THE ESCAPED NUN

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 248, 14 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 have seen in any of the 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 the shelter of the 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 the inference that her flight was intended to discredit and injure the 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 the outcome of sectarianism. and were taken advantage of by a certain body notorious for having a traditional enmity against the Roman Catholio Church and Roman Catholic institutions, in order to vilify that Church and faith. It had been suggested that the Bishop, in his efforts to locate Sister Liguori, was inspired by the 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. The attempts which have been made to besmirch a sinless community show that the basis of the case is an appeal to prejudice.” Counsel concluded his address, which had lasted for five hours, by asking if it was suggested that the Inspector-General of Police, the Solicitor-General, and the Chamlier Magistrate whom tho Bishop consulted before taking action were also in a black conspiracy. Counsel for plaintiff, in opening his address. said the step the girl took in leaving tho 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 eoerce delinquents, even with penalties. Counsel did not suggest that tho dose given to Sister Liguori was poison, but ho asked the jury to consider tho impression on her mind on returning to tho convent after she had brought down the wrath of the community on "her, and expected some reproof. Unquestionably, •die believed she had been given stuff that would be injurious, and took the step any sum person would, and got rid of it. She did not wait for her clothes, because she knew if she did she would have been restrained. Referring to the suggestion by counsel for tho defence that there was behind tho action some deep design by people who wore anathema (o tho defence, counsel said thev had shown nothing but kindness to the girl,- and had not tried to influence her religious belief. Ho contended that if her fears were justified her only remedy was to get the help of a body almost, if not quite, as powerful as the Church.—Press Assn.