Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-09-05
SUING A MINISTER FOR LIBEL. !.
Troubles I'm the Asbury Church
Brought Before the Courts

COLoRED DREssMAKERs COMPLAINT AGAINST
HER OLD pastoral ISLANDER WHICH THE
DREsSNAKER WAS CHARGED WITH CIRCU-
LATINa-HER EXPULSION FROM CHURCH, &C
To-day Isabella Kicks, q colored dressmaker,
residing on Ridge street. filed through her at
torney, Mr.. E. II. Thomas, o suit against Rev.
Richard A. Read, George Martin, Samuel Tyler
and John B. Hutchings, of the Asbury NJ. E.
church. for libel, laying damages at S., OOO in
having, on the 18th OF April last published the
following in THE EVENING STAR:
TF~ AN UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPT TO
Ue-S4 Islander the Pastor Of Asbury NJ. T. Church,
o LIN ans S. e & ,n who SG
SANDER Rev. a Rad, Pastor Of Asbury n =
s and said 10 e
board Of said church during entire course Of
the highest esteem ressrans him Ch. isan gentle
Gn,chnss cSnnitsee spponsed BY the sl soara n'
The complainant states that she had been for
9 long time q member of Asbury church, and,
lost the friendship Of large number of the
Ann sHsfs Aran nSa
besides had suffered in her business of dress
maker, having lost the custom OF Maria Bor-
land, John Wilson, Lilly Wilson and others.
THE ALLEGED ISLANDER.
The SANDER alleged to have been circulated
to the injury of Rev. Mr.. Read was contained in
the letter Of "Clara to Louise" published in
the Washington Bee, March 14th last las follows:
II suppose that you have heard OF the recent
nent minister of q prominent church in this
city. 1t seems as IL a certain young lady, who
resides on 10th street, between NJ and streets,
has been too piOus, has been seen frequently in
this minister's study. This aroused the suspi-
cion Of the other members Of the church, that
Is, the young ones, who decided to watch the
eXpOun09r gOSnRl.
certain evening followed the Adonis of the
pulpit, who escorted the young church men,
strolied in the vicinity of iowa circle and there
they were confronted by the two young ladies
t Who were watching them The ladies say that
things to the lady of 10th street: This in
formation reached the ladies Of Ridge street.
LADY on NJ street, between WI" 18th , and 18th "a
The minister got uneasy and called to see the
lady on NJ street, who informed him that she
last the minister and lady on NJ street con.
fronted the lady on Ridge street. who said that
church WIFI
demanded. There is a great deal of opposition to
the minister, and no doubt that there will be
trouble in the church. Many young girl is
ruined on account OF some of these pretended
Christian ministers. When the case is investi-
gated shall give you the particulars"
REV. Mr.. READ SPEAKS OUT IN MEETING.
On the following day Sunday Rev. Mr..
the sermon the article which he stamped as
false, and said the deeds of those young ladies
who circulate these reports are SO black that
they are ashamed to own their names outside
the class room, and II the young men in the
gallery would speak they would say more than
he could.
In the Bee of March 21st, the letter is quoted.
matter is referred to, and the editor
after quoting the letter says 'What there is in
the above article which led Rev. Read, for
whom we have always had and desire to retain
the utmost respect and kindest feelings, to even
forced conclusion that he was the party re-
ferred to, aud that the ladies mentioned by
him In the presenoe Of his large congregation
were the 'suSpectS we 1ail to discover. The
writer Of the article also assures us thntshe had
not, when she referred to the prominent
minister, Rev. Read in her mind, as she was
ignorant OF any prominence attained by him
prior to his last Sunday exploit"
MISS KICKS CALLS THE MINISTER TO ACCOUNT.
The plaintiff. Miss Kicks, was not present at
church on the 18th, but the following Sunday
she called the minister to account for his state
ment, and it is alleged she assaulted him.
making scene in the church. For this she
was cited before the official board for trial. and
it Is claimed she appeared without counsel,
was tried and expelled from the church, and
the article made the basis Of the suit was pub
lished. From the decision OF the church she
appealed to the quarterly conference, but the
minister declined to allow the appeal. Her
friends, 1t is stated, will lay the subject before
Bishop Andrews and in the meantime the
suit Will remain on the docket.