The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-07-14
SEE IS DECLARED
GUILTY BY JURY
Founder of Absolute Life" Cult
Faces Term of From One to
Ten Years in Penitentiary.
DEFENSE ASKS NEW TRIAL
Possibility That the Government
May Prosecute Offender Under
the White Slave Act.

CHICAGO. July !3.--Evelyn Arthur Sec,
founder OF the Absolute Life" cult. the
chief tenet Of which was said TO be the
establishment OF a perfect race. tonight
was found guilty of the abduction of
Mildred Bridges, the 17-year-od disciple
OF the cult.
utes and is said to have taken but one
ballot The statute fixes the penalty at
from one TO ten years in the peniten-
tiary. The jury also returned verdict
OF guilty OF contributing to juvenile de-
linquency which had been incorporated In
the abduction charge.
Ii was instructed TO retire and return
with q single verdict. Counsel for SEQ
offered the claim that the return OF two
verdicts uecessiiated a new trial and
made an immediate appeal for retrial Of
the case.
THE House of the Lord"
Sees flat. the home OF Absolute Life" :"
named in the cult publications as The
House of the Lord" was raided in jan
uary. See was arrested and two girls
Mona Rces. aged Il. and Mildred Bridges
IL years old, who had been living in the
apartment. were taken into custody
Mrs. Felicia Rees and Mrs. Lucille
Bridges. the mothers OF the girls; and
followers OF See, We're closely ques toned.
The police investigation resulted in
charges OF abduction against See, Ste
phen Bridges. II wealthy jeweler father
OF Mildred. whose wife admitted she Ind
contributed $1,000. $500 and many smaller
police In gaining evidence. He also be-
gan action for divorce from Mrs Bridges
and suit for alienation OF affections
against See.
See. in apparent fear OF public sentl
ment. did not seek bail and remained in
all until his trial began moro than two
writing and preaching his doctrine of a
perfect race to be established through
the new belief,
Possible White Slave Charges
While See was In jail. Mrs. See, who
had been separated from her husband
for several years. with the aid OF d pro-
fcssonai safe breaker. visited Sees fiat,
raidcd his safe and obtained many let
ters from her husband To Mona Rees
and Mildred Bridges. as well as others
from the leader of the cult TO the TWO
mothers. These were taken in charge by
the United States government with
view TO possible prosecution under the
white slave act. They were loaned 10
the state for use during the trial.
See refused 10 take the stand in his
own defense the chief witnesses being
the four women whose names mad been
most frequently merrioned since his ar
rest. The women rcpudlatcd an alleged
confession. said To have been made TO
the police. that the flat had been used
for immoral purposes. and took refuge IN
to most OF those In the courtroom, proved
Mr.. Bridges was an Important witness
for the state. testifyins that his daugh-
ter had refused TO return home after be-
ing uuarantined with scarlet fever IN
Sees flat. He also testified that on re-
turning suddenly from Kansas City he
had found Mrs. Bridges NJ the home OF
See. He snld he had permitted his wife
To make large and regular contributions
to Sees support.
An appeal for a new trial may be based
on the fact that Juror G., F, Dupper was
found asleep at one time during tho talk
Ing OF testimony