Los Angeles herald., 1891-03-24

Rev. John w. Ellis, OF San Francisco,
formerly of the First Presbyterian
church of this city, as has been publish
ed, became involved some weeks ago in
| financial matters relating to the Central
Presbyterian church of San Francisco.
He made denial OF all the charges, and
now in Sundays San Francisco Chron-
icle, Mr.. Hugh Fraser, the treasurer of
the trustees, makes the following state
ment:
"When l assumed charge OF the funds
of the church as treasurer" said MI. Fra
ser, 81 found that there was no account
whatever of the disposal OF the last loan
contracted by the church. The outgoing
| treasurer, Mr.. Overstreet, should have
had exclusive control. with the direc-
tors, of the funds, which they turned
| over to DR.. Ellis. They had no right
| whatever to do this. but demanded a
statement and itemized account from
DR.. Ellis.
''He gave it to me. and discovered
| that it contained several serious discrep-
ancies. Two bills which had been paid
were raised by him in amount, one to
| the extent of $50 and the other to lit
tie over $50. set to work Immediately
upon the matter. Two detectives
were employed, and it was found
that in the statement submit
ted by DIR. Ellis several bills for
painting the church, for repairing the
sidewalks and for work upon the street
were wrongly marked as paid. My
! duty to myself and to the church COM
| PEELED me to make further inquiries,
and l found even worse results. DIR.
Ellis had asked and received money
| from prominent citizen to aid the
church. He took the 5000 thus offered,
and made no mention whatever Of its
receipt to the church. T.
ga meeting OF the officers of the
church was called. charged DR.. Ellis
with his misappropriation of the funds.
Some of the elders, ignorant of the true
| state of affairs, naturally defended DIR.
Ellis. This is the quarrel he maintains
had with the elders. He, however,
| frankly acknowledged that every state
ment was fact, even his receipt of the
| 5000. He asked for two weeks in which
weeks in which to do so. The time ex-
pired on March 18th, and he has not
| yet put in an appearance.
SIN defending himself DR.. Ellis de-
clared that some of the items he had
made up from memory, as the receipts
| had been stolen. The church had been
robbed by young man who is now at
San Quentin for his ofense. Many of
the papers belonging to the church were
taken away, but / discovered beyond.
question that these receipts had been
returned to DR.. Ellis, ard were in his
| possession when he made out his re-
port from memory. He knew the facts
or could have readily ascertained them
had he go desired. The statement sub
mitted by me and by the session OF the
church were practically the same re-
| garding financial matters, and MIR. Over
street has since acknowledged that he,
did wrong in permitting DR.. Ellis to
handle the money.
81 deeply deplore the entire affair.
1t has tendency to injure the
church. and in measure to reflect
upon Presbyterianism. But when l
made the charges, you may be sure
did SO knowing my ability.
to substantiate them. The evidence
of DIR. Ells's own handwriting in his
statement of our financial affairs, the
fact that men who were announced by
him as paid, but who are now demand
ing their money, and the tact OF his de-
liberate concealment of the receipt of
5000 until forced to acknowledge it, are
in themselves enough to establish his
guilt. l dealt solely with facts, and
made no accusation until the proofs
were in my possession. He alleges that
| l urged an increase of the debt of the
church against his wishes. was COM
PEELED to DO so, for his actions made it
absolutely necessary for us to raise
money.
The matter is in the hands of the
| judiciary committee of the presbytery,
and / have no desire to interfere in any
way with the course OF it's investigation.
1t has moral duty to perform, and I
have no doubt will do it in justice to all
concerned"
Budweiser Beer
o.,