The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1911-06-29
GIRLS NUDE
PURITY
Rites in See Temple of Perfect
Life" Border on Living Pic
ture Order.
SEE ATTACKED IN COURT
BY STEPHEN BRIDGES
Self-Styled "Divine One" Runs in
TerrOr-ls on Stand in Own
Behalf.

ChlCAGO, June 26.-At the trial or
Evelyn Arthur See, the founder OF the
absolute life cult. for abduction of Mil
dred Bridges. Judge Honore today de-
cided that admissions alleged TO have
been made by See. Mildred Bridges
and Mona Rees to the police were not
made under duress. The Judge ruled
that the testimony OF Police Captain
Danner and newspaper reporters who
heard the alleged confession OF inn
morality should be admitted.
Mildred Bridges became reconciled
to her father. Stephen Bridges. n
jeweler, in court today. and the latter
twice attempted to assault See. The
first attack occurred in a corridor out
side the courtroom. Bridges calling
the defendant a vile name and attempt.
ing to strike him. He was restrained
by bailiffs.
See Holds Door.
The second attemptem attack was a
repetition OF the first. except that See
disappeared so suddenly that Bridges
had to vent his wrath on the empty
air The founder OF Absolute life"
jumped into a witness room and
leaned against the door with so much
fervor that the bailiffs had difficulty
in reaching him to tell him that
Bridges was held in another room.
Both attacks occurred during recesses.
Efforts Of the state TO secure from
Mona Rees. high priestess OF the cult
OF the Absolute Life" descriptions OF
some of the weird religious rites OF
the sect failed. but not until the
state had intimated some of the most
sensational.
The young woman, a most obdurate
witness for the state. was asked il
there were not purifying meetings"
in the famous temple OF Junior Com
monwealth. She replied that there
were. and declared:
We purify ourselves by a sense OF
shame"
Girls Nude For Purity.
WAS it not the custom for you and
the other members Of the Junior Com
monweaIth to disrobe and stand nude
in front OF each other in these purify
ing meetings in order to purify your
selves by sense Of shame?" asked
State Attorney Burnham.
The young woman flushed. halted
and remained silent. The question
was asked again.
Il won't answer you at ALL" she fin
ally said.
The states attorney read excerpts OF
charges the girl wrote in the book of
Absolute Life on Trial" in which she
compares See before Judge TuthilI
| with Christ before PLATE. and declares
that Sees martyrdOm in cell No 3s7
did as much TO save the world as
Christs martyrdom on the cross.
Plan Girls Evidence.
a half score OF letter said to have
been written by See while in jail to
Mrs. Bridges. mother OF Mildred. and
later found by the police in Sees
apartments. probably will be placed i'm
evidence soon by the prosecution.
These letters are said TO ask Mrs.
Bridges TO instruct Mildred that all
questions put to her in court must be-
answered according 10 the truth" as
that word Is understood by believers
I'm the Absolute Life"
See today took the stand in his own
behalf. but his testimony developed
nothing unexpected He declared that
his relations with his truth" students
had been merely that OF teacher and
pupil His face was pale. but his voice
was steady.
Damaging Police Evidence.
Captain Danner and several report-
crs testified that See and the two
girls had admitted that their relations
went far beyond the bounds OF con-
ventonality and morality.
Danner said that See and the girls.
because OF admissions then made. were
booked on charges usually entered
against women Of the street