Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-10-27
ONE BEAUTY DOCTOR A Man
George F. Abbott Tells Inside
Secrets in Court.
MADAME BOYD" AND HER SHOP
Mrs. Lillian He'll suing J. W. Clwood
ana Harry II, Brown for DAM
ages for Using Photo
without Right.

Laying bare the secrets OF the mail
order beauty business as alleged &C. have
been practloed by the Madame Josephine
Boyd system OF Chicago, when IL oper-
ated IN Omaha In 1919. proved highly
entertaining TO the jury and an attentive
audience In Judge sutton's law division
ot the district court yesterday afternoon
In the opening hours OF the trial Of
Mrs. LILLIAN BELLS 5000 libel suit against
the system and its former proprictors
j. w. Elwood and Harry II. Brown.
Mrs Bell, a beautiful divorceo Of a
years. alleges that without her permits
sion tho system used her picture In the
catalcg-prospectus which II scattered
broadcast over the United states, rep
resenting her as an assistant in the hair
dressing and colffuring department. This,
she says. deeply Inundated and morti-
fled her and made her n laughing stock
and butt OF ridiculo until her health
was undermined by soothing.
George +. Abbott. q real estate dealer
and loan broker az 1905 Farnum street
a former associate OF Elwood and Brown,
testified for the fair plaintiff and told
what he declared TO be the true story
OF the beauty school business as prac-
ticed by Elwood, Brown and himself
A dozen stunningy handsome young
women. fashlonably attlred, Omaha
beauty specialists. some OF them for.
MGR students OF the school and some
former employees OF Omaha beauty par
lors. were IN the audience. adding color
and warmth and sparkle TO the court.
room that has grown rather dingy with
its nearly thirty years Of age.
"Mndame noyd' a Nan.
There never was a real Madame
Boyd" according to the witness, Alb
bolt, tho name MADAME Josephine
Boyd" being chosen merely for Its trade
value. The prospectus carried picture
OF beautiful woman with tho name
MADAME Josephine Boyd printed be-
meath IT, but Abbott says It was the
picture OF some Omaha girl whose name
he did not know.
The course OF instruction sold TO stu
dents who replied to the systems adver-
tisement consisted OF number OF lesson
sheets and pamphlets on hairdresslng and
coffuring complexion treatment wrinkle
eradication, manicuring and bust develop
ment. These were prepared In the main
by Mr.. Brown, a former newspaper re-
porter, according to the witness The
students were charged $3.50 month uhtil
their courses were completed, when they
received nice diplomas signed by Elwood,
Brown.and the fictitious MADAME Boyd,
Mr.. Abbott said. According to his state
ment. no passage OF examinations was
necessary 10 secure diplomas ana no Of
forts were made TO satisfy the system
that the students had mastered the les
sons before they were given diplomas
He said Elwood or Brown signed the
name Madame Josephine Boyd" on the
| diplomas
The defense viii show that post card
pictures of Mrs Bell as 1.-THE Girl of this
Golden West" dressed in cowgirl cos
tune, knee skirt and leggings, wer'
sold with her consent and that therefor
the publication OF sedate picture Of bel
in a reception gown with her hair done
stunnlngly with q Janice Meredith eur
could not be libel.