The Durham daily globe. (Durham, N.C.) 1889-1894, 1892-01-04
he TALKS AG AIN
Rev. Abernethy Continues to Give
People Some Lip.
The General Verdict Is That lie Is a
Very Sleek Fraud.
FAILS TO TELL OF THE KISSING ACT
People WHO & Ime and GO--l;rief Er.yi-
tie. of Interest t" All Readers
nr The Globe.

bl tIe SlODo.
DEAR STR-Thc committee of inyesti-
cation appointed by Rev. ~. 5. Rome,
presiding elder OF the New Berne district,
10 look into the reports concerning nv
re ,ent troubles, have met and held their
session and deci ted that it is better for
the church and for me and for all parties
concerned that there should be a trial in
due form. That committee bad no power
to try the case-the only authority that
the law gave them was to decide the ques-
tion, Was there a case to try ~ This
they have decided in the affirmative and
the matter now goes over to the next an
nual conference for trial.
As understand Tie law, this commit
tee had no right to hear any evidence in
my favor. Their only province was to
decide whether the reports against me
were grave enough to make a formal trial
necessary.
Nothing that ! may say in this article
must be construed as a reflection on any
member Of that committee. They are
tried men anl true, and il has never oc-
CURED to me to doubt for one moment
that they did wIaI they believed 10 be
their duty in thH frarrt Got They are
every one NY ,Iepn"I fI!cuH, aud hold
toward, thein nothing bait IA" hnGlie-t
feelings.
But that lhtir action has worked a
srisvOus hardship to mc, ii is my right,
in all charity, to say. This IS not the
I.ult Of the committee, bat is due to the
Iack Of wisdom and fairness Of the law
under wEich they were forced to act.
My complaint is--nOt that | am to he
tried, but that the great and powerful
church to which belong-w hose trusted
and faithful servant | have been for
twelve ycars-putS between my accusa-
tion and trial weary interval Of twelve
months and turns me out of house and
home with wife and eight children to
support, and that at a time when am
physically unable because Of my wounds
to get abroad to seek employment. The
committee has not deprived me Of my
credentials; they have not suspended me
from church membership; they have de-
cided no question of my guilt or inno-
ccnce. | am simply commanded to re-
irain from the exercise Of all ministerial
functions until the ensuing annual con-
ference shall decide the question at issue.
] want here to put on record my most
emphatic declaration of my innocence of
any wrong in word, deed or thought in
this matter. | want here, too, to put on
record my unshaken belief and faith in
the purity and truth Of the woman whose
unhappy lot it has been to have her name
dragged through the public prints IN con
ncctiOn with mine. This much is due TO
myself and TO my friends who have waited
to hear me speak and whose faith in my
honor and truth has never for one mo-
mcnt wavcrcd. On that night when, for
one moment | thought myself dying. |
turned to the dCctOr--a brother of the
man who shot me--and called him to
witness that if went to Judgment went
declaring myself innocent. 1t is my right
To put this on record here.
Go not think it would be proper for
me to enter into details concerning the
first shooting, since that is the subject of
trial and the facts will all be evidence in
the ecclesiastical court, which has final
Jurisdiction in this case. | have all the
while steadily refrained from anything
that might look like an effort to manu-
lac,urc public sentiment. But as the
committee has declared me guilt!ess in
the matter of the second shooting'it may
lie proper for me to give the facts as they
can be proven 10y competent Witnesses
On the day Of the second encounter
had gone down for the first time since
the first encounter. Ny object was TO
get a shave and also to write some letters,
!; being my custom frequently 10 write
my letters in the office of J. EXum 4 Co.
Not finding the barber, | was passing
down the sidewalk that led to EXum &
Cos store, when | saw Mr.. Grim sley
coming rapidly across the street from
the court house. He got between me AZ
the store and asking, Are you ready
drew his pistol said, Lets step this
thing here. Let's not let it go any fur
'Aer. He began firing on me. ! drew
my pistol and returned his fire. His
seventh shot, think, struck me on the
night jaw and | fell forward upon my
lace unconscious for the moment, where
upon he rushed up TO me and standing
over me, fired two or three shots at my
mead, at distance of not more than three
'eet When l regained consciousness
staggered to my feet and staggered out
INTO the middle of the street, he following,
throwing his pistol at me, striking me
"omeWhere on the back of the neck or
shoulders. Friends gathered around me
"AN led me into Exum & Co.'S store
"Aere the doctor came and wanted 10