The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1891-12-31

The trial of Mrs. Emma Koons, on
charges preferred by Mrs, Ada +. Clark,
commenced at Grand Army Hall at ten
O'Clock today. The charges are OF
military character, as the woman's
Relief Corps Is strictly military organi-
zation. The charges, so far ascertained
have been somewhat modified since filed
originally with Mrs. Tenney, President of
the Canton w. Il. G. They are now in
substance, charging Mrs. Rooms with con.
duct unbecoming an officer and gentle
man at both Detroit National Encamp-
ment OF the G. A. II. and at the State En-
campment Of the G. A. II. and w. r. c. at
SteubeEville, Ohio. On this grave charge
Mrs. Rooms denies the allegation and
challenges the alligator.
The case is to be tried by five Canton
women who are appointed by Mrs. Ten
ny, President Of the W. II. c. Outsiders
do not comprehend the Jurisprudence OF
the w. Il. T.. TLey 10 not see how the
W. Il. G. has any right to try and pass
judgment upon free, white American
citizen, without either a legal Court or a
| competent jury of the realm. In other
| words, what right have FIVE women to get
| together and call themselves Court Of
inquiry, and undertake to try and pass
| judgment upon sweet sister of the same
family, and cast her out, il need be, into
utter darkness. So says a lawyer
who has been employed by Mrs. Rooms
| to take her case into the court.
He says every word that is sworn to in
this private moot court is just as slander-
Gus as If uttered on the street. This rule
will work both ways, and will apply to the
case when the charges filed by Mrs. Koons
against Mrs. Clarke are tried. Hence, we
have advised suppression of the entire
controversy.
Under the Jurisprudence Of the w. R C.
the case does not end with the Five Wo.
men trial here. An appeal lies to the State
Department President, and from the State
Department President to the Grand and
Serene HiRh-MuckeyM Muck OF the Wo
mans' Relief Corps OF the Nation. Hence
the Canton ruction is liable to permeate
and penetrate from Cape Cod to Silka, ,and
from the Straits OF Mackinaw to the low
est projection Of Florida.
| The court opened auopiciously thi.
morning but there was little business
transacted. In such matters women arc
prone to procrasticate and at the present
rate the inquiry will occupy several days
The court Of inquiry was organized ant
everything prepared to receive the evi.
dence. Mrs. Norwood, the official com.
mon pleas court stenographer, is taking
complete report Of the proceedings. Mrs
Norwood is member Of the corps. Th,
first thing done to-day was to administer
an oath OF secrecy. No part of the pur,
ceedings are to be:made public outside O
the NEws-DEMoCRAT.' This was done q
the instigation Of Mrs, Clark. II is under
, stood that Mrs. Rooms would be as vel
salts fed to have the matter heard openl,
Her friends state that she Is not at al
fearful OF the result of the investiE ~ ion
The witness examined this morning wa
member Of the corps and gave test
mopy concerning the hieroglyphic
in the anonymous letter pro
ipor!ed to have been receive
by Mrs. Clarke. 1t is.claimed that Mrs
8 Koons is the author of that letter thoug
she denies all knowledge OF it.
r During the progress of the trial Georg
Clark, son of Ada f. Clarke and j. J. Clar
! remained in the witness room.
The trial was continued this afternoon
q A number Of G. A. r. men have bee
/ subpoenaed to give evidence.
Mrs. Clarke claims she relies largely upo
o the testimony OF Mr.. Dittenhofer of tn
G. A. II.