The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-04-07
DIR. ELLIS ON TRIAL.
The Case Proceeding Before the
Presbytery.
Admissions Made at the Preliminary Meeting.
Ellis Says the Fund Was for Gem
eral Church Purposes.

The San Francisco Presbytery met as an
ecclesiastical court at Calvary Church yes
terday afternoon to try the Rev. DR.. John
W. Ellis on the charges preferred against
him. in accordance with the report Of the
Judiciary Committee. The Moderator, Rev.
w. L. Sample, DID,, presided. Rev. a. j.
Kerr conducted the prosecution.
DR.. Ellis asked that the Rev E. 5. Chap
man might be appointed as associate cOun-
sci to assist him in his defense. Dr. Chap
man, however, said that he had received no
notice of DR.. Ellis intention, and he must
also decline on account of the pressure of
other duties
The charges. which accused DIR. Ellis OF
misappropriating the funds intrusted to
him for the use of the church, of deception
in reporting unpaid bills to the church
Board of Trustees paid and of falsehO0d,
We're then read by the Stated Clerk, II. Il.
Rice.
DR.. Ellis wished to read denial of the
particular specifications, but the prosecution
objected and declared that the Book OF
Discipline" required that simple plea OIL
guilty or not guilty should be entered Con-
Siderable debate followed, and, after an
appeal from the decision of the Moderator
in DR.. Ellis favor had been carried, the re-
spondent pleaded mot guilty
TIE PROSECUTION OBENS.
The prosecution then opened it's case.
John Mccullough, Secretary of the B0ard
Of Trustees of the Central PRESBYTERIAN
Church, was the first witness sworn, and
deposed to receiving from DR.. Ellis his state
ment Of accounts OF the money intruSted to
him and of presenting it to the Board of
Trustees.
DR.. Ellis objected to the reading of the
statement on the grounds that there was no
evidence that there had been any trust and
of the character of the trust but the Mod
orator oyerru!ed the objection and the paper
was admitted.
MI Adams deposed to being present at a
meeting OF the Presbytery on February 18th,
when Hugh Fraser read a statement. He
had heard DR.. Ellis confess at this meeting
that he had taken money Tor his own use.
The respondent asked this witness several
questions, tending to show that the fund
was intended for general church purposes,
and not for the specific purpose of church
affairs. He drew from him that the word
misappr0priatiOn had not been used, and
that there had been no specific admission Of
the misuse of funds.
The witness further testified that DR..
Ellis had admitted using some of this money
for personal living expenses.
FOR SPECIFIC PURPOSES.
Dr. Chapman's testimony was much to
the same effect. There was no statement
at the meeting that the fund was intended
used funds contrary 10 his trust. DR.. Ellis
said that he especially needed money at the
time.
Dr. Easton testified to being present at
the meeting of the Presbytery. and that the
impression on his mind was that Dr. Ellis
Lad said that his expenses were above his
salary, and that he had used this money
with the intention of reDaying It, The
same line OF crOSs-eXammatiOn was taken,
but DR.. East0n said his impression was that
FINN was coli in n pras lAErtA naf
ing to be a specific one for church repairs,
though he did not remember DR.. Ellis stat
ing that the fund was only to be used for
repairs.
DR.. Ellis objected to the next witness,
Rev. Or. I, E. Shearer. on the ground that
his name was not among the list of wit
nesseS furnished to him. The objection
was Cverruled, but DR.. Shearer added little
that was new except that there was no ad-
mission by Dr.. Ellis at the PTeSbytery
meeting that he understood that he was
using money for purposes other than what
were intended.
SALARY IN ADVANCE.
II, H. Rice, Stated Clerk of the Presby-
terry, testified that he understood DR.. Ellis
to say at the meeting that he had power to
use The fund to pay current salary as well
rs Tor church repairs. lie also understood
that he admitted drawing salary in advance
Hugh Fraser Treasurer of the Central
Tabernacle, depOsed to statements of Dr.
Ellis that his expenses were more than his
salary and that he mad property in Los An
geles worth about $4,000 above mortgage
upon it, which be would realize upon and pay
back the money he owed the church. Re
spondent admitted using more than his reg
ular salary.
Elder Mcconnell added little that was
new, except that DR.. Ellis tried to prove
that he had right to use the money for
other purposes than for church repairs, but
did not prove this TO the witness satisfac-
ton.
John Mccullough was recalled and read
the minutes Of the meetings Of the Central
Church Board of Trustees at which it was
voted to mortgage the church property and
create the fund in question.
DECEPTION.
After some discussion the prosecution
was allowed to call Fl. W. HuIschmidt,
witness for the second charge of deception,
ont Of the regular order Mr.. Hufschmidt
testified that he was President of the Board
Of Trustees of Central Tabernacle and to
the presentation of a report by DR.. Ellis at
meeting of the Bard Of Trustees to the
effect that all bills were paid with the excep-
ton of one item about music. DR.. Ellis had
never said the bills were paid, but nobody
questioned that they were.
The trial was then adjourned till 1880
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