The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1879-10-16
\. miscellaneous.
THE YSEaOF REV. PARK
THE BIAi4DNING PRESBHtEh9 =
CLOsN THEIR LABoRS
WEDNESDAY,.
Nv VIM. ]. Park Found Guilty, in Part, Of the
Charges Preferred, and Suspended
Rrom the Ministry.

Nav. Wm. ]. Park Found Guilty, in Part, Of the
Charges Preferred and Suspended
RrOm the Ministry.
presbytery was opened Wednesday
noon with religious exercises. Geo.
"a was recalled, and testified that
harmed from the record of Clerk Of
fonl t.,t the civil suit Of L. R Hicks
N Park was settled, Park paying
Bats OF the suit.
JOHN F. BALLARD H
,ss 81 )fn, and testified that be had seen
Park aud Mrs. Hicks alone together in
the lecture.room several times; once he
saw them sitting close together, Parks
arm resting on Mrs. Hicks's shoulder
The prosecution here rested his case.
The defense then called
fH MR.. JAMES A. sAXToN
to the stand. This is the U. ]. of the
letters.) Park tried to get the Mrs. Hicks
letters from this witness; Rev. Fry also
wrote him for the letters, but the witness
would not give them up, because he
promised Hicks not to, and because he
could not control them.
On cross examination the witness tes-
tilted that Park agreed not to prosecute
Hicks for defamation, etc, The witness
made the arrangements Of settlement
with Mr.. Hicks and Rev. Park, both set
Elements being made separately; the wit
ness said he never had control of the
letters; the terms of the settlement with
Mr.. Hicks were that the witness would
take care of Mrs. Hicks and help her to
get divorce, Hicks to withdraw his civil
suit against Park, and suspend his suit
for divorce; Mrs. Hicks is now in Can
ton, came week ago, and is staying with
Mr.. Saxton; refused to give terms of set
Element with Mr.. Park; Hicks said to
witness that he had no evidence of his
wife's adultery outside Of the letters.
This witness is a heavy old gentleman,
and exceedingly quick and emphatic in
his answers. His replies and statements
frequently brought forth considerable
laughter.
MRS. E M. SoURBECK
was called, sworn and examined. She is
leader of the Presbyterian church choir;
she left church always about the last o.
any of the congregation, and never saw
anyone remain after her except the
teachers for teachers meeting, Mrs.
Hicks being teacher; knew Of other
ladies' visiting Mr.. Park.
On cross examination she said she
lived in an opposite part of the CITY
from Mrs. Hicks; teachers meetings were
after Thursday evening prayer meeting,
which the witness did not attend regu-
larly, and was not as we'll qualified to
know as others about persons remaining
after service.
MRS ISABELLA MEHARD.
the mother of Mrs. SourbeCk, was sworn
and examined. She has membership in
New Jersey church, but attends at the
Presbyterian Church of Canton, and
never saw Mrs. Hicks stay after services
The defense failed in an attempt to get
evidence regarding Mr.. Parks general
benevoence admitted. The prosecution
did not CROSS examine.
MRS FRANCES BARTHoLETT
was called by the defense, and objected
to by the counsel for the prosecution, che
having been present during the exami
nation of the first four witnesses. A
long wrangle occurred over this point.
and her testimony was finally admitted,
to which the prosecution took exception
She was then sworn and examined: was
member of the Presbyterian Church
two and half years, and Sabbath
School teacher; SIZE had heard that Mrs,
Hicks came early to church, and so made
it her business to come early and see for
henelf if it was true, and never saw
Mrs. Hicks come early; she also stayed
for teachers meeting, after which she
never knew Mrs. Hicks to tarry, or to GO
home with Park; never saw Mr.. Ely
come early to services.
Being cross-examined the witness saic
she was not teacher the last year, anC
did not attend teachers meeting thiI
year; she did not attend prayer meeting
so regularly since October, 1878.
After considerable discussion ovel
copies Of testimony, and other business
matters, the Presbytery adjourned.