Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-09-26
SUES FOR MONEY
SAYS WOMAN GOT
BY SPIRITS HELP
Dr.. HubbeII Thought Clara
Barton Sent Message
From Beyond Grave.

ROCKVILLE, Nd. September 25.-
DR.. Julian B. Hubbell. former sec
retary to Clara Barton. FOUNDER Of the
American Red Cross, today filed suit
in the circuit court Of Montgomery
county to recover from Mrs. Maybelle
Rawson Hirons, who was an intimate
friend Of. Miss Barton, property.
cash and bonds valued at $50
which, he claims. he turned over to
Mrs. Hirons under the influence Of
messages from the spirit of Miss
Barton.
Judge Edward c. Peter signed an
order temporarily restraining Mrs.
Hirons from disposing Of any Of the
property mentioned in the proceed
ings.
The bill Of complaint sets forth
that DR.. Hubbel1 for many years
che erfshed hope to change the prac-
tice of medicine SO that physicians
would regard it their duty to keep
the well in health as well as to heal
the Nick. His one great ambition,
next to changing the practice of
medicine, was to establish a suitable
memorial to Clara Barton, whom he
had served as secretary for thirty
years. the bill continues.
Says She Went Into Trance.
1t is set forth that when Miss
Barton died in 1912 Dr. Hubbell
owned real estate at Glen Echo
valued at $4,000. costly household
furniture and a claim against the
town of Glen Echo for $4,000. The
bill Of complaint alleges that early
in May, 1914, Mrs. Hir6ns visited the
Hubbell home at Glen Echo and ex-
project.
1t is charged in the petition that on
this occasion Mrs. Hirons simulated
a trance, during which she claimed to
have established communication with
the spirit of Miss Barton. According
to the bill Of complaint, Mrs. Hirons
said the spirit of Clara Barton direct
ed her to tell DR.. Hubbell that she
(Mrs Hirons) had come to help him
carry out his plans for the memorial.
1t is further alleged that Mrs.
Hirons told the doctor it was the wish
of Miss Barton's spirit that he turn
over his property to Mrs. Hirons in
order to secure her cooperation in
the memorial undertaking.
Continuing. the petition sets forth
that DR.. Hubbell was much affected
by the death of Miss Barton and
was greatly Influenced by any com.
munication received by him purnort.
ing to come from his deceased friend.
DR.. Hubbell believes, accordine to
his petition. that it is possible for
departed spirits to hold communi-
cation with their friends in this world
through certain persons denominated
as mediums"
The petition states that because of
his devotion to Miss Barton and the
professed devotion of Mrs. Hirons to
Miss Barton. Mrs. Hirons acouired
and exercised controlling influence
over him and he accepted the com.
munications as coming from Misc
Barton.
Overheard q Conversation.
On May IA. 1914, in accordance with
the suggestions and requests made
in the alleged spirit messages. the
petition states that he conveyed tn
Mrs. Hirons the Glen Echo real as
tate. $4,000 received by him under
Miss Barton's will, $4,000 borrowed
from relatives and friends and $4,000
in Glen Echo town bonds, all of
which was to be used to further the
memorial project.
The petition recites that DR.. Hub
bell had implicit faith in Mrs. Hirons
until about sixty days ago. when. it
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