Evening star., 1867-06-11
LOCAL NEWS.
The Difficulty in the Seventh street Pres.
byterian Church.

An adjourned meeting of the Presbytery Of
the Potomac was held last evening at the
purpose OF hearing the statement of Dr. Baird
counsel for the prosecution, giving the reason
OF Mr. Fowler for bringing the prosecution,
and the reply of Rev. A. A. f. Taylor, coun.
sci for defence. Rev. Mr.. McCampbell, the
Moderator, was ia the chair, and Rev. Jno.
Chester, clerk. ...-s
DR.. Baird submitted written paper, stating
that he went to see Mr.. d. u. Foley, Attorney
at-Iaw, on Wednesday last with view to
secure his testimony. Mr. +. said, shortly al
ter the death OF Mrs. Page, Mr.. Page deter
mined TO appropriate some portion OF his pro-
perty to benevolent purposes, and under the
advice Of the Rev. Mr.. Campbell, con included
to make the SeveDth.street Church his bene-
fciary. In pursuance OF this intention, Mr.
HERON had drawn up deed OF assignment,
upon which Mr. Page consulted him, Mr..
Foley. The latter was aware that Mr.. Page
was iaboring under depression OF spirits at the
time, resulting from the death OF his wife,
difficulties with his children, and the appre-
hension that he himself was about to die: that
he was OF changeable disposition, and likely
to view these things differently after a
little. He, therefore, pointed out to him
that if he should sign the deed, the act
would be irrevocable, and even should
be reconciled again to his children, he
would be unable to alter the disposition thus
given to this property in their favor. He there
fore advised Mr. Page not to execute the deed,
but merely to give Mr. Heron a power of
attorney, to enable him, in co-operalion with
Mr.. Foley, to manage the business under the
direction and control of Mr.. Page, who was IN
state OF health uniting him to attend per-
sonally to the business. Mr.. Page at once
adopted the suggestion thus given, and gave
Mr. Heron power of attorney. The original
intention of Mr.. Page in this matter was to
give the church the remainder, after paving
certaid cumbrances on the properly. And
although, by merely making MIR. Heron his
attorney, he designedly retained the ultimate
decision in his own hand, he still held the
same intentions, and expressed it in the in
struetions contained in the power of attorney.
His views, however, in this respect gradually
underwent change, resulting, partly. from
recon Citation which took place between him
and his children, and partly in consequence
OF disappointment, which he expressed in the
degree Of advantage which he had expected to
realize from the services Of Mr.. Heron, and
the interest he expected the church to take on
his behalf He, thereupon, made will, in
which be directed that, after the payment of
his debts, the fixed snm OF 5000 should GO to
the 7th-s street Church, and the balance to his
! grandchildren share and share alike.
Mr.. Foley further stated that the property
was once sold by Mr.. Heron for an aggregate
of some $40, 600, but the sale was annulled, in
consequence Of an unexpected cloud IN the
title. which was, with difficulty and delay,
rectif1ed at an expense OF 81 200; and that,
shortly before the purchase by Heron and
Church, Mr.. Walker, then resident on it, ap.
piled TO him (Foley) to ascertain at what price
Page would sell 1t, saying he wanted to ex.
ing eager to get it at S20,G Geo. which he (WaIker)
named Foley told Page OF this, and advised
him to stand on s23, 60, as he was of the i'm.
preston, from his manner. that Walker would
give it. Page thereupon asked $4,000, and
Walker at length agreed to give it, Page came
again and again to Foiey's office TO meet
Walker and consummate the contract; but
Walker failed to bring the money, and the sale
fell through. Page then declared his readi-
mess to sell for S2U,0G0-the property being in
danger of being sacrificed under Legal processes
which " ere about TO be enforced
1t was in these circumstances that the pro-
perty was purchased by HERON and Church.
From the statement of Mr.. Foley, be (Dr. b.
had come to the combustion that ME- Page did
purpose to give the 7th street church q Fesid-
uary interest Ia his property, and SO informed
Mr.. Campbell. He gave MI Heron power
OF attorney, with salary OF $500 per annum,
and MT Heron was the agent OF Mr. Page,
employed and compensated by him. and never
was the agent or trustee Of the Church That
Mr.. Page did actually change his original
children. which he had at first desigaed for
the Church, and assigned to the latter sps.
f,fe1sum OF $4,000. That the property was so
depreciated by various causes at the time
when HERON and Church made the purchase,
that it was probably not worth more in the
market than they paid for 1t, and had it sold
for m ore there Is no reason TO believe that the
Church would have been recognized as en-
titled to the balance. That upon the facts as
thus set forth, there appears nothing TO forbid
the purchase by Heron and Church, and by
consea uen ce, no inst reason TO impeach their
integrity in so doing. 90
Dr. B. said he was instructed by Mr. Fowler
10 state that IN the Originahon OF these pro.
ceedings all he sought or desired was an ex-
animation Of the mater by a committee Of the
congregation, and 1t was not at his suggestion
OF approval the matter was referred to the
Presbytery; that he had hastily prepared him
self with q paper OF charges, without any
definite expectation as to using them, and was
only induced TO present them by the formal
demand OF the Presbytery, which seemed to
convey the idea that he must take some such
action or be held recreant to the responsibiit-
ties to which be had been called But in the
light OF MI. Foley q statement he Is constrained
to believe the whole difficulty to have arisen
from NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS., the result Of the
mode in which the business was conducted
by Mr.. Page. He, therefore. recognizes the
unquestionable right OF Messrs herron and
Church to purchase The property, and with.
draws all charges against their moral char
acters arising out Of the ransaction, and hopes
that the resuh OF the present In vestgation Will
be the restoration OF mutual harmony, conhr
dence and peace to our church.
Mr.. Heron read an afidava from Mr.. Foley,
attorney for MIR. Page, stating that Mr.. Page
had asked Messrs. Church ana HERON TO buy
tina property, and had theynot purchased IT.
IL would have been sacrificed to satisfy iudg.
mepts Of creditors, tnd would hot hRye brought
one. half Of what n was sold to them for. Any
one could have purchased the property when
athey (sd. The dsfsnsos bad hunoo that auoD.
poItunisy wepid ~ given .thSM - s3amias