St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-09-26
RED HOT CHURCH WAR
The West Side Ecclesiastical
Trial Grows Decidedly In
teresting.
A Gallery Takes a Hand and
Applauds Some Evidence
Given.
Did G. B. LaWton Call ParSOn
Rice an Old Prevari-
Gator?
Curious Scenes in the Church
During the Trial
Scenes.

SdlQ BrOJner Rice was HAT,
don't remember that 1 said he was a
blackleg,"
This was Charles B. Lawton's answer
to the last of the charges preferred
against him by the official board of the
Central Avenue NJ. E.church on the West
side, at the trial which was continued
in the lecture room of that church last
evening. The tenth and last specifica-
tiCn was ''that the said Charles b. Law
ton had said that Rev. w. G. Rice, his
pastor, was blackleg and rascal and
that he had lied"
When this specification was read
gentleman named Morrell was called to
the stand by the prosecution. Mr.. Nor
rell is clerical-loOking gentleman and
told the story he had to narrate in way
that carried weight. He had heard Mr.
Lawton say the words quoted above,
and named gentleman i'll whose pres
ence Mr.. Lawton had uttered them.
This man was not present, and the pre-
siding officer, DR.. Turner, ruled that a
letter from him confirming the statement
of Mr.. Morrell could not be admitted as
evidence, and the notwithstanding de-
PENDANT was called to the stand. He
admitted the first point, and claimed
that he was justified in calling the
gray-haired pastor liar, as he had
been told that the stories of his short
comings had been started by Mr.. Rice.
The evenings entertainment began
with Rev. Mr.. Rice
In the Sveat-BOx
In the eighth specification which COW
cred the question Of the funds alleged
10 have been raised by Mr.. Lawton in
the Methodist churches of Winona, Red
Wing and Rochester and retained by
him for month or more after it should
have been paid over to the church au
thorities. In his testimony Mr.. Rice
told of his efforts to get a
settlement out of Mr.. Lawton and
the appointment of the committee to
look it up. This brought out the fact
that Mr.. Lawton at first gave note
and mortgage signed by Alexander d.
Smith by G. 3. Lawton as attorney, for
about 500, to cover certain sums
subscribed by Mr.. Lawton and the
unpaid balance of Sl35 of the money
collected of the outside churches. This
MIR. Rice refused to accept because he
found that this Alexander ID. Smith was
a resident of st. Paul. He demanded
that Smith himself sign the papers, but
by the time this was done an injunction
was issued fOrbidding Mr.. Smith to
transfer the property, and so negotia-
tions fell through.
An alteration between Rev. David
Morgan, counsel for Mr.. Lawton, next
relieved the monotony. Mr.. Morgan
claimed that the investigation had been
ordered at the request Of Mr.. Lawton,
while Mr.. Rice denied that it had.
This went along for time and was en-
livened by SOME sarcastic remarks on
all sides.
1.-THE object of all this is to belittle
everything that has been done in the
church for the benefit of Brother G. B.
Lawton," said Mr. Boyd, one of the
prosecuting officers, after Rev. Morgan
had made the assertion that Mr.. Law
ton had done more toward Saving the
church" than all other members put to-
gether.
'Why did Brother Lawton settle the
case, and pay the money!" asked Rev.
Morgan Of the witness.
Because you told him he
Had Better DO It,''
was the answer of Mr.. Rice.
did the official board do its duty?''
persisted Mr.. Morgan.
lit did not eXOnerate him."
81 don't see how it could" observed
the minister, dryly.
The attorneys for Mr.. Lawton next
placed the reverend witness on trial, at
least so the latter asserted, and at
tempted to lead him to admit that Mr..
Lawton had been the leading church
worker, but as this proceeded the ire of
the minister rose and he refused to an
swer.
what has all this to do with the
specific charge that Mr.. Lawton went to
Rochester, Red Wing and Winona, col
lected money and retained it?" broke in
w. w. Nichols, the leader of the prose
cution. Here we have spent three
nights already, and if the defense con-
tinueS it may be three years."
Rev. Mr.. Rice, in answer to questions,
said that he had called upon Mr.. Law
ton a number of times for the money,
but had been put off each time. He
was told once by the defendant that he
could not pay, and the pastor had told
him that he ought not to have used
the money. The defense, Attorney
Biggs and Rev. Morgan asked a
number of questions to show that nc
demand by proper committee had been
made upon Mr.. Lawton, and the slightly
dyspeptic but wide-awake Nichols
leaped into the breach and dealt the fol
lowing blow to the other side:
81 want to show" he said, that il
was not necessary that some one seek
out Brother Lawton with shotgun to
compel him to pay over the money he
collected for the church."
This remark was
vigorously Applauded
by the crowd present, the applause
drawing from Rev Morgan the remark
that the defense would have to request
that the galleries be cleared if they
were to be packed against Mr.. Lawton.
"Oh, let them Shout" exclaimed
Attorney Biggs, "don't put any one
out"
'Mr. President" cried out voice in
the rear of the hall, sit would be good
idea to put out some pettifoggers first"
"All sing There's land that is
fairer than tbiS,' came from another
corner of the hall.
After +. Tallboys, prominent mem.
Der of the church board, had stated
that he had demanded the money raised
| at Red Wing, Winona and Rochester OF
Mr.. Lawton, the latter himself went on
| the stand and told his story. He startled
| the crowd by the statement:
81 claim in the face of the opposition
to be the leader of this movement"
Mr.. Lawton gave full history of the
church, and claimed that he had moi
paid over the money he had received
simply because the committee had
promised the people who had sub
scribed that the money would not be
| placed in the hands of his brother, A.
M. LaWton, who was the treasurer of the
church. In spite of these promises the
board had resolved to have all moneys
collected paid over to him.
For reasons L do not care to state
said Mr.. Lawton, II refused to pay
money to him."
= mo living person." he continued
Except Brother Tallboys, ever asked
me for that money. told him had
just come home, and that the money
was in little satchel at home. | told
him | would pay 500 the next day
which did to Mr.. Rice. never heard
another word about this money Until
the committee was appointed, as
heard, to charge me with embeZzle
ment. In regard to the mortgage, be,
fore had it fixed
A Suit Was Filed