The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1913-05-09

/ tempt to talk to her during the Serv-
ices and that She thought that the
city officials we're more polite than
to try to interrupt religious meet
ling. However, she admitted that if
she had known what was wanted
she would certainly have listened to
him.
Mrs. Aitken called upon her meth.
er, Mrs. Miriam Denney to testify,
and this lady substantiated in every
particular what her daughter haf
said
Miss Bella Smith, who rooms Will
Mrs. Aitken, and who was present
at the meeting Wednesday evening,
stated that she knew that Mrs. Ait
ken had talked as loud as she could,
and that it was her intention to
make all the world hear. She claim
ed that the only reason anyone cou1
have for wishing to stop the serv-
ices or complaining of the disturb
ance was that the complainants wer
not fright with God" AS to the
obstruction of traffic on this corner
she said that there were quite as
many people gathered in front of
the Unique and Pastime theatre,
Upon cross questioning by the city
attorney she admitted that the
crowd which had come to hear Mrs
Aiken might have bothered some
people who wished to pass and die
nf yie,I, fTN h.
Miss Smith said that her home
was in Iowa and that she had come
here last December to visit sister
who lives near Lake Crystal. She
said that she had become acquainted
with Mrs. Aitken in Mankato and
roomed at her home on South Front
street She earned her living, she
claimed, by washing dishes in the
Elks' cafe. Miss Smith is a very
prepossessing young lady, who is
very enthusiastic upon the subject
of religion. God. to her, is a tang
ible, personal being, who speaks to
her in perfectly audible tone of
voice and calls upon her to help
Mrs. Aitken in her work of reclaim
ing lost souls.
Statement of Judge.
In explaining to Mrs, Aitken what
the evidence in the case proved,
Judge Comstock spoke as follows:
1.-The evidence here shows conclu-
sively that you shouted, sang an
called out on the night in questio
on the corner of Front and Main
streets for a period of at least an
hour and a half, in such a loud tone
of voice as to be heard a distance
of two blocks away, and with the
result that meeting in the city hall
was disturbed a block away, and that
guests in nearby hotel made com.
plants to the proprietor about the
unseemly noise, and also that traffic
on the corner where the meeting
was held was obstructed. On &C,
count of this evidence you are found
guilty of violating the ordinance re-
ferred to in the complaint The con
stitution gives everyone right to
worship God in his own way, but
gives no one ALRIGHT to disturb the
peace by the manner of the worship
Gives Her Good Advice.
Other people who disturb the
peace under the name of religion OF
FOR any other cause will be found
guilty of the same offense. | wisI
you to understand that this court
makes no attack upon your religion
in SO far as 1t does not violate any
of the ordinances of the city or the
laws of the land. You may be lead
to believe that an attempt is being
made upon your religious belief, but
this is not the case AS to the pen.
alties which will be inflicted, hard.
ly know what to say. | believe that
# you will look about you and get
n perfect touch with the will of
the people you will understand what
the will of the people is, and this
will must be respected, and will ad
lust your religious services to meet
the approval of the people Under
the law you may be punished by a
fine of not over 500 or by impris-
| ouiuSHt IOT llOtf more JHdH 0ln0t.
days, but under the circumstances !
will defer judgment in the case un-
til May Is at 8 a. M on condition
that you hold no more services on
the street until that time Until
this date YOU are released"
City Attorney Arthur Schaub said
hat the complaint did not seek to
ipunish Mrs. Aitken SO much as T.
did to stop the disturbance, and
that he did not see how this dis
+urbance could be stopped unless Mrs.
Aitken was compelled to desist from
street services permanently.
Mrs. Athens husband was also
present but he did not testify. HS
attempted to break in upon the
! court proceedings by offering an
opinion but was promptly ordered to
sit down. When the time came he
was asked if he had anything to say
IN that related to the case, but Mrs.
Aitken motioned to him to keep
still, and he refused to give his tes-
timony As Mrs. Aiken left the
room, she shouted. God bless yor
all and prepare to meet your God.
Cor he is coming soon. God help us
to fight the devil" 1t is said tina.
when Mrs. Aiken left the court