The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-07-30
A QUESTION OF VERACITY.
Rev. Obadiah Summers Accused
of Forgery and FalSehOOd.
The Board Of Trustees Of His Church Strongly
Arrayed Against Him in the Contest
Of Will


his church. Nor is the end yet. The more
the thing is stirred up the worse appar-
emily the mess The affair has gone now
into the courts and the chasm has already
wideped so much that il is hard to foretell
ehow ever it will be bridged over.
The dissension has arisen about the will
of Mrs. Elizabeth Scott, an eccentric old
colored lady, who died on the "a inst. and
was member of the church. She left quite
a little est te, namely $500 on deposit with
the Savings and Loan Society. Mrs. Scott
had made a will naming Rev. Mr. Summers
as the sole Iegatee, it being understood that
she had no legal heirs.
Rev. Mr. Summers had offered the will
for probate, never imagining any opposi-
tion, though having reasons to suspect from
gossip among his flock that grounds had
been advanced on which contest might be
based. The contest was, in fact, made by
certain trustees of the church, VINO declare
as grounds that the church is interested ia
the estate as legatee under will made
more than so days before Mrs. SCOTS death
and in which she gave certain of her prop
erty TO that church. but that this will
was fraudulenily destroyed by her at the
instance of Rev. Mr.. Summers. under whose
power, control and undue influence she was
III.
and acting under which she made the latter
Will.
FOR PROBATING THE WILL.
Yesterday before Judge Levy was the
time for the prObating of the will, aud the
contend ng factions were present in force
Rev. Mr.. Summers, who was represented by
j. ID. Sullivan, formally objected TO the con-
test, on the ground, as stated by him, that
the church had authorized and empowered
no person TO institute these proceedings in
opposition 10 the probate of the VIII, or
even authorized the filing of the contest
On the contrary, lie made the showing that
at a meeting Of the trustees. held on the DIST
inst, they passed the following resolution:
WHEREAS Robert Wilson, Westly Johnson
ana " illIdm X. Page, members of the Second
African Methodist Episcopal Church, also known
as the Bethel African Nj. 4. Church, assuming
10 represent this church, have engaged counsel
10 contest the viii OF The late Elizabeth Scott on
behalf OF the above church; and whereas no
such action has ever been sanctioned or author
lied by this church; therefore be il
ResotUed, by tie trustees OF the Second Afd
can NJ. y. Church, also known as the Betael
African NJ. L. Church, tn meeting asSemb q,
that Robert Wilson. NeStly johnson and VII
liam K. Page In employing counsel TO contest
the VIII OF said Elizabeth Scott, deceased, nave
acted wholly without the authority Of said
church and against lis express wishes and de-
sires M tie matter of SAID VIII, and said peis0
ia no wise represent said church M tie said pro-
ceedlngs which they have lnaugu ed. ana we,
the trustees OF said church. .tepuddJe The action
OF said persons aud demand, as tuste : OF said
chuIcN. lhat 10 contest be heard Win reference
10 the VIII OF Elizabeth Scott, deceaS d.
sIGNERS OF THE RESOLUTION.
This resolution purp0rtS 10 have been
signed by the fOllOWing-named trustees:
Albert DIcEers. George Mitchell, William
Morris and Isaac Womble. The gauge of
battle thus dauntlessly thrown by the Rev.
Mr.. Summers was accepted by the other
members Of the board of trustees and yes
terday they nled counter af1ldavits which
seriously reflect on the methods of their
pastor, and even bring into question his
character for veracltY.
One Of these afidavits was by Mr.. Dick
ers, the secretary of the trustees, and one
OF the gentlemen whose name appears as a
signature TO the resolution. Mr.. Dickers
declares that he has at all times been in
favor OF the prosecution of the contest
against the probate of the will, but that Mt
tile meeting Su the 2lst inst, ''the only busi-
ness transacted at the said meeting was the
renting OF one Ct the rooms in the Church
building. ana TO nIoyids tor-the payment Of
That afiiani did not 90 SAID dsy. Cat ansgflsoe
before or since, sDIu the document or a document
similar IN purpYrt 10 the one. copy Of which Is
set out Ia ibS affidavit az O0adiah Summers,
made on tie goth day of July, 1892.
Ihat athapt, although not present al the meet
ing OF the Joard OF trustees which tOok pl ace on
lac 4 ~ dGy OF July, 1892, has always approved
Of, Ia fled and confirmed. and hereby does APP
prove. ratify aud conrm all tile acts aHd pro-
Wilson, Nj .clell aud WOmDl'. IN anu about The
contest OF The Will OF Eliza Scott, deceased, on
said day.
AfiianI further says that IL the said Obadiah
Summers has ia his possession resolution pur-
porting 10 be signed by him, The said Albert
Dickets, containing The reputation OF The action
OF the said Page, Wilson. Johnson Mitchell and
Womb, either OF them, IA and about insti-
utlng The said contest on behalf OF tie church,
the same is a forge J.
THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING.
Mr.. Diczers also reproduced his minutes,
which show the following entry:
The pastor then introduced the subject Of the
will Of The late Eliza Scott, which, after a great
deal % debate, was closed with no satisfactory
results. There beng no further business The
meeting closed.
William X. Page, president of the trus-
tees, declared In his AFFIDAVIT that on the
4th inst. the trustees resolved upon the con-
test and named MessTs. johnson, Wilson
and Mitchell committee 10 retain counsel
aud proceed in the matter. NOmeetng was
called on the 2ist inst, but there was a
gathering between members of the ard
Of trustees aud the pastor, and he denied
that any action was there taken as set ont
by the pastor. He had heard Dickers make
his statement 20 Walter J. Tu>ka on the
18th ana as contained la bis affidavit, and
"DickeTs stated that he had not signed the
document or any document such as is set
out in the affidavit Of Obadiah Summers,
although he had been impOTtuned by the
said Obadiah Summers 10 do"
Wesley johnson and Robert r. Wilson
corroboTated generally the above state
ments, adding tnat William Morris, whose
name appears subscribed to the Summers
resolution, has at no time since his election
acted with the board of trustees. but has at
all times declined TO do SO and never has at
tended any of the meetings.
Walter j. Tuska, the attorney for the
contest. represented in his affidavit that he
was employed on the 9th inst in writinT Inv
JDhnsnu WitGnp aud
committee OF the church appointed on the
4lh lie was personally interviewed by the
president ana Wilson, Johnson and Dick
ers, all OF whom especially requested him 20
proceed IN the contest authorized by the
cnurch. That as late as the 25th Mitchelt
one Oh the committee and trustees, who
mad signed the authorization Of employ
ment, called on him and admitted his an
polntment as committee on contest, be-
lleVlng, as he said, that the church should
receive the money left IL by Mrs. Scott. but
That he had no wish 70 antagonize Mr. Sum
mers; but not wishing TO continue actively
as member Of the committee. would use
ms best endeavors to obtain for the church
the legacy left it,
THE INFORMAL GATHERING.
he further said that at the informal gath
T Tr.ig on the list MesSrs. Page, johnson and
nson hao retired after the adjournment.
huu Nj. summers submitted to him and
Dickers, Morris aud Womble a paper for
sslgnalure. lie had signed TO befriend Mr.
summers, but no resolution of the kind was
passed by the board. On the contrary Mr.
Nj had been appointed committee
man On tue 4tn' ana voted In favor of insti
tutlng the contest Mr.. Dickers also called
on the attorney on the Goth and declared
himself heart and soul in favor Of the con-
test ana wished 1t fought to final deter
mutation, saying. that he is a friend of
oDsdlah Summers, but that at the same time
hrtr
his heart, and he could not afford 10 sacrifce
those interests for his friendship for Obadiah
SnmmeTs." The affidavit then corroborated
Mr. Dlckers, as 10 his statements regarding
one proceedings at the meeting of the 18th.
, nnu enat DIckers had stated that lie had
DeNer sion cd II md - - low