The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1915-10-15
De BIT DENIES
TEACHING FREE
LOVE RELIGION
Mrs. Gerber Carried From
Courtroom Friday in an At
tack of Hysteria
DEFENSE is SURPRISED

"Dr." Ralph M. De Bit, es-
forest ranger and later head OF
the Yogs cult here. denied on
Judge Jurey's court Friday
that he 10, or ever was, an sd.
voeste OF free love"
His statement was only one
OF many high spots In the trial
OF himself and Mrs. Dorothy
Alden Gerber, prIna donna and
wife OF Or, Rudolph n. Gerber
OF San Francisco. accused OF
inJudlelous relations.
Mrs. Gerber suffered an al.
tack OF hysteria and had TO be
carried from the courtroom by
women friends associated with
her and Or" De Bit In Yoos
work.
During the intermission that fol.
lowed. DE Iilt. evidently antioipat
Ing that the prosecution would
question him concerning his habits
Of early morning bathing on the
beach az Beaux Arts. climbed
down from the stand aud In a dra.
matte tone demanded OF his attor.
ney.
Did YOU send to my hotel for
my bathing suit ?"
The suit referred 20 was that OF
which lie Blt testified in prelim.
mary hearing II was a flesh tint.
he said. and might have been mis-.
taken NJ a distance for no suit at
all. possibly
Spring Surprise
Mrs Virginia Steele. cashier at
the Womans Exchange restaurant.
sprung q surprise on the defense
when she testified that she had
sold n cake 10 Or. DE hit and
Mrs. Gerber on February 2.
Mrs. Gerber ordered Il sent
G. O. u. 10 Mrs. DE hit at the sor.
rento hotel. she said
Turnout the trial Mrs. Gerber
has been frequently shown 10 have
assumed the name Nine lsonA De
hit"
De BIT on stand
DE Blt was ON the stand most
OF the morning
He testified that he and Mrs.
Gerber "corKeerated" themselves 10
the yogh faith two years ago. in
San Francisco. the home OF DR..
Rudolph n Gerber. husband OF tho
accused singer
Before that time he said. he was
q forest ranger IN idaho. where he
Was Ia charge Of 500 men
Fla, denial Mas made by him that
h.. ha.A AvAAe4ta..1
aud Mira. Ralph DE Iiit. on the
register o. the Hotel Sorrento. tho
the register. produced In court.
showed handwriting. II Is said,
remarkably like hia own.
Believes In Morality
Debit admitted the general public
might have believed he and Mrs.
Gerber man and wife. but added
that they always Informed followers
Of their teachings that they were
not
II believe in the highest Kind ~
morality. he exclaimed. Il am not
a believer in free love. decidedly
no.
Explaining the occasion on
which ~ was complained 20 the
park board that Yogi children
OF both sexes were sent In bath
ING together In the nude. he de-
elared that he had talked u over
with Or. lilburn Merrill.
~ told him we were artists
ard tina, our homes were dec.
GRATED with pictures ard sovlp-
ture OF nudes. and that no one
but a man with a diseased mind
would find fault with little chill
eren going into the water to-
pether that way"
The prosecution inquired closely
into his means Of support He adj.
mitted that he had no salary. but
was supported thru donations Of
students and voluntary offerings
for instruction in spiritual healing
and spiritual health.
The appreciation Of my work re
suited very substantially. he has.
tened To- say.
The case will likely 40 to the jury
late Friday or early Saturday.