Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1855-12-19
DRs. SMITH AND DEEMS

A"@ "HoIe oi last week was devoted oy the flr.
gnia Methodist Episcopal Conference, in session al
petersburg, to the consideration of the charges pre-
ferred by DR.. Deems against Dr. Smith On Wed
nesday, the Rev. Geo. w. Carter, Rev. W. B. Row.
zle, Rev. j. E. Edwards, Rev. James Jameson, and
rev. +. w. Archer were examined and letters were
read from Rev. Thos. j. Lemay and Rev. j. E. Ed
wards; on Thursday, Rev. R. o. Burton. Rev. L.
Rosser, Rev. S. NJ. Frost, and others, were examin-
ed, and letters and dispositions were read-at the
conclusion of which, Dr. Smith rose and stated in a
serious tone that he had more point in his tes
timony for his defence, and he would close. He re-
ceived last night after 10 o'clock, dispatch from
w. II. II. Tucker, of Raleigh, a matter of inter-
est to DIR. Deems, and he would like for Deems to
question, beforehand, w. H. H. Tucker on the mat
ter. DIR. Deems said he ready to any state
ment from Tucker in regard to the matter at issue.
DR.. Smith read the following in his most impress
sive STYLE and it did, as we'll as the fearless and
prompt reply in denial the part of Dr. Deems,
(says the Democrat,) create much sensation all
through the edifce:
RALEIGH, Dec. -.
To Dr.. Vim. A. Smith, Petersburg:
1T having been suggested to that in the pre-
sent aspect of the controversy between yourself and
Dr. Deems, it may be important to the ends of JUS
tice for you to know declaration made by
DR.. Deems, touching the authorship Of the Chris
topher Duncan letter, l give it you as follows:
A short time after the appearance of that letter
he, G. F. Deems, declared to me in the name Of
an Odd-Fellow, positively and unequivocally, that
he, Deems, did did not write the said &C
d. letter to be written.
w. H. II. TUCKER"
DIR. Deems, says the Democrat, hearing the
above read rose and in calm and confident
ner, said:
81 desire most solemnly to affirm that the state
ment that | ever said to VIM II. II. Tucker, that
not the author of the Christopher Duncan letter
al tce as false that the statement that | said
anything to him in regard to the said article isJrse
that the statement that ever confessed anything to
him, said Tucker, as Odd-Fellcw, as false and
think that if | in Raleigh, | could prove that
sal d Tucker became an Odd-Fcow after our cam
munlcatlon with one another ceased, and more
over, if it be to that [ have said as an Odd
Fellow that not the author of the Z. ID. letter,
such oath will be per jury"
DR.. Smith. we learn, as soon as this emphatic de-
NAL made, tclegraphed Col Tucker to go to Pc
tersburg and we learn that he left on Thursday
evening, to appear before the Conference.
The evidence in the having been concluded
on Thursday evening, Friday morning DR.. Deems
took the floor and addressed the Conference for the
prosecute II. He spoke about five hours.
On Saturday, Col. Tucker examined before
the Conference. He repeated substantially what he
had telcgraphed to DR.. Smith, to w.t. that Dr. Deems
had denied to him voluntarily, the honor of an
Odd Fellow, that he the author of the Christie
phcr Duncan letter.
DR.. Deems then spoke, arguing against Col. Tuck
er's testimony-after which Dr. Smith and open
ed his argument in defence of the charges brought
against him. He made some eighteen points against
Deems. Before concluding the Con ference adjourn
ed to Monday, when it expected he would close
is argument.
The reporter of the Petersburg Express, in his
account of Dr. Deems argument against Col Tuck
ers testimony, says Dr. Deems made remarks on this
point Of an almost killing character" How " Kill
ling" His mere declaration does not invalidae
Col fuckers testimony. We have no hesitation in
saying that we believe what Col. Tucker states to
be true.