we respectfully demand that a finding of
competency be made by your honors upon
this issue thrust upon her and submitted
to your decision by the court"