The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1875-11-11
REV. DIR. HAMMER.
He Makes q Statement Con-
cerning His Trial s. Suspension.
From The American, 4th.l


say concerning his recent trial and
suspension. The following inter
view was the result:
Reporter-Dr. Hammer, it has
been rumored that you promise to
prepare a full statement of your case
for publication, if the result of your
trial by the Conference should not
do you justice.
DR.. Hanner-I meant to say, if
the result should be expulsion I
would prepare a full statement for
publication.
Reporter-Do you think justice
has been done you in the general
management of the case and in the
penalty which was executed upon
you by the Conference2
DR.. Hanner-I do not. I was
guilty of a fault and a folly, but I
was not guilty of crime and there
fore did not merit a punishment so
severe.
Reporter-Doctor you have be-
haved very quietly and silently
through the whole of this ordeal;
and as nothing has ever appeared in
print in your behalf, either from
yourself or your friends, have you
any objection to stating your view
of the case for publications.
DR.. Hanner-I have no objection
to making such a statement, but
rather feel that sheer justice to my
self demands and appeal to the bar
of fpublic opinion through the press.
Reporter-Please state, then, upon
what the charge of immortality
against you was based, and any
thing else you may feel disposed to
say.
DR.. Hanner-the charge alleged
was based upon a purloined, anony-
nous letter, and 1 should have been
tried under the Rule of our Discip-
line, page 13I: "What shall be
done in the cases Of improper temp
ers, words or actionsT" Answer
''The person so offending shall be
reprehended by his senior in Office" ="
There was nothing in the letter but
tempers and words. These may
have been improper and even wick
ed; yet the offense consisted in
tempers and words only. There.
fore it was maladministration in
Bishop McTyeire to try me for s
'orime expressly forbidden in the
word Of God," instead of a fault re
pented and confessed. Even if
had been tried under the right stat
ute, Bishop McTyeire suspended m'
contrary to law. The law reads:-
"If the accused be clearly convicted
he shall be suspended till the en-
suing Annual Conference" (Dis
cipline, page 1881 I was no
''clearly convicted" A majority
of Bishop McTyeire's investigation
committee testified to the commit
tee of investigation appointed b.
Bishop Wightman, in the presenc'
of three other gentlemen, that. the,
did not believe the accused guilty q
charged when they signed the yer
dict. The reasons by which the,
explained their apparent lneon
sistency related to temporary aber
ration of mind in the acct sed AM
the ruling of the chair. 1t was ais
stated that only one of the five salt
1 was guilty. This is sufficient proc
that 1 was not CLEARLY convicted
when was suspended. The Presi
dent of the Conference which trieI
me three months afterward, appoin
ted another investigation commit
tee, which requested the case 70
trial, and appointed Rev. R. K. Han
grove, D. D., prosecutor. Bisho
Wightman then appointed a com
mittee of thirteen and a shairmar
to try the case, announcing that th
chairman represented the churc
and public sentiment. DR.. Hal
grove only claimed to represent tn
purity of the church beyond th
court.
Reporser-were you furnishe
with a copy of the indictment, c
bill of charges, as is usual in sue
cases?
DR.. Hanner-I was not, and / di
not know that the original specif
cations on which I had been doubi
fully convicted and suspended &
Murfreesboro, were charged by d
| Hargrove until / heard them read
open court. The reason for tn
charge soon came out in the tria
indicating more cunning than faii
ness.
Reporter-You have stated, Do
tor, that DR.. Hargrove was appoir
ted to prosecute the case; did he n'
have additional counsel 20 assii
him after the trial began2
DR.. Hanner-Yes. Seeing tw
young brethren, my personal friend
appear as counsel for the defense, I
objected, and insisted that, while
was willing that either Of the ts
might defend, only one-not both
should appear. The Chair overu
; ed the objection, and DR.. HargTo'
then asked assistance for the pro
ecation. Ny counsel objected, an
the question having been appeal,
to the Bishop he oyerrnled the o
lection, and appointed DR.. J. B. d
. ferrin, a good old friend Of mine,
! aid in the prosecution. The la
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