The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1876-04-21
Produce taken in

large number of persons in this place
and vicinity, was begun on Tuesday last
before Justice Price, and concluded yes
terday afternoon. The case was, the
Trustees of the Evangelical Lutheran
Churches of Somerset, New Reading,
and St. Mathews, Madison Township,
against Amos Bowman. agent, &c. P.
H. Buckley for the plaintiffs, and Finck
and Spencer for the defendant.
Amos Bowman had been agent, by ap-
pointment, of said trustees, to rent the
parsonage in Somerset, and collect rents,
&c. In February, 1876, his authority
as such agent was revoked. and this ac-
tion was brought to recover rent received
by him from April, 1875, up to Febru.
airy l, 1875.
The defense set up that plaintiffs were
not the legal trustees Of the several con-
gregations, and produced constitution
of the Lutheran and German Reform
ed Congregations of New Reading" as
the fundamental law of the Lutheran
Church of New Reading, and claimed
that the trustees elected under that in
strument were the lawful officers.
Plaintiff objected to that constitution
as evidence, on the ground that it was
not the constitution of the Lutheran
Church, but of the Lutheran and Ger
man Reformed Churches. as an aggre-
gate Association. The objection was
sustained by the Court, and that consti-
tuition ruled out.
But on account stated, it appeared
that Bowman had already paid the mon-
ey for repairs, taxes, &c, and according
ly verdict was rendered in his favor,
on the money claim.
This for the present. we learn, estab-
fishes the right of the plaintiffs to the
control of the Church ediice in New
Reading, and the parsonage in Somerset,
which was the real issue in the case.
FATAL ACCIDENT.-O Tuesday fore
noon, s. A. Meloy. of this place, (son Of
VIM. Meloy, Esq :. and son-in-law of Col.
John H. Kelly) conductor on the A. &
L. E. Railroad, fell from box car, at
tached to his train, near Moxahala, re-
ceiving injuries which resulted in his
death Tuesday evening, at z o'clock
His night thigh was caught between the
"bumpers" and crushed; the wheels of a
car passed over his right leg below the
knee crushing the bones; one of his
thumbs was severed from the hand, and
he received severe contusions on the
head, fracturing the posterior portion Of
the SKULL New Lexington Tribune.
The funeral of Smallwood A. Meloy
took place from the residence of his faith
er, w. T. Meloy, Esq, in New Lexing-
ton, on yesterday, and was very largely
attended by the citizens Of that place
and members of the Independent Order
of Odd-Fellows, of whom he was zeal
GUS and worthy member. Quite num-
Der of the fraternity from Somerset,
New Straitsville, and other points in the
county, were present.
The religious exercises were held in
the new NJ. E. Chnrch, and were con-
Quoted by Revs. Haagler and Chambers.
The funeral ceremonies at the grave
were conducted in the solemn form Of
the Order, under charge Of District
Deputy Grand Master, Robs. B. Wood
ward, assisted by Rev. Heagler, acting
as Chaplain, and we're of very i'm
preasive character.
Mr.. Meloy was 29 years Of age, and
leaves a wife and two children to mourn
the loss of a kind and devoted husband
and affectionate father.