Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-03-13
DR. HVSTON,S CASE.
Immediate Investigation OroeFe1 "
the Warrenton Conference.


alta Investigation. This is precisely the
course contemplated by the resolution OF
fered by Rev. DR.. Munsey yesterday, al
tbouoh the substitute offered by Rev. A. w.
Wilson was adopted. The resolution pro
posed that the Presiding Elder should pro-
coed to an immediate and thorough inves-
tieation.o and the report of the committee,
which was adopted to-day, enjoins upon
him the same duty. The only difference
between the two propositions was that DIR.
Munsey's motion asked the Conference to
order investigation forthwith, without fur
Their inquiry by a committee appointed by
the Bishop, as to whether the circumstances
warranted any further action.
The debate turned upon the question as
TO which of these methods accorded with
the mode of procedure laid down in the
Discipline, and touched not the merits Of
the case. The vote in favor Of Mr.. VIII
sons motion had no significance whatever,
except that in the judgment of the Confer
ence the mode of procedure proposed by
him was in accordance with the Methodist
usage.
The Committee met on Friday afternoon,
but it was not known what witnesses were
examined. OF the gentlemen summoned
Baltimore American with him beginning
with the issue of Saturday, Feb. "a, and it
is presumed that the statements relating to
DR.. Huston were submitted as part of the
evidence. Other accusations were made by
persons who profess to know something of
DIR. Illusions past history. The members
of the Committee were decided and unani-
nous in their conviction that there should
be an immediate investigation of the whole
case. Their report was exceedingly brief
and covered the following points: First, the
charges are of an exceedingly grave character;
second, the Committee expresses no
opinion as TO their truth or falsity; third,
the Presiding Elder of the East Baltimore
District is the proper person to investigate
them; fourth, that ecclesiastical official
should proceed to make an investigation,
observing the rules laid down in the Book
of Discipline.
The statement telegraphed from here by
the Associated Press that one Of his accus-
ers had withdrawn her charges, is without
the slightest foundation in truth. Her
friends report that she has been anxious
from the first to confront DIR. Huston, and
has not varied in the slightest in her state
ments. These are astonishing, aud if ever
brought before the public, in court of JUS
tice, will startle the community. The &C
ton of the committee to-day shows, how
ever, that the dispatch is false and IN
founded.
After the report of the committee had
been adopted, DR.. Huston seemed
to think that his presence at War
renton was no longer necessary,
and he took the afternoon train for Balti-
more. During the three days that he was
here, he spent most of the time talking
with such laymen as were anxious to hear
the story of his alleged wrongs. While the
Conference was in session, he stood about
the door Of the ante-roOm, shook hands
with those who extended that courtesy, and
unbosomed himself to every one that vol
unteered a sympathetic remark. 1t was
noticeable circumstance that but few of the
clergy had anything to say to him. What
ever impression he made favorable to him
self was on few of the lay delegates and
on his former acquaintance in the town of
Warrenton. He is a smooth talkeT, and
persons who heard him take upthe several
statements which have been published to
his prejudice, and give his versions of the
facts upon which they are founded, say that
be put them in a light that reflects his own
innocence.
Many of the clergy were struck with the
singular inconsistencies between the state
ment made in DR.. Huston's card, published
in the Cincinnati papers, and his remarks
before the Conference as to the motive that
induced him to leave Baltimore. In the
card be says: "The loss of my voice, and
the failing health of member of my family,
had determined me long ago TO leave Balti-
more" But to the Conference he gave
very different reason. l quote from his
speech of yesterday: "When the SANDER
Gus story was first made public, there was an
instinct that prompted him to save his wife
and daughter from the modification and
sorrow that it would bring upon them, and
| for that reason he thought it best to take
! them beyond the reach of the slanderer's
| breath" II viii be remembered that he
| left the city on Wednesday, and his family
| followed him next day, while the matter
was not published until Friday afternoon.
The Episcopal Methodist, of Saturday
/ last, in abiding to his departure from the
/ city, said: SIT is but simple justice to say
| that he demanded an immediate investiga-
/ ton, and insisted upon confronting his &C
] cuser in person. He was advised at once
to leave Baltimore. His life was threaten
ed, and under the apprehension Of personal
/ violence he acted on this advice and left for
Cincinnati" Thus, there has been three
reasons given.
As to confronting his accusers in person,
it should be remembered that the charges
we're made by one of them last November
and by the other ten days before he left the
city. Their friends assert that they have
both been anxious to confront him, but he
has never asked to see either of them.
After the vote had been taken on the re-
port ofthe committee, DR.. Munsey rose tC
| a personal explanation. He said an article
had appeared in the Episcopal Methodist il
which it was stated that he demanded an in
vestigation before he left. (The paragraph
is quoted abOve.) In point Of fact, DR.
Huston did not demand an investigation
He (Dr. Munsey) and Mr.. Magruder ad
vised DR.. Huston to leave, and he told then
that he had made up his mind to take thu
very course they recommended. Mr.. Ma
gruder would bear witness to this.
DR.. Poisall said that be had merely pub
lished a fact, or what had been given Il
him as a fact Whether it is true, the com
mittee could not state; and here DR.. Poi
sail appealed very confidently to the com
mittee. The Bishop was, by thi
time, somewhat apprehensive Of al
oratOrical encounter between DR.. Munse,
and DR.. Poisall, and he asked both of then
to take their seats, assuring them that NJ
question of veracity could be raised, for tn
reason that DR.. Poisall may have beel
speaking of time and circumstance Q
which DR.. Munsey knew nothing. Dr.
: Huston may have demapded an investiga
ton on some other occasion than the on
referred to by DR.. Munsey.
Mr.. Magruder said that DIR. Huston di
not demand an investigation, but in tn
course of the conversation he had sal
sthat he was willing that the matter shout
be investigated" The Bishop would allo'
no further debate, and here the matte
rested.
The Bishop announced that final dispo
sition had been made of DIR. HustOn's case
as far as this meeting of the Conferenc
was concerned, and ordered that the regula
order Of business be proceeded with.
THE BELLE OF THE WIGWAT.