The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-01-23
TALMAGE IN A COURT ROOM.
YiWNING OYER Mr.. GELSTON's SUIT
AG1INST THE T4BERNfCLE


The Debt that Rimbnu wRs Employed to
Raise-ChnrHing that Tnininge Misrepre-
seated the Facts-A snore from the Gallery.
T. De witt Tain age sat in Judge Nelson's
court in Brooklyn 'stcrday with marked un-
casincss. He tried t. arrange his arms and
legs in various directions on canc-scatod
chair. but with no satisfaction. as there was no
space in the ihronR about him for rotary mo-
ton. He played with his reddish locks. which.
drawn tightly across the bald space on top Of
his head, curcd in windows on tho opposite
side. Then he smoothcd the small area Of side
whiskers on each check. When he yawned. rs
he was forced to do often. both Of his hands flow
VI with electric motion to shield his mouth. A
small boy tumbed over and began to snorc.
Officer Spauldine caught him by the nape OF the
neck and put him out.
The suit Of William j. Gelston. an cx-trustee
Of Talmagc's Tabernacle. against the Board Of
Trustees OF the Tabernacle for n balance OF
g .3i2 due for money loaned while treasurer Of
the church occupied the attention Of the court.
Tho trustees answer to the suit sets up n sub
scrption Of al 1000 made by Mr.. Gcston toward
the debt OF the church on Feb. II. 1873. when
Kmbal was employed by tho church to raise
the debt. Mr.. Gelston's answer to this clai is.
that the amount subscribed was pledged on the
condition that It was not to be paid unless every
dollar Of the debt was raised. and that the sub
scrptions might run 81 months, without inter-
est, before payment He claims that lie was de-
ceived by tho suppression Of important facts.
concealed by tlte pastor, and led to verbally
nounced dat Henry 3. Eimor ns' now pSs' excon
munlcated from tho Tabernacle for immorali-
iiesl had giycn $4,000. the truth was that Mr..
Fillmore had made the subscription on the con-
dition that he should have thrcc years 10 pay II
in that where Mr.: Kimball. believing the, aver.
the whole debt did not exceed s72. 500 the truth
was that there was an indebtedness then OF
sg3SlS.QG, that at the time Of jubilee over The
there were valid and subsisting mortgages ON
tho very building in which the, scene was
are now due and unpaid debts OF the Taber-
nncle amounting to t6s 900. The plaintiff de-
nies that h y s1bscriptlon Is legal , debt s
one Of the witnesses awaiting examination.
Ihelurymcn were questioned as to the churches
they attended,. Mr. stephen Brown. q leather
merchant Of Henry street. when asked II he
eyer attended the Tabernacle. said solemnly.
God forbid" He was excused.
The counsel for the Tabernacle admitted the
TO The. good faith attending Kimballs efforts to
Mr.. Gelston testified that he had been con-
nected with the Tabernacle from the time Il was
built. and that he was elected trustee In June.
1871. In March or April last he and eight other
m1cm6er1ss Of The Board Of Trustees resigned.
gent liability Of $1,000 He also said that sub
scriptions were payable In six months
and that mono was 10 be binding unless the
Whole amount Of the debt was raised. Tho
night before Feb. II DR.. Talmage called at his
house and asked how muca the debt OF the
church was. and he told him 800 900 IN all
StuUO on the Tabernacle and $4,000 on tho
Lay College building.
The defendants counsel at the close Of plain
TIM case asked 90 have a verdict directed for
the plaintiff for t3i2 the difference hetween tho
amount Of the Tubornacle's debt TO Mr.. Gei=ion
and his thousand dollar subscription. On this
pning denied testimony was introduced 10 show
tho method adopted In raising suhscrip tiOns on
Feb II. when kimball CONDUCTED the services,
and on May &c. when the Rev. u. T. Ives begged
the money. Tho crosse Xami nation OF Treas
urcr Hambin and cX-Treasurer Hall showed
that among the entries Of subscriptions were
tho following: Absent Teachers s5i5:" Adj
such sum: Mrs. Is. II. Corwin. $4,000. for
various infant classes. and other entries show
INK that money was pledged by married women.
| classes OF young men. women, and children.
and others not legally esponsible. according to
| the plaintiffs claim.
A mass Of Figures and embarrassing testi-
mony was ELECTED. Tnlmage looked weary and
made faces 1.-THE big clock on the wall. Justice
Nelson Intended 10 keep the case going until 6
| o'clock. but rs lalmage's increasing WEAKNESS
| NJ such protracted dulness WAS manifest. the
Court adjourned two hours before. Talmage
! glanced around al the sleepy throng. and a grim
| think OF how he could wake them ny II lac
should try.
| The case is 70 be- continued to-day. The plain
| TIT Is stock broker in Wall street. His counsel
| Mr.. i. L. Pearsall. is an eN-trustee OF the Tab
cruacle.