THE ESCAPED NUN

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 247, 13 July 1921, Page 5

THE ESCAPED NUN

CLAIM FOR DAMAGES ADDRESSES OF COUNSEL By Telegranh—Press Association— Copyright (Rec. July 12, 11.5 p.m.) Sydney, July 12. In the case in which Miss Partridge (formerly Sister Liguori is claiming damages from Bishop Dwyer, counsel for the defence, addressing the jury, argued that no sane mind could havo seen in any of tho trivial causes adduced in evidence any justification for leaving the convent. Any impartial mind could not help saying that plaintiff left in circumstances Which showed her reason to bo at least temporarily unhinged, and it would have been quite impossible for the convent authorities to have ignored their manifest duty, unless they laid themselves open to the imputation of callousness and cruelty. Sister Liguori left tho shelter of tho community as destitute of human resources as it was possible to be. She left the community making a charge so monstrously at variance with her own subsequently expressed views that there was every reasonable ground to doubt her sanity. The only alternative to the charitable view that her mind was temporarily unhinged was tho inference that hex- flight was intended to discredit and injure tho innocent, gentle-minded, charitable women she had abandoned. After reviewing the subsequent events, and the secrecy observed regarding Sister Liguori’s movements, counsel argued that these events were tho outcome of sectarianism. and were taken advantage of by a certain body notorious for having a traditional enmity against tho Roman Catholic Church and Boman Catholic institutions, in order to vilify that Church a.nd faith. It had been suggested that the Bishop, in his efforts to locate Sister Liguori, was inspired by tho fear of disclosures she might make. Counsel continued: “Ono is really staggered by the effrontery of such a suggestion after hearing her simple story of life in the convent. Tho attempts which have been made to besmirch a sinless community show that the basis of tho case is an appeal to prejudice.” Counsel concluded Iris address, which had lasted for five hours, by asking if it was suggested that the Inspector-General of Police, the Solicitor-General, and the Chamber Magistrate whom- tho Bishop consulted before taking action were also in a black conspiracy. Counsel for plaintiff, in opening his address. said tho step the girl took in leaving the convent was undoubtedly regarded as very serious. For proof of this he referred to Canon law, in which it was laid down that nothing except imminent danger of death could justify a person leaving a convent in the way she did. It was also set out that tho enclosure of tho nuns was subject to tho local ordinary, who could correct and coerce delinquents, even with penalties. Counsel did not suggest that the doso given to Sister Liguori was poison, but ho asked tho jury to consider the impression on her mind on returning to the convent after she had brought down the wrath of tho community on her, and expected some reproof. Unquestionably, •die believed she had been given stuff that would be injurious, and took tho step any sane person would, and got rid of it. She did not wait for her clothes, because sho knew if she did she would havo been restrained. Referring to tho suggestion by counsel for tho defence that there was behind the action some sleep design by people who were anathema io tho defence, counsel said thev had shown nothing but kindness to the girl, and had not tried to influence her religious belief. He contended that if her fetv’s were justified her only remedy was to get tho help of a body almost, if not quito, as powerful as the Church.—Press Assn.