The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-04-14
DIR. ELLIS DEFENSE.
The Accused Pastor Conscious Of
No Evil Intent.
Each Charge Specifically Denisd-A Dramatic
Peroration-The Fair Spectators
at the Clerical Trial

When the trial of Rev, John w. Ellis,
DID,. was resumed yesterday morning there
we're present but sixteen out of the thirty
members Of the presbytery who composed
the judiciary at the commencement of the
case.
The entire session was consumed with
reading their testimony to witnesses before
the affixing of signatures.
Considerable time was occupied in a cap
tious discussion as to whether the name Of
a witness should be entered on the minutes
as n. n. Grey" or as ''Mr. Grey" AL
though George f. Gray was also witness,
and it seemed reasonable to distinguish be-
tween them, the reverend court decided that
"Mr Grey goes" and in that form the name
was recorded
The afternoon session was the most inter-
esting of the trial thus far. The room was
we'll filed with spectators, many Of DIR.
Ellis friends and Pensioners being pres
ent, including score of ladies, most of
them young and all handsome, whose pres
ence was intended as mark of sympathy
with the inguished-looking divine.
SYMPATHETIC LADIES.
Among the ladies were noticed Mesdam es
johnson, Overstreet and Grub, the Misses
Ellis, Symes, Lille Grub, Rosie Grub.
Gkerson, Daisy Gilkerson, and Griffin
Mr.. and Mrs Keller, who manage the hotel
on Suffer street where DR.. Ellis and his
family live, have attended all the sessions
of The resbytery, and are plainly convinced
of the clergyman's innocence.
The, Testimony of George f. Gray, taken
before a special commission last Saturday,
was read, but nothing new was elected.
Witness had stated that he had granted an
If TO Ito ia, NH uk
pay the balance Of S75. but that should the
minister not pay the amount the church
would be held responsible.
DR.. Ellis said if the prosecution rested he
would begin his defense.
Rev. A. j. Kerr said he had not rested,
and recalled Hugh Fraser, to correct mis-
statement. The accused" as Mr.. Kerr
calls him, or "the respondent" as DR.. Ellis
styles himself, objected to ''the said Fraser"
being permitted TO correct the record, and
Moderator Sample sustained the objection.
Il must" said Mr. Kerr, with the greatest
humility, but as L have done four times
before, appeal from the ruling of the Moder-
ator," and for the fifth time the decision of
the Moderator was overruled, and the wit
ness proceeded. He made q few slight
changes, which did not affect his general
testimony.
wARRING DOCTORS.
DR.. Ellis sarcastically questioned MIR.
Fraser as to his sudden return OF memory,
and when witness said that DR.. Easton, as
Chairman of the Presbyterial Investigating
Committee, had first invited him TO a meet
ing OF the committee the accused minister
endeayored to elicit from him a scoring of
the pastor OF Calvary by asking if but for
outside interference the difficulty would
not have been amicably adjusted. Mr..
kerr's objection to this question was sus-
tanned, and DR.. Easton gared at DR.. Ellis,
who smiled bandly.
The PreShyterial Prosecutor, who, it is
said, was Tor four years a practciDg attor-
ney before his admission to the ministry,
stated that in the absence of Rev. DR.. Mat
thews he was reluctantly obliged TO take
the stand. Mr.. Kerr then testified that at a
meeting OF the Investigating Committee
held on February 9th, at which Dr. Ellis was
cautioned that statements he might make
would be used as evidence against him, the
accused divine had admitted that he had
used part of the Trust Fund of $500 for
personal expenses over and above salary
due him, and that in reference TO $500, re-
ceived from gentleman whose name DR.. FL
lis does not wish revealed in prcSbytery, he
had admitted its receipt, and that it had not
been accounted for nor turned over to the
treasurer. DR.. Ellis had stated that he had
been obliged to use the money for personal
expenses unknown to the donor, who had
intended it for the whole church. The wit
ness caused sensation by adding that these
questions were quotations from the respond
ent's statement, the witness having written
down DR.. Ellis answers to questions at the
meeting to which be referred
THE DEFENSE OPENS.
DR.. Ellis protested, at previous session
of the tribunal, that Henry Bradley Jr. was
assisting the prosecutor, which Mr.. Kerr
Indignantly denied. Yesterday Attorney
William A. Beatty, a warm friend of the
RESPONDENT, was an interested auditor and
sent numerous notes, presumably advisory,
TO the accused pastor.
DIR. Ellis then began his defense by open
ing with a reference to the statement by DR..
Easton that damaging reports concerning
the respondent from various portions of the
State were before the committee.
Mr.. Kerr asked that defendant should be
sworn, so that he could be croSS-eXam ined
regarding his record elsewhere, but the rev.
erend respondent, who is also a shrewd
clerical lawyer, claimed the right as his own
attorney to make an unsworn opening state
ment. and he gained his point, which was
more important than 1t might at first ap-
pear, ms, II his statement had been made
that of witness for the defense, the door
would be opened for an examination of de-
rOgatory reports from other places.
Continuing, DIR. Ellis read long auto
biographical sketch, from his first pastorate
at Los Angeles in 1879 to the present month.
He has resided in but three counties
Butte, LIS Angeles and San FranciscO-aud
has been by turns PASTOR President of
ladies' college, Chairman of the Home Mis-
sion Committee of Los Angeles Presbytery,
and engaged in real estate transactions.
A CLERICAL BOOMER.
He was swamped by the boom and mort
gagged his property to a company who
bought up the judgments which had been
obtained against him deferred to by DR..
Eastcn). and had charged them to his
account.
DR.. Ellis then read letter from Robert
Strong of Pasadena, former minister and
at present notary, eulogizing the religious
work and personal qualities Of the accused
his prosecutors.
DR.. Ellis next specifically denied each
charge, and said that IN anything he had
done he was conscious Of no evil intent.
From his earliest youth his dominating idea
had been to minister to the spiritual needs
of others. This process had not only in
jured him, but the church of God. His
good name and his profession were his CAPT