Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1877-11-16
REV. DR.. BAIRD BEFORE SYNOD.

HE APPEARS IN PERSON-WANTS THE
CASE TRIED IN sYNoD-HIs STATEMENT
CT THIS COMPLAINT OF PREsBYTERY
TIE CASE REMANDED TO PREsBY-
Terry FOR A NEW TRIAL,
&C, &C.. &C.
The Virginia Synod Of the Presbyterian
church, over which Rev. W. T. Richard
son, of Staunton, is presiding as modera-
tor, has had before it the case of Rev. E.
T. Baird, which came up on appeal from
East Hanover Presbytery, which deposed
him from the ministry for misappropria-
ton of funds belonging to the Board Of
Publication, of which heiwas secretary.
Among the members Of Lexington Pres
bytery present were: Ministers-S. Brown,
1. w. X. Handy, D. D., P. Fletcher, w.
T. Richardson, D. B. Ewing, d. D., S. w.
Watkins, E. D. Junkin, D. D., e. s. M.
See, r. G. Walker, F. P. Mutually, D. D.,
James Murray, T. M. Boyd, G. b. Strick-
Ter, A. Jones, j. w. Rosebro, F. McCutch-
an, d. L. Wilson, A. II. Hamilton, c. W.
Humphreys, c. L. Hogue, A. S. Moffett.
Elders-C. Brown, William Thompson,
John Wayt, J. A. Walker, w. W. Elem
ing, J. T. L. Preston, J. W. Wallace, H.
II. Hamilton, J. W. Crawford, C. j. Bell,
John Horn, J. II. B. Sellers, T. S. Hogs
head. Among the distinguished laymen
in attendance on the Synod are Lieut.. Gov.
J. L. Marye, of Fredericksburg; Judges
Robt. Ould, of Richmond, and f. f. Wat
kins, of Farmville; Hon. Isaac d. Jones'
Attorney General of Maryland; Hon. VIM.
Snswden, of the Maryland House of Dele
gates; Judge P. W. II. Burroughs, of Nor
folk; Hor. G. F. Collier, OF Petersburg
Col. j. T. L. Preston, Of the Virginia Mill
tary Institute.
REPORT OF THE JUDICIAL COMMITTEE.
The Judicial Committee to which the
appeal of Rev. DR.. Baird (who has been &C
quilted by the civil courts of embezzle-
ments) from Presbytery's sentence of de-
position was composed of Rev. J. A. Lee
fevre. D. D.; Rev. W. L. Hail, d. D.;
Judge F. N. Watkins, Farmville; Hon.
Isaac D. Jones, of Baltimore and D. A. Sin
clair, of Wytheville, and reported in favor
of new trial on the ground that copy
of the charges on which he was convicted
was not furnished to the accused and he
was convicted and sentenced in his alb
sence. DR.. Hoge presented a motion re-
handing the case to Presbytery for a new
trial which in the name of that body he
said it was ready to give the accused. DR..
Baird however said he would prefer that
his appeal should take its course in the
Synod and the trial of the appeal COM
menced before that body Nov. Sth.
DR. BAIRD'S STATEMENT
DR.. Baird addressed the Synod as '.Mr.
Moderator, Fathers aud Brethren" and
spoke of himself as ''poor worm" He
spoke of his sufferings in his distant place
of exile, where in the house of God he
could neither preach nor approach the ia
BILE of the Lord although brethren there
would not have excluded him from the
privilege. he resolved that, severe as his
agony was, he could endure it, and claim
no privilege from which he had been ex-
cluded by his Presbytery.
He Was out of his mind at the time of
the trial. AS soon as his mind came to
him he discover ed that every single trans
action for which he was indicted origina-
ted in official negotiatlo
DIR. Baird proceeded to present the first
ground of his appeal. The composition of
the court. They were inter sted. O:e
deeply interested is not by our books
competent witness. Much less is he
competent judge. From the lips of these
members OF the Presbytery judges
had fallen charges of felony, &C., which
had started the police in search of him.
They had charged him to be careful to ex
onsrate the committee. Their zeal against
him and their great influence as fathers
and eminent men in the Church had
damaged his cause with others who looked
up to them.
2. Dr.. Baird appealed because his letter
to Presbytery had been misunderSJ
He intended in this letter to make clean
breast. and therefore expected to be tried
on that paper.
Presbytery rejected my statements as the
ground Of evidence, then takes it as evil
dence, then condemns it as not true, and
50 they used it one way OF the other.
| said | waived ''fnrmS and technicdh-
ties'' That was a contract. [ surrender
cd my right to the forms and technicalities,
provided the PN8by terry did the same. 1
expected not trial, but a judgment.
There were brethren who understood
me- Dr. Preston rose and protested be-
cause l had been induced to make con-
fession, and it was unfair to try me on it
and Mr.. Z. F. Howard took the same view.
DR.. Brown said in the Central Presbyte-
RAM they were prepared to give summary
judgement upon the confession. l suppos-
ed they understood me, but pressed by cir
cumsl ances they did not act with their
usual judgement. Mr.. Marye came in to
remove the difficulties by making The pa
Per appear as evidence, and then he pro-
ceeded to show it was not evidence. The
Presbytery became accuserS.
DR.. Baird proceeded 10 show that the
view of the case taken by the Presbytery
was different from that expressed by menu
bers of the committee. One had told him,
after he made known the state of his af-
fairs. that he took the matter too much to
heart he must walk with frmer step;
that he had not committed crime, sc. DIR.
Brown, from his seat, asked if DR.. Baird
alluded to him.) Dr. Baird said lie aid,
and hoped he had quued him correctly.
DR.. Brown said he would not interrupt
Or. Baird now, hut would reply in due
time. There was conference at Rich
mond, Mr.. Moderator. at which you were
present. heard there was no crime aileg-
ed against me by the brethren assembled
to consider the affairs of the committee
DR.. Hoge said with tears, in Savannah,
that the committee had confidence in me.
l have this upon the authority Of DIR. Left
witch. DR. Baird said he was urged to write
the annual report for the General Assem-
bly,. After the condition of the affairs
were made known, Judge Ould, Mr.. Fitz-
UuSU. dHu MI. w DIu testified tiIhG Ile udu
answered everything openly. DR.. Baird
then alluded with much feeling to the dis
tracted state of his mind when he wrote
the paper on which he was tried. He can
not bear to read it. 1t shows him tnat he
was
BORDERING ON THE MAD-HoUsE.
He described the fearful state of his mind
when, at the Suspension Bridge Hotel. at
Niagara, he saw his sentence in the New
Y ork HERALD ~
DR.. Baird handed the ca l-book, which
has been so often referred to, to the Mod
orator, that ne might see that there was no