The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-02-06
HOWARD''S LIBEL.
Principals and Spectators on Hand.
Jackson Alive With Leaders in the
Baptist Denomination.
Each Side Confident That the Other
Will Ask for a Continuance.
The Defense Claims a Recent Find
of Overwhelming Evidence.
Aliases, Social Shortcomings and
Dol;+;oat n;eoraoa Ctl aroad
Aliases, Social Shortcomings and
Political Disgrace Charged.
The Plaintiff Admits He Was. Not q
Saint Prior to Conversion.
al Was Ordained to Preach Ten Years
Ago, and Havo Since Led the Life
of Christian - Appearance
of the Field Last Night.
rrom Tho e,afr corrcspopacn, Of The Appeal.

From the stan Correspondent Of The Appeal.
JACKSON, Tenn, Feb. 5.-Every train
coming into the city through the day and
nigh brought delegations OF leading MEM
bcrs OF the Baptist denomination through
out the State, and several from other
States, who came to be present on tomor-
row, when it is expected the hearing Of
tho celebrated damage suit Of the Rev.
Frederick II. Howard will be commenced
in the circuit court against prominent
members ofthe Baptist church Of this city,
the Tennessee Bqpiis, Of Memphis, the
Bopiis reflector, OF Chattanooga. and the
Fo,kd Der Bl0ds, published here. The
amount claimed for the alleged libelous
reports is $4,000. The suit is sensational
from beginning 10 end, and having been
brought more than a year ago has been
discussed in many OF its phases in the
public prints.
The Rev. Howard, rs will be remem-
bercd, was called TO the pastorate Of the
Baptist church here in 1882 from For
sythe Ca, and soon after his arrival di-
visions sprmg up among his congregation
which eliminated in an open rupture in
1855, tho minister and a portion
OF his flock Withdrawing and forming the
Central Baptist congregation. Soon there
alter DR.. Howard started the publication
Of the True Bgpiia, in which lac weekly as
sailcd those whom he deemed had been
the means OF ousiing him from the First
Baptist pulpit. These publications CON
tinucd in their violence until those at
tackled, especially the faculty OF the South
western Baptist university, Of this city,
published reply under the title OF the
'Mask Thrown or, which reviewed at
length the controversy and the prior rec
ord OF DR.. Howard, which showed him up
In a most uncnyiable light. The charges
were published in the three papers named,
hence their connection with the suit
These matters In detail will be set forth as
the trial PROGRESSES. The ablcsI counsel at
this bar have been employed ON either
side, and tho suit in detail
bids fair 10 be one Of the
most sensational ever tried In the
State. Messn. Pitts, Hays and Meek rep.
resent DIR. Howard, and Mcssrs Bullock
and Anderson, OF this city, and the Hon.
VIM. Ingc, OF Corinih, the defendants.
The Judge who will hear tho case is the
Hon. Levi S. Woods, a gentleman OF omi-
nent ability, and who is held In the high.
est confidence by the people. The difficult
matter viii be to obtain a jury, as the mat
ter has been 10 infinitely discussed on all
sides. Both sides have been engaged In
taking evidence for nearly the past year,
both In this country and England. How
ard originally came from England. II is
estimated that tho briefcst time, taking
into account the time 10 be consumed In
legal wrangling, the suit can DO heard In,
n all the witnesses and dispositions are
heard, islcn days Tho defense have about
forty witnesses. while the plaintiifhas nearly
M many and the dispositions would an vol
umcs. Tho defense assert that thoy are
ready and anxious for trial, but do not be.
licvc that the plaintiff Is, and they have
but little idea tonight that the case will
proceed tomorrow. Tho defense also as
sert that they have just discovered new
evidence that will entirely oycrwhelm
Howard. No, only Is the fact that How.
ard went under the aliases Of Hewlett and
IIulcti, the former Of which he enlisted
under In the United States navy In 1873,
on the steamer Tigrcss, 10 90 In search OF
the missing Polaris, then In the Arctic
scas, but when the vessel returned, three
montha later, he deserted aud went 10
South Carolina, whore, undor the name Of
IIuloli, no clopcd with tho vito Of a man
named Brown, who had bcfriended him
when no was pennies, but that alter
ward, when he identified himself
with the carpetbag administration Of Gov.
Chamberlain aud was made a justice oI
the peace, no had 10 fee the State Few
months aiierward to escape Indictment ior
malicwancc In Office. that for time he
boarded with negro family near Robbins
sc, and left without paying his board,
leaving no security but his photograph
and lock Of his hair. All Of these facts
arc claboraicly sct forth In aflidayits which
they have In their possession. according Il
MIR. ]. @. Cisco, Of the Forbid Der HGde
This gentleman also ulat tnc uciehAt
would vigorously oppose further delay d
the hearing.
Tnr APpgAL representative called on The
Rev. Howard al his residence, and wa'
cordially received. lie is a man thirty
y four Year, Of agc, Of not very proposes
ing appearance. having long. bushy, ret
beard which covers his entire lace ant
auburn balr which falls almost 70 In
shoulders and hangs lionalike over his no
overhead forehead. lie y married, bu
has nc children. Bls marriage took plac'
two or three years ago, with Miss Lane
Hughes, who was only about sixteen fean
old Al the time, and q member 81 his con
creation. lie talked freely Of his sui
and Of bis troubles, rcciung the piim'