Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-06-19
FOUNDER OF ABSOLUTE LIFE
CULT OUTLINES DEFEHoE IN
CoUNT.
POLICE AND PRESS ACCUSED
OF PROSECUTING LEADER
Mildred Bridges, Whose Father 10
Prosecuting For Abduction, Claims to
Have Loft Homo With Consent Of
Parents-sridges to Be Important
Witness For State,

chicago. June 19.-Counsel Tor Eve
lyn Arthur See. founder OF the Alb
solute Life cult. and now charged with
the alleged abduction of Mildred
Bridges. outlined the plan OF defense
when Sees trial was resumed today.
The attorneys declared See was being
made the victim or a conspiracy Of
the police and press
I'VE VIII show that the teaching Of
the Absolute Life Is pure" said At
torney Robert T.. Cantwet. "and that
Mildred Bridges was not enticed from
home. but was left at Sees house with
the full consent of her parent"
Much Of the opening statement was
devoted to an attack on Stephen
Bridges. father of Mildred Bridges.
The first profane word Mildred
Bridges ever heard was In tho house
OF her father" said the Attorney
she then decided she could no longer
live there. We will show that Bridges
said. I will spend every penny own
and consider my life wasted until
have caused his ruin Bridges also
said. II tho Illinois court doesn't send
See where he can not ruin homes and
little girls I'll take the responsibility
upon myself and take the conse-
qucnccs.
Bridges will be witness today.
Sensational revelations are expected
when stephen H. Bridges. father OF
Mildred Bridges. testifies as to tho al
legged manner in which See separated
him from his wife and daughter and
made them his disciples. Bridges Will
! also explain tho inside working OF tho
cult and how See attempted To make
him its financial hacker.
Child Will Toll of Scenes.
| After Bridges testimony Is heard
| Sees manuscript Book of Life" and
| letters to his disciples will be intro-
! duced, together with tho testimony
! OF Clara Jennings. the child of one OF
/ Sees Heighbors, who claims to have
! witnessed many scenes In the House.
OF the Lord" by peering thru tho
! blinds Bridges story and the manu-
| scripts are largely depended upon to
gain n conviction.
Sec. while conducting semire-
licious house" said Mr.. Bunrham. re-
ceivcd what he claimed 10 DC 8: -evela-
iion from Ced telling him to rehabili-
tate the whole world. He was to be
the spirit TO promugate tho doctrines
revealed 10 him. The spirit OF truth
was to be in him twofold He only
t" disseminate knowledge 10 tho
multitude. Mysterious messages' from
God were TO smooth his path.
Sec. by means OF correspon dence.
Interested Mrs Recs In his dostrina
! and she came from Oregon. where her
daughter was attending school. and
gave her daughter bodily to Evelyn
Arthur See. This daughter. Mona
Recs. was given instruction until she
became Il follower and finally the mis-
tress Of See
Bridges Family Become Interested.
IN 1906 SEQ Interested Mr.. ard Mrs.
Bridges in his doctrine. Mrs. Bridges
was the first to become Interested. and
she brought her husband to accept
Sees doctrine rs she did
! Mr.. Burnham declared that when
See first met the Bridges he had no
| money nor any visible means OF sup
port. and so he started The House of
| the Lord. to gain dwelling place
Bridges hc said. first broke away
| from Sees cult when Sec had rev.
elation calling Mona Recs to live in his
house.
After this revelation Mona. Accord
ing to Mr.. Burnhanl. went to live with
| See. Later. when See announced that
Mildred Bridges was to be mother OF
a new race her mother took her to
4
| ecutor said. gave her into Sees Gus.
! tody Mr.. Ruruham said that these Ii
! icit relations continued for three
| years.
Says Ho Admitted His Relations.
| When the fiat was raided last jan
| uary. the states representative said.
| a note was found In Mildred Bridges
| bed, written by See. in which he pro>i
| tested HIS undyIns love. Similar
| notes addressed to Mona Recs were
found about the hat. That See admit
ted to the police his illioit relations
| with Mildred Bridges and Mona ReeS
| was another Of Prosecutor Burnham's
| statements.
| Mr. Burnham said Mildred Bridges
! is still under the domination of Sec
! and had refused to either deny or at
| firm any hine relating 10 tho case.
| However he said, she admitted her
| puilt the police.