Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-07-14

SHCaSO, July 14.-EVelyn Arthur See
was found guilty at o'clock last night
Of the abduction Of Mildred Bridges
His conviction was the sequel Of the
exposure Of his child cult, Absolute
Life" Three ballots were taken, two
being II to 1 for conviction.
See was not sent to the county Jail.
He was permitted his liberty pending
argument on appeal and sentence in
custody Of Deputy Sheriff Harry Wag-
ner. The penalty is from one to ten
years in the penitentiary at hard labor.
The jury received its instructions
from Judge Honore at 5:45 o'clock, fol-
lowing short and damning rebuttal
by Frederic Burnham, assistant states
attorney At e:45 o'clock it became
known that a verdict had been reached.
The hour set by the court for the return
Of the verdict was $3.50, but the Jurors
asked to be allowed to submit it at
once. Judge Honore was still in the
criminal court building and consented
to the change. At 1880 he took the
bench and the Jury was called in.
See. who had been walking anxiously
about the corridors, entered behind his
attorneys and took his seat between
them. His face was white. but his lips
were curled in smile of seeming conf
dence. He looked uneasily about the
room, apparently searching for Mona
Rees or the three other women who
have vainly tried to stand between him
and conviction.
Guilty, Verdict Of Judy.
They were not present. Expecting
the verdict at $3.50, they had left the
building. AS he noted their absence,
See seemed to grow more uneasy. He
ran his fingers thru his long gray hair
and gazed at the jury. The look was
not returned.
your verdict. gentlemen" said Judge
Honore. The foreman handed it to him.
The clerk opened it and read
I'VE find Evelyn Arthur See guilty
Of the abduction Of Mildred Bridges
and Of contributing to the delinquency
Of said Mildred Bridges"
r. e. Cantwell, attorney for the de-
tense, was on his feet in an instant.
THAT verdict can't be accepted" he
snapped. 'Tt would be like conv4ting a
same time" 1t was true. The jury in
it's anxiety to give See his full meas
ure, had convicted him Of both felony
and a misdemeanor.
Jury correets Technical Error.
The "revealer" pressed his lips tight
ly together and fumbled with his hands.
Jury. Instead they turned to his at
M cti Ia
Judge Honore Wanted.
Finally the court sent the jury back,
telling the jurors that they had made
a technical error which must be re-
paired before their verdict could stand.
the verdict Of contributing to delin-
quency eliminated. The verdict on abb
duction remained unchanged.
Then the courtroom was cleared. The
crucial point in the trial had been
passed with an audience Of less than
twenty spectators. The hundreds who
had waited thru the afternoon in the
hope of a verdict had missed it thru
the change in time. Sees fate had
found him alone and unprepared.
Judge Honore's instructions to the
Jury were considered favorable to the
prosecution.
The state contended that the allure
ments of the Book of Truth" were
sufficient to constitute enticement. The
Judge ruled with them.
Court Rules With States.
at is not necessary," he said. "tha!
you believe she, Mildred Bridges, was
taken bodily from the home Of her par
ents. II you find that the defendant
used acts, words, or teachings to en-
tice here away from the home or her
parents. you should bring in a verdict
of guilty, even If you believe that he
parents gave their consent"
The final clause was considered es-
pecially advantageous to the state. as
one of the main points Of the defense
was that See was not legally guilty OF
abduction, because Mildred had the
consent Of both her parents to her res
tdence in the fiat at 2541 Racine
avenue.
History Of the Case.
Sees flat, the home Of Absolute Life
named in the cult publication rs THE
house Of the Lord" was raided in Janu-
ary. See was arrested and two girls
Mona Rees, aged 21, and Mildred
Bridges, aged II, who had been living
in the apartment, were taken into Gust
ody. Mrs. Felicia Rees and Mrs. Lucille
Bridges, the mothers OF the girls and
followers Of See. also were closely
questioned.
The polics inssstigs dan -rasulted in
81 I'll ~ ~ a y ~ Z