Sister Ligouri’s Case

Hokitika Guardian, 13 July 1921, Page 1

Sister Ligouri’s Case

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. COUNSEL’S ADDRESS TO JURY. SYDNEY, July 12. In the Ligouri case, Counsel for the defence, addressed the jury. He argued that no sane mind could have seen in any of the trivial causes adduced in the evidence any justification for leaving the Convent, as Sister Ligouri had left. Any impartial mind, lie said, could not help saying that the plaintiff bad leftjher Convent in circumstances which showed that lier reason was at least temporarily unhinged, and it thus would have been quite impossible for the Convent authorities to have ignored their manifest duty, unless they wore ready to lay themselves open to die imputation of callousness and crueltl. Sister Ligouri bad left the shelter of the Convent community as destitute of human resources as it was possible in be. She bad left the community making a charge so monstrously at variance with Iter own subsequently expressed views, that there was every reasonable ground to doubt her sanity. The onlv alternative to the charitable] view that her mind was temporarily unhinged, was an inference that her (light was intended to discredit and to injure the innocent, gentle-minded, charitable women, whom she had abandoned.

After reviewing subsequent events Counsel referred to the secrecy observvod regarding Sister Ligouri’s movements. Counsel argued these events Mere the outcome of sectarianism, and they were taken advantage of by a certain body that was notorious for having a traditional enmity against the Roman Catholic Clinroh and Roman CaJiolic institutions. This was done in order to vilify that Church and Faith.

Counsel for the defence, continuing, said il bad been suggested that Bishop Dwyer, in bis efforts to locate Sister Ligouri. Mas inspired by a fear ot some disclosures she might make. Counsel continued: “One 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 sinks* community show that the basis of this case is an appeal to prejudice.” Counsel concluded an address, which lasted for five hours, by asking: “Was it suggested that the Inspector-General ~f Police, also the Solicitor-General of Xcm South Wales, and the Chamber Magistrate whom Bishop Dwyer had consulted, before taking any action, were also in a black conspiracy?” PLAINTIFF’S COUNSEL.

Counsel for the plaintiff - , in apening said: “Tbe step the girl took in leaving the Convent was undoubtedly regarded as verv serious.” For proof of this he referred to Canon Law. Therein, lie said, it Mtis laid down that nothing except imminent danger ot death could justify a person in leaving a convent in the way she did. It was also set out that the enclosure of Nuns Mas subject to ilie local Ordinary. He said the Ordinary could correct and coerce delinquents, oven with penalties. Counsel said be did not suggest that the dose that was given to Sister Ligouri Mils poison, but he would ask the jury to consider what would be Sister Ligouri’s impression on returning to the Convent, after she had brought down the wrath of the community on her, and therefore expected some reproof. Unquestionably, she had believed she had been given stuff that would |>e injurious, and then she took a step lliat any sane person Mould, and got ,-id „f it. She did not wait for clothes because she know that if she did, she would have been restrained.

Counsel for plaintiff referred to what !).- formed “the suggestion by Counsel for the defence that there Mats behind this action sonic deep design by people who Mere anathema to the delenee. ’ Counsel said: “They have shown nothing but kindness to the girl, and bail not tried to inlluonce her religious belief.” He contended that if her fears veto justified, her only remedy was to get the help of somebody almost, it not quite as powerful as her Church.