Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-09-07
THE LETTER AT LAST.
Squire Piper Hears the Evidence in
Rev. Mr.. Bristol's Libel Suit,
An ATTACHMENT WAS NECESSARY
To Secure the Missive, Which the Justice
Decides Is LibelOus.
TIE CASE is CONTINUED FOR COURT
ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DISPATCH

ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DIsPATcH.l
BEAVER FALLS, Sept. GA continuance
was had yesterday before Justice Piper on
the preliminary hearing in the libel suit
instituted by Rev. j. W. Bristol, pastor of
the First Baptist Church of this place,
against DIR. James w. Squires, Treasurer of
the Baptist Church at ChurubUsco, Ind
The first hearing was adjourned to allow
Sol Myers, who acknowledged on oath that
he had the letter upon which the libel suit
rests, to produce said letter.
At the appointed hour Myers failed to
show up and an attachment was issued. He
was found by the officer and when brought
before the Justice said that his attorney
had advised him not to show the letter
Finally he agreed to allow copy to be
made of it by stenographer. The Justice
decided to return the case to court. A
requis1tion will be gotten out and DIR.
Squires will be brought from Indiana to
this county to answer the charge.
THE 'sQUIRE's DECISION.
The justice decided that the letter was ex-
ceedingly libelous It is very vOluminous
and contains matter of the most sensational
kind. 1t is addressed to the First Baptist
Church of Beaver Falls, or to whom it may
concern" and is dated August IA, 1891. HI
part the missive is as follows:
I'VE have received many letters concern
ing Rev. w. J. Bristol, to his character
antecedents, etc In answer VIC would state
that Rev. Mr. Bristol came here out of jail,
or was taken out by giving bail for his ap-
pearance at court. He prcfessed to be a
minister who had gotten into trouble
through no fault of his own. He attended
our prayer meetings and talked so nice, and
acknowledged with tears flowing down his
cheeks that he had been so wicked, but that
he desired to reform, that VIC finally con-
cluded to give him call as pastor of this
church. We thought we were going to have
n shining pastor.
1T was not long, however, until we found
him out and then gave him his dismissal.
lie tBristol) collected money to build a
church and never turned it over to the
church people, bnt appropriated it to his
own use. He also contracted debts which
lie left unpaid and skipped the town, and we
pre- informed on good authority that he got
man TO move him and goods to the Fort
Wayne station in the night, that he might
get away and avoid having
HIS GOODS ATTACHED
20 satisfy his creditors. He borrowed money
from the church to help him out of tight |
place, and never paid it back. He borrowed |
church members who took his individual |
note for it. Hulmes will never see his money /
again. He owes 4. s. Stool a store bill of |
Is %, Smith Bros So So DR.. Squires $50 for |
professional services, and numerous other /
persons in Churubusco.n
The letter goes on in this strain for several |
closely written pages, and concludes with /
the following language: He is a liar, a |
backbiter, a slAnderer and prevaricator, is
as sharp as tack, as sly as a fox and as slick
as q CREASED hog"
The document is signed by G. r, Hcnick,
S. B. Lockmore, James W. Squires, G. w. |
deacons and trustees of the Baptist Church
o. Cherubusco, Ind.