The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-06-17
THE LANAHAN TRIAL.
THE INVESTIGATION BEGUN.
Presentation Of the Case by tho Prosecution
Reply Of the Eeeace-Alleged False En-
tries and Gross Discrepancies-Dr
Lanahal On the Stand.

DR.. Lanahan, assistant agent OF the Methodist Book
Concern by DR.. Carlton came up yesterday before
the Book Committee and Bishop James and Ames.
DR.. Brooks chairman or the committee briefly
stated the recent proceedings and the present con-
dition OF this case. anl asked The parCles If tney
were ready to proceed Co trial. Being answered IN
the affirmative, Or. Carlton name his counsel-E.
l.. Fancher, General Rnnyon Rev. IL. NJ. pease
u. d., and II. ID. Rolph. Dr. Lauahan named his
counsel-Judge Reynolds, Rev. J. NJ. Buckley, G.
W. Price OF Philadelphia, Oliver Hoyt and John
Elliot.
Mr.. Fancher then stated the grounds OF the prose-
cution, the substance OF the charges aud the proof
pertaining thereto. lie rectel The court proceed
ings OF Dr. Lanaian for q mandamus, which DR..
Fancher declared were founded on such assumptions
OF authority that 1t was deemed important to call
tho attention OF the Book Committee to them.
heading from DR.. Lanahan's court application,
counsel said there WAS
SOMETHING STARTLING ~ THE PAPER
10 any one who loves the Church and the took Con-
Germ. The assistant agent appears In the case as
re'a'or; and Thomas Carlton, ny name, ana the
Book Concern, are made respondents This action
has been devised 10y Lanahan and counsel, with
cut conference OF any sort with the agent or any
member OF the Book Committee III sucl manner as
to shock the conscience OF the Church. And these
and further alldavlts are secretly printed aud given
nectea with the BOOK Concern has seen them. From
cheese anidavits Dr.. Fancier charged Or. Larahan
win lighting, quarralling, Drawing, &c.--orotner
going TO law with BROTHER which Is permitted by tho
New Testament only in extreme cases by Church
members. But here the assistant agent Of the Con-
Germ PUSHES into the secular court and nyokes the
arm OF It's power against his superior IN Office The
credit Of the Book Concern ana the peace OF the
Church are disturbed by sucn iItieation the money
O. the concern Is taken TO pay lawyers,
and the clanors OF the secular press aud OF the enc
mics Of the Church are TIE necessary result. What
peace and harmony can exist between agents when
one Is suing another? And yet there must be else
the large business OF this Concern cannot be sue
cessluliy prosecuted There IS no evil 50 great as
lawsuits In Methodist families. And one OF the con-
sequences OF this litigation Is 10 reopen and keep
nhye an old proceeding which has shaken the
Church 10 its foundations. but which has had no
basis, and 1t might and should have been settled IN
this oce The grounds for this proceeding asserted
by the assistant agent are hostile In character 10
this Concern. Dr. Fancher then read Lanahans
affidavit reciting the statute OF Incorporation IN
which himself and Dr. Carlton are named as cor.
Iorators OF The BOOK Concern. DR.. Fancher con-
tended that Dr.. Lanahan utterly ignored lis Church
appointment and trust, and stands upon statute OF
OF the State OF New York, and that this IS
PROOF OF lNsUFF1CIENGY or JUDGMENT
or OF temper which should invoke the apprehension
OF the committee. Several clauses OF those am
davis were separately commented upon. and that
relating 10 DR.. Lanahan'S desire to ascertain from
the books whether or not all the property OF the
Concern had been turned over to the legally con.
stitutea corrorators was characterized as mon.
strous Where Is the man IN the Methodist Church,
the counsel asked. except John Lanahan, who
would make such lusinuaton2 here is an
appeal to Cesar 70 make man honest who was
honest before Lanahan knew anything ABOUT him.
Can these two men walk together who are no better
agreed than thsf and The business OF this Con.
Germ be thus transacted There Is no excuse for
his proceeding. He (Lanahanl had never been in
tcricrcd with IN his examination OF the books OF the
Concern, but had them Ia his possession Tor ten
weeks together and. contrary 70 the instructions
OF this committee placed tnen beyond the control OF
the agent or bookkeepcr. He makes preteuce to
this committee That he wanted the books for his de-
renee IN the Goodenougn SANDER suit, but IN hs an
pcation u the court he takes altogether different
grounds. How could books which he had never
seen make evidence for him IN the Goodenonrn
suit2 the counsel asked DIR. Fancher then quoted
from the decision IN somewhat similar application
by DT. Lees, OF Boston. 10 an English courr Ia case
In when John y. Cough sued Lees for SANDER
Baron Martin decided that such an application was
absurd and uneard OF, and that the nbeller should
have obtained his PROOF before utlerin. II, and
promptly denied the application; AMI counsel con-
tended Lanahan would dad no court here ready 10
grant his. But Dr.. Lanahan's real motive counsel
charged s, on the authority OF the State laws
TO RIDE RouGHsHoD OVER THE BOOK COMMITTEE,
body IN the Concerns: and no has asserted 80 much
within me walls OF TINS establishment. These are
ready to prove, ana here they rest.
Judge REYNOLDS. for tho deience, asked for the
Iancher referred hun 10 Dr.. Cartons letter Of May
% TO the committee. Counsel on botn sides then
agreed to the several printed documents, when
they should consider IS presented IN evidence with
out being read, and the committee. having fixed
upon the duration OF It's sessions, from ten A. NJ to
hal-pas1 Tour T. NJ daily, took recess q one hour
ION
The proceedings after the recess were opened bv
Rev. Mr.. Buckley, counsel Tor Or. lanahan. who
admitted the acs charged. che nam one OF wnich
Or. LanaiianS application 10 the courts Tor
g. manaanus TO compel the agent to
Concern. The justification OF an act NO said.
turns upon the history preceding Il, ana they pro.
posed 70 show, from the Joarnai OF tue committee
and from publications IN The Christian AdUoctts,
that Dr. Lanahan mad no other means OF protection;
that he could not evea rely upon Or appeal to the
coinmtec. II, therefore. it shan be shown thlt
taL biere was very strong for the act then
Or. Lauahan VIII he Justified IN IL; aud this
he was prepared TO show. Ihey would also show
the circumstances or Or Lauahan's Introduction
mo TIE Book Concern, the iise and progress OF
his suspicious and his al declaration OF fraud and
ACKNOWLEDGMENT, and The subsequent relations OF
tue two agents ~ q Justification Tor Dr. LanahaI's
appeal 10 the courts. BAT preliminary tins he mt
III printed answer OF thirteen paiupiicU pages in
winch Dr. Lananan asserts his fu aad equal corpo.
tnat such corporalor he Is held legally responsible
for The property III ms care ana also respoDstbe
under the discipline Of the Church, aud he cannot
possiDi, render proper account tnc General Con.
ference OF the trusts conaaed to him unless he can
have free access 10 al the books aud accounts OF tue
concern. He TeasseFts The refusal OF Dr. Carlton 10
le, him have the books, aud says thar not uutil
al other means failed did lie apply TO the courts.
AND even then the real reasons for such application
were that ne might prepare his defence IN the Good
enough SUIT which was being pressed against HIM.
But as he superior Coutt-n which the case Ia on
could not compel Or. Carlton. who held the books.
10 Danu tnem over. ana tile supreme Court could
mol lake cogni1ancc OF SUIT before another court,
other and suiicient reasons had TO be given TO the
supreme Court upon which it might grant the writ
" mandamus. As TO the particular form Of his APP
plca,i0n To the court ne throws the responsibility
on counsci, ant says he had control over 1t and
10 responsibility IN II, but now believes n right,
The Doctor then declares in support Oh his original
ALLEGATIONS on FRAUD AND observation-disclosures
thai the books VIII snow that toe former s,lperin-
tendent t}oodenougn) IN 1865 used y4lo54 OF stock
III turning out Sl0,96i OF work, whne the present
superintendent I'm 1870 used 16i03 of stock IN
turning ont $50 or work. tue former suucrln-
iAulnnt Iva. lsnu NJ hlI,1LDr