The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-02-03
H0WLETT'S LIBEL SUIT.
THE IMPORTANT ACTION SOON TO BE
CALLED AT JACKSON, TENN.
A Case Wherein Leading Baptists Are
Plaintin and Dcfendants--Importa
Questions Involved--one Side of the
Disagreement.


Unless further delays are encountered
jackson, Tenn, will be the scene, mex
week, OF one Of the most sensational ant
Interesting civil suits on record. Asid,
from the heavy damages of $4,000 asked
for from trial jury, the parties and in
stitutions involved are OF character sell
dom connected with such proceedings
The plaintiff in the case is either badly.
abused individual or consummate fraud
and scoundrel, as the trial will demon.
stratc The date set for hearing by the
court is Monday next February 6, and
both sides are believed 10 DO ready for d
desperate legal fight. Mr.. D. w. Hughes,
the jewsler Of this city. and also The Ten.
ncssr Baptis, through the Rev. DIR. J. Il.
Graves, editor are among the defendants.
In view Of the near approach of the inter
csting trial, an APrEAL reporter called
( hpon Mr. Hughes yesterday and heard his
intelligent version OF the affairs which
precipi,ated the suit. Mr.. Hughes was q
deacon in the church involved as defend.
ant and therefore is IN position 10 know
whereof he talks AS learned from him,
the facts are IN substance M follows:
In September, 1882, the First Baptist
church at Jackson, Tenn. called the Rev.
Frederick Hewlett 10 serve Il M pastor. II
was large, cultivated and wealthy con-
grcgation, and therefore an inviting charge
for minister Of superior capacity and
qualifications Prior to his call 10 Jack.
son, the Rev. Mr. Hewlett was pastor OF q
church nj Augusta, Ga. lie was highly
regarded by the Georgia Baptist divines
aud particularly 10 by tho Rev. DR.
Gwynne, pastor Of a church ut Atlanta. IL
was mainly through the influence Of tho
latter-innocently and sincerely extended
that Hewlett was called by tho jackson
congregation. Soon after the new pastor
took charge, he began 10 conduct church
Affairs with high hand The deacons
and other church officers were treated ~
No many hgureheads. lie looked after the
finances, ordered any improvement he de.
sired, took the responsibility Of removing
the church debt in his own way, and 9TH
erwise constituted himself the supreme
ruler. During this lordly administration,
wss:spcrings Of character by no means
fattering TO Hewlett were circulated, but
these were ignored rs grounds for proceed.
ing against him In church council.
In 1881 the ignored church dcarons de-
termined that there must be reckoning.
The pastor had stripped them Of any au-
thority and deprived them OF voice in
the congregations temporal aiiairs. This
was opposed TO ali usage and precedent In
baptist church government, and they
could no longer rest contcnted under the
changed condition Of things. A letter was
therefore prepared and sent TO the oiilcious
pastor, telling Of the dcacons conclusions
and Suggesting that his resignation would
be accepted. This letter the minister In.
terprcted 10 mean nm exclusion from the
church, though knowing full we'll that this
constitution was not permissible under
the most strained reading, rs no such
power rests with the deacons alone. How.
ever, he used this Interpretation 10 his
Interest, and upon Il built up disscntion
and ultimate division among the First
church members. Followed by some
forty or more lalics and probably half
dozen male member he withdrew and
established the Second church.
Soon after this move, the Rev. Mr.. How.
lett began the publication OF n religious
weekly, which he styled The True Bapiis.
In iis columns appeared, week after week,
defense OF the editors course In with.
drawing from the Fint church, and cen.
surfing the deaoons Of that congregation IN
the scterest terms All this those gentle.
men endured IN meckness for about cigh.
teen months, which brought the brewing
difficulty up TO the latter part Of 1885.
ABOUT this time, and again through the In.
hncnce Of the misguided Atlanta divine,
Howlctt was given the distinction OF
preaching tho annual sermon at the South
western BAPTIST university. DIR. Gwynnc
also underworld 10 prevail upon the uni.
Ncnily 10 confer the title OF ID. upon
Hewlett, but without success. This, Il
seems, turned the ambitious minister's
wrath upon the university, and scaihing
comments appeared in bis columns. AT
this Turn In aiiais patience ceased 10 be
virtue, and the snoldcring volcano erupted.
A meeting Of the Justly angry party FOL.
lowed, the result OF which Was the formu.
lalion Of various charges against Hewlett.
Doc Of these was for creating and circu.
laiing falschood. Another was that he
WIS living under an assumed name, aud
No on nd inilnitum. Investigation had
convinced the aggrievod individuals that
thrre was firsi-class case against
Hewlett, well founded, and they did
hvi htrittf 70 20 tnlfgc. Ihe doc.
umcni, signed by about sixteen leading
and intelligent gentlemen, including the
Flint Baptist church deacons aud tho uni.
yersiiy faculty, was published In me To-.
nceoc Bapts, Of this city; the Bapiist Re.
fosog and in tho Forlod DIR Ridde a secu.
lar paper published at Jackson. Against
the entire combination Hewlett instituted
suil Tor the damages previously mentioned.
The original suit was fled about n year
MO, but legal skirmishcs on small scale !
have since been rather frequent.
Mr.. Hughes IA confident that the defend. |
ants are secure, and that Hewlett has |
drawn around himself difficulties which |
cannot be shaken Oh by anything Ices thsn |
complete exposure OF his numerous short. |
cominra, and probably crimes. lie further |
aayu that The name bywhich he was known |
In Georgia and jackson u an alias, his real |
name being Howard. lilo was born In |
London, his father being prominently idon. I
Tiled with the police department 81 that
city. Whatever the outcome, Il IL certain
The trial viii attract widespread attention.
involving, as II does, among other thinrl'
the question % 10 how far newspaper NAV
20 IN publishing personal chanaN ntE |
ArrEaL viii give full accounts OF the pro.
cccdlngs daily.
COTTON MANUFACTURING.