Evening journal., 1892-03-18
WILSON CLEARED.
Wilmington Conference Acquits the
Presiding Elder on All Charges.

He Makes strong and Convincing DC
fence-rhe Charge OF Lying Knocked TO
Pieces -viDdlcated On a Count by a
Large nIsjority other Important
Meetings
Tha twenty fourth annual session Of
the Wilmington N. e Conference will be
a memorable one because of the big
storm thst ragged inside and outside the
walls Of Grace Church Outside 6here
was repetition Of the great blizzard of
March 10 1888, when conference was
then in session at Union Church. This
storm began as soon Rs the storm inside
the chursh had abRted until to-day.
Three witnesses were heard before the
noon adjournment yesterday.
EXECUTIVE SESSION AT 81. PAULs.
The secret session Of the preachers Of
Wilmington Conference met in st Paul's
M. e. Chul ch, on Market street, between
Seventh and Eighth streets. yesterday
afternoon, The siitings of the session
were transferred from Grace Church, be-
cause the reporters could not be kept In
the dark Rs IL what was going on
The change did not operate to the en-
barrassmsnt Of the reporters In fact it
made the sessions more convenient, and
saved the reporters many weary steps
Every door was locked and guarded by
the sexton aud young Preacher Short
The meeting was held In the lecture
room down stairs, and to all appearances
reporter could not get within a stones
throw Of the bishop and the witness
stand
WANTED TO HEAL THE BREACH.
The prosecution ses the ball moving.
Rev. J. B. Quigg arose and said:
Il desire to submit letter written by
Brother Wilson, Of Vienna
There was no objection on either side.
The letter was read by Secretary Now
bray L. asked DR. Price IL he would not
see Rev. T. o. Ayre5. and try TO heal the
breach between he (Wilson) and Ayres.
The counsel for the defence claimed
that the letter was written purely in the
interest OF peace between two brethren.
Of Vienna was
called to the stand He said
81 am on friendly terms with Dr.
Price. he told me that he went TO
Brother Ayres for Brother Wilson to try
and make peace between the two men"
He was not submitted to cross -ex ami
nation.
PREACHER MAXwEIL's ELoQUENCE
Rev. :. b. Maxwell Of Vienna. Nd
was next placed on the stand. Under
direct examination he said:
brother Price told me, 4 have nothing
against Dr. Wilson officially. The matter
between himself and me is purely per-
sonal one
In giving his testimony the young
Irish orator could not restrain his elo
aueuce he talked in such loud tone of
voice that it was fesre that the meeting
would not be secret" one.
During one lof his impRssioned utter
ances in behalf Of the accused man Bishop
Andrews called him down gently, saying
Speak as calmly as possible. brother.
WILSON IN HIS OWN BEHALF.
Presiding Elder ]. A. B. Wilson, the
accused, tnen took the stand. His large,
commanding form lowered above those
around him, while his massive face wore
q confident and resolute look BE did not
appear to be in the least embarrassed, and
spoke in tone that had in it no uncer-
tain element.
Looking frst at his enemies and then at
his friends. ne said
81 did write that letter Brother Ayres
had been made TO believe by my enemies
that l was working against his interest.
! saw that there was a growing breach
between US. knew that Dr. Price was
a mutual friend 10 US both. therefore
asked him. as a friend knowing both our
circumstances. TO explain my attitude
towards Brother Ayres know ing that
If Brother Ayres understood me we
would be on the most friendly terms.
That letter was written purely for the
sake of peace
KNOCK DOWN FOR OUIGG.
J. B. Quigg-"who did you mean By
the enemy who gave Brother Ayres false
reports of your attitudeY
wilson, would rather not ans yer
that question Quigg-"I think it best
that we know who the enemy is.
Wilson-"Well,i If I must answer will
say that it may have been John B.
Quigg
This plain statement created quite a
sensation Rev. Mr.. Quigg seemed
to be very much embarrassed by the
answer. He started to reply when the
bishop prevented him saying:
Brother Qugg. this Is not a personal
matter. Keep quiet "
Mr. Wilson left the stand.
THE SON FOR THE FATHER
Rev Clarence T Wilson. the gifted
young son Of the presiding elder followed
his father TO the stand. Counsel for the
defense asked:
"Were you present during the conver-
sation between Dr. Wilson and Brother
CarpenteI2 Il Was"
"Wn you give the conversation as
occurring between the twOf' Yes.
Brother Carpenter hsd made our house
his home for some time, aud was, at that
time, our guest. In view Of the. troubles
that were likely to ocsur between the
Dover Church and the 8, cond Dover
Church, Brother Carpenter said to nv
father: 4 am young man and this will
hurt me If preach according to your
orders. Brother Terry and Dr. Murray
will both use their influence against me
To this my father replied No young
man who does his work faithfully and
we'll ever suffers in my district or under
my administration
JsD. O. Hanna for the defence-'I id
you hear the testimony 'of Brother Car
penter this morningT Il did
"Did your father say to brother Car.
psnter what Carpenter testi6ss." HE
did not
would YOU have heard him II be hadg
Yes sir, for I was IN the room as near
my father as Csrpen ser twas. Had he
said what Carpenter repor s him to have
said the language would have sounded SO
queer, coming from my father, that
never would have forgotten IL.