Smyrna times., 1892-02-17
Presiding Elder Wilson Sues Editor
niImOrfh

Presiding Elder J. A. b. Wilson, OF
Dover has inVOk ed the sword of the
law instead of the power of the Cos
pei to silence his assailants. He APP
peared before Esquire Jester of Dover
on Thursday, aud preferred charges OF
criminal libel against J. Hessey Dill |
worth, of the Delaware City Ae'Cs. /
Constable Ford started Immediately to |
arrest Dilworth, in order to have him |
placed under bonds for his appearance |
at court, and answer tor his offensive |
publication.
The constable encountered Mr.. Dill !
worth on the cars whom he took in
custody, and proceeded with him to
Dover, where he was given a hearing
before Esquire Jester, who held him in
5000 Harry A. Richardson and Hiram
Reedy became his bondsmen. James
Pennewill, Esq, acted as his counsel.
Revs. Ralph L. Coursey aud George
| l. Hardesty were witnesses for Mr..
Wilson. They testified that Dilworth
had admitted that be meant Wilson
in his article calling a certain "presid
ing" elder liar, "forger" and
murderer"
Mr.. Dilw,rt rth offered no evidence
but says that when court arrives he
will be on hand and prove every
charge he has made.
WHAT THE PAPERS SAY.
The following are some of the ex-
prssslons of the newspapers on the
mixing of the law and the gospel:
The Delawarean says: We do not
know who Is right or wnO is wrong,
but We do know that there is a serious
trouble in the NJ. f. Church in this
vicinity. Somebody is to blame for
this bad and we must say unchristian
state Of atfaIrs. Who that somebody
is is for the church to decide; not tor
us. For instance, the admission Of
of Rev. George l.. Hardesty that he
went to buy paper or subscribe for
the Delaware City NetcS at the request
of DR. Wilson in order to punish Mr.
DllWOrth, is neither religious or in ac-
cOrdance with the teachings of our
Saviour, and we will take the liberty
of ad vising Mr.. Hardesty, whom We
have known from his infancy, to in the
future shun all disreputabe work if he
wants to have the good opinion Of the
thinking people who value morality
and christianity. There never was A
great smoke without some fire, and
there is sOme fire here without doubt
e Mr.. Wilson, possibly, may be right but
the great possibility is that he is wrong
for this reason. Itis not one church
opposing him but it is the people of
many churches and many cOngrtga.
tons, reaching from one end of the
! Conference to the other. This fuss is
= no new thing and did not spring up IN
v a day. 1t has existed for years and
: has been steadily growing until it is
bringing reproach upon not only the
# church but upon christianity. The
e church ought to stop it by adopting
; vigorous and rigorous measures, even
l. if those in authority have to send the
Y principles to distant fields where theil
l. labOrs will be appreciated, and where
no dscord will destroy the progress OF
t their godly work.
!. The Morning NeWS says: : There is n,
L doubt that Mr.. Wilson, if he is the per
Z son meant by the Delaware City NeC.
Il and if the charges against him car
c, be sustained by proof, is most uni
r person to hold position of respon-i
Diiity in any church. On the othe
V hand, if these charges are not true
r. from what in that case would be gros
calumnies. 1t is well known that man
persons in this state believe 10 respeC
to Mr.. Wilson great many of tn
b. things that Mr.. Dnworth has asserte
at about him, and because of this opinion
le whether well or i'll formed, it is i
~ every way desirable, both as an act {
at justice TO Mr.. Wilson, and as tn
n means of purging the Methodist Epis
IN copal Church in this state of gross an,
ci growing scandal, that the questions
We fact involved should be eonclusivel
s. settled one way or the other.
ur Mr.. Wilson is entitled to peace, {
he else to be shown to be what many b,
n leve he is, and the sooner the fu
ch truth is disclosed the better it will
u for all the interests concerned.
is The Dover correspondent of the Wi
m mington Sunday Star in referring
W. this emute of Rev. J. A. B. Wilson,
ed D.,-of D. d. Ville-says:
III There's no politics in this fight ce
sv tainly not, because everybody sa,
40 there is not. But it is peculiar thin
ed that every ReynOlds-Or every Sta
his administration man in Dover, is a w
of son man aud every anti Reynolds ma
'as whether he be Democrat or Repub
er can, is an anti-WllsOn man. 1t is on
,us o peculiar coincidence perhaps. Neve
rat theless, it is true, and it has been tr
by ever since the campaign of 80.
es. The Inder is WilsOnite, the DeldWC
ere can and Sentinel are against him. T
res State and county officials here are
on Wilson men. John F. Salisbury a
int all the rest Of the anti-Reynolds IN
lily are against him.
mt, The Delaware City NelUs is a Den
on cratic paper, aud editor DilwOrth is
ed. applicant for the Office of Fish Co
less missioner. at the hands Of Gov. K,
and nolds.