The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-06-16
The CONVERSES on TRIAL
THE CASE TAKEN UP BY LOUIS.
VILE PRESBYTERY.
The First Day Devoted 10 Consider.
iEg the Report Of the Com.
mission.
ESPECIAL TO TIE ArPsAL.I


LOUISVILLE, June l5.-Tae famous
Converse case was tsken up
before Louisville prssby cry OF the
Southern Presbyterian Church, which
convened in tuis city this morning
The Revs. f. B. and T. + Converse
stand charged with fslsehood and nu-
m rous other unchrist Ian octs by Revs
Eugene Daniel and v. f, Boggs, of
Memphis.
The assembly was called TO order by
the Rev. w. +. Keller, Of Bardstown,
who read passage from the Scrip
lures and led IN PRAYER.
Twenty.three minister and fifteen
elders answered 10 their names a. roll.
call.
The Rev S. +. Tay'or OF Hebron
Church, Ballet county, of red res.
olution excluding reporters from the
meeting and for only having such part
of the proc5 edings published Ssshould
be furnished by toe stated Gle k.
Tne resolution me, wirh vigorous
opposition. The Ress J. II. Nor
nson and J. n. Salnd rs made
speeches agaiust id The latter said
he hoped nothing would he done or
said which the world should not
know.
The resolution was defeated by a
unanimous vote.
The reooit of the commission ap-
pointed TO examine The papers in the
Converse ca,e and adopt a mode Of
procedure WAS read by the Rev. O. X.
HNmphill.
Toe commission reported that il
had examined H The pa, ers and con.
sidered vari )us pane. All the ques-
t'o's in the dop7si iOns of the VARIOUS
witnesses were exam ned, and went
TO the defendants and prosecutors for
inspection. 1h4 commission decided
tba it had the rignt o thhold OUTS
ti1ns from witne,se if it was deemed
bast To this the prosecutors had en-
red an exceptions. The commission
dtci Ell o admit all the papers be'ors
the Presbytery for pction upon them.
The Rev. Daniel asked b be allowed
Penn sion to read a memorial in re
gard to delay in matters pertaining to
the trial
DR.. Witheispoon moved that before
the memorial Ue rtad the miuut, OF
the commission bs .sk II up, item by
item.
After considerable discussion the
mo1oa was adopted
The minutes were Of cCmpsIa aIvelv
il tie interest, since the contents OF
mona Of the papers ruled on were con-
tanned ia them, or any of the qu.s-
ii ms ruled out given, nor was any o.
the evidence detailed The ru inOs
we're simply as 20 whether cert lin
papers and questions shouId o thopld
no, be considered.
The first item in the rcpo-t was as
10 the authority O. tle Conmjtsi IN to
rule out any questions p o, ounded by
either side in the dtp1sili ms. The
commission ruled that il had the right,
and the question as to whether that
action should be sustained was the
one coming fret before the Presby-
terry.
The Rev. DR.. Witherspoon made a
lengthy argument on the question,
taking the ground that it was not
only the right. but the duty of the
to strike out any question
deemed irrelevant or improper.
When DR.. Witherspoon hal con-
clnded, the PresbyIery adjourned un-
ill $3.50 o'c'ock this afternoon, when
the reading OF the report was con.
tinued.
AT THE AFTERNOON MEETING
the discussion was alt )gether on the
OF the commission to rule
out Of order questions that we're con-
sidered irrelevant, insulting, or were
otherwise Objectionable. At times
the debate Yves more animated than
elegant The session ran far into the
night, end when vote was taken,
near 10 o'clock, the commission was
20 to 10. This is considered |
a first victory for the Converses.
The Presbytery, sf er the vote, ad-
urned until O'Clock tomorrow