The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-01-13
THE METHODIST BOOK CONCERN.
Investigatiun of the Alleged Frauds-Th,
Doors Closed Against Every One.

Investiga,iun. of the Alleged FEands-The
The most intense interest was manifested yes
terday around the Methodist Book Rooms, No.
805 Broadway, in the trial of Rev. DIR. Lanahan,
Assistant Agent of the Book Concern, for certain
acts alleged to have been committed by him in
his official capacity.
Ate A. NJ. the committee met at the Mission
Chapel. Besides the committee there were
present Bishops Ames, james, Scott, and Simp-
son, together with the accused agent, his coun-
sci, and two or three stenographers. DR..
Lanaban is represented by Judge Reynolds, of
Brooklyn, A. j. Vanderpoel, and Rev. Mr..
Buckly, as counsel, and the Book Concern is
represented by K. L. Fancher, ESQ.,, General
Runyon, and DR.. Pease P. E. and Rev. George
Lansing Taylor, who represent the signers to the
charges against DIR. Lanahan. After the organi-
zation of the Court, reading of minutes, etc,
the duration of the daily sessions was fixed
from A. NJ. to 1873 Pi NJ and from till 81 or 6
P. NJ ,Nas business should require The question
then came up as to sitting with open or closed
doors, and upon this DR.. Lanahan's counsel re-
quested to be heard. They were therefore ad-
mitted, and in presenting their case they argued
ably and strongly in favor of open doors, for the
reasons, among others, that DR.. Lanahan had been
widely traduced in the official press of the NJ.
e. Church. and great many people even now
believe that he is on trial for frauds and pecula
tions committed on the Concern, and the Asso-
ciated Press has helped forward this impression
within the last few days by telegraphing sach
statement all over the country. 1t was deemed,
therefore, matter of justice to DR.. Lanahan
that the investigation should be open, and that
the public should know the exact facts in the
case. Neither he nor his counsel had any desire
to cover anything up, but demanded the ffllest
and freest investigation.
A lively debate followed, in which the men,
bers of the committee participated. They took
the ground mainly that, with open DOORS they
could not refuse admission to any one and that
as a matter of self protection, 1t was best to sit
with closed doors. The Bishops favored open
sessions, and some members of the committee
were also in favor of admitting by tickets, but
obstacles were presented TO this plan also, and
1t was finally decided by vote of to 4, as fol-
lows, TO shut out the public:-Y Yeas-Messrs.
Blades, Kennedy, Maltby, Bannister, Irwin,
Bingham, Brooks, and Rothweiler. Nays
Messrs. Slicer, Woodruff, Pike and Vernon.
At this point q recess was taken until two
o'clock, at which time the question came up
again, and after considerable debate pro and
| con, the above decision was reaffirmed by the
| same vote. 1t was also decided, after some
| discussion, to begin at the beginning and to go
| so that nothing should be left undone that could
be done to arrive at the TRUTH and the whole
TRUTH in the matter.
1t was reported, though we could not verify
1t, that the ministers who had been shut out
from the deliberations of the court had pre-
sented written protest and a formal demand
for admission. An executive session of the
committee was said to have been held over it,
during which even the Bishops retired; but it
would seem from the final action of the com
mittee that the protest was not favorably re
ceived. The committee will sit again to-day,
and il is expected that the investigation will
cover several weeks. New witnesses are to be
examined on both sides.-N. Y. Times, today.