The Washington herald., 1907-08-15

Concord. n. H, Aug. 14-To-day's hear
Ing before the board Of masters and the
attorneys in the noted Eddy case brought
forth startling revelations to the next
friends Of the Christian Science leader.
For forty-fve minutes the aged woman
responded promptly to all questions asked
her. In detail she explained why she pre-
ferred 10 depend upon the trustees, rather
than on her relatives. for advice in busi-
ness matters
This was the first Of series of visits
which viii be paid to Pleasant View by
the board Of masters.
The controversy. as TO Mrs. Eddy's
mental condition has been raging since
March ]. at which time a suit in equity
was filed 10 ascertain her competency
TO manage and control her business af-
fairs. Since that time her next friends
have been endeavoring to obtain such an
interview as was granted to-day.
Agree on the Visit.
The agreement by which the visit to
Mrs. Eddy was effected was reached early
to-day. when ex-senator Chandler, at
the opening of the morning session, an
nounced that he was ready to assent to
the proposition made yesterday by Gen.
Streeter. Mrs. Eddy's counsel, that such
a visit should be. made
In stating the willingness Of the plain
tiff's counsel TO enter into a personal
investigation Of Mrs Eddy's condition.
Mr. Chandler asked the masters to es-
tabiish certain rules governing the visit,
He asked that there be al least five
different visl-s; that the visits be made
at varying times; that the proposed vis-
itations be unannounced, and that none
OF Mrs. Eddy's household be permitted
10 attend the examinations Of Mrs. Ed
dy.
Judge Aldrich. the chief master. an
swered that he did not think II wise to
make any hard and fast rules govern
ing the visitations and that so far as
the methods TO be employed, and the
scope Of the inquiry 70 be entered into
during tho visit or visits 10 Mrs Eddy
were concerned, nc would ask "a Erivate
conference between counsel and mas
ters.
That conference resulted in a plan 20
visit Pleasant View this afternoon at ?
O'Clock At that hour the three masters.
RI Chandler, representaung the plain
tifts. and Gen. StTeeter. for Mrs. Eddy,
accompanied by the court stenographer.
went 60 Pleasant View and spent exactly
fOTty-fve minutes with Mrs. Eddy.
Prior 10 suspension Of the main hearing
for the purpose Of visiting Pleasant View,
r.e f-c ffsr 70, ba
testimony to be taken was thoroughly
thrashed out by the opposing counsel
Judge AIdrich Defines Visit.
Judge Aldrich announced that Religious
decisions would not be considered as bear
ing upon Mrs. Eddy's mental capacity
for business except wherein they might
directly be called with the issue Of COM
potency by the masters. He said that If
Mrs. Eddy believed her son 10 be pos
sessed of some influence which made him
hostile to his mother, thereby affecting
her natural disposition toward him so far
as her property matters are concerned
such illusions sO-called might be compe-
tent, or, if as stated she has a belief
that malicious animal magnetism has in
any way prevented perfect smOOthness in
the running Of her business affairs, such
belief might be admitted as having a
bearing upon the case and her business
capacity.
Public Hearing Resumed.
Following the visit 10 Pleasant View,
the public hearing was resumed for an
hour, and counsel for the plaintiffs at
tempted to offer as testimony the deposit
tiOn of Arthur T. Busweu of Vermont.
taken in Boston last week in which Mr..
Buswen attempted to talk about Mrs
Eddy's so-caIled delusions of twenty years
ago. Counsel for Mrs. Eddy objected on
the ground that the time was too remote
TO have any besring upon her present
condition
Plaintiffs counsel then announced that
they proposed to go back forty years. for
the purpose Of showing that Mrs Eddy
had during all this time been generally
insane, and upon this point plaintiff
counsel VIII give a legal argument at the
opening Of court tomorrow morning.
Report of the Visit.
The following is a report of what took
place at Pleasant View this afternoon:
Judge Aldrich-Mrs. Eddy. the gentle
men here wish to have an interview with
you, and we desire to make this cau as
comfortable as possible for you; and we
wish you 70 let US know if we weary YOU.
Mrs. Eddy-I am very glad to see YOU,
and thank You for the suggestion.
Q.-What was your native town?
A.-Bow. in New Hampshire. Ny
f7kher's farm lies on the banks of the
Merrimac. He did much Of his haying in
Concord, but it was in Bow the house
was.
Q.-How long have YOU lived in Concord?
A,-About twenty years; between eigh-
teen and twenty this time.
Q.-The last time?
A.-Since 1 came here after my mar
riase and residence in Boston.
Q.-Wen. the gentlemen present want
70 ask you some questions.
A--Interrupting. and 1 beg pardon nv
only difficulty is a slight deafness. can
see 10 read common type, but 1 can't hear
distinctly without some difficulty
OFF you feel fatigued we want To have
you speak Of It and let us know.
A--Thank you; I can work for bours af
my work, day and night, without fatig1e
when it is in this line OF thought; but
when so TO worldliness, I am some