The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-08-02
PASTOR LOVE ON TRIAL.
He Comes Out With Flying COlOTS
From Most Of the Charges.

Conduct Of the Trial-An Effort 70
Make it a Star Chamber But Pastor
Love Wanted the World TO Be
Present.
Rev. +. X. Love came out with flying
colors in his trial before the First Afri-
can Baptist church last night He was
acquitted on every charge considered
and if there had been time TO take up all
the charges there is no doubt that he
would have been acquitted on every one
The church was crowded with his ad-
herents, and the representatives of the
| opposition were so few that the congrega-
cation might be said to have been almost
unanimously in his favor.
Rev. DIR. S. A. Goodwin of the First
Baptist church presided at the trial as
moderator. Deacons Van Worst. West
and Cain of the First Baptist church
were also present. The church was
packed at 8 o'clock when the chairman
raped for order, Notwithstanding only
members of the church were admitted
| Even the galleries were crowded. Fully
1900 people were present. The opposi-
ton, headed byex-Deacon Brown and }. H.
! CD4AAH S~NAi' A1A VIC ApAAASA OA VIC lAAub VI
the pulpit and the witnesses were seated
on the front bench on the right hand
side
NOT BED OF ROSES.
They did not occupy a bed of roses
either, as the pastors female partisaus
behind them did not hesitate to make
things unpleasant for them.
BY special vote reporters were ad-
mittPG tn The Tuanrinn Good rxrfu 4
not appear especially anxious to have
them, but Pastor Love said the matter
had become so notorious that he would be
glad if the whole world could be present
and the vote In favor of admitting the
| reporters was unanimous
After some preliminary discussion on
| constitutional points and rules of proceed
ure the charges were ordered read They
were under four heads, with specifications
as to the manner Of the offepse following
| each charge. They were as follows:
Rev. Q. II. Lyons of Athens charged
Rev +. K Love with adultery with his
wife Maggie r, Lyons in Athens and in
Atlanta, during 1883 and 1889 An af-
| fidavit to the confession of Maggie l.
Lyons to the truth of this charge was at
tached.
Mary J. Marsh of Atlanta charged
| Rev Love with immoral conduct In her
house in Atlanta on three separate occa-
sions. The specifications were that Love
| came to her house twice with a young
| girl whom he claimed to be a relative
and took her to a room on pretense that
he wished to have some private talk with
! her, locking the door OF the room and re-
naming there so long as to confirm her
suspicion that all was not right. On the
| third occasion she caught Rev. Love in
aucOmpromising position with woman
who was living in her house.
ALL SORTS OF CHARGES.
Mary Marsh also charged that Rev
Love had endeavored to induce her
daughter TO go away with him elsewhere,
telling her that he would pass her as his
wife
Nancy Grant, of Savannah, charged
Rev. Love with an assault committed
upon her at his home on Mercer street
about two years ago, when she called
there upon affairs of the church.
Lizzie Beatty charged Rev. Love with
the same offense committed in the same
manner and specified that she called at
the parsonage at his solicitation and that
he carried her to room on
the pretense of consulting her
on business and there accomplished
his purpose He made her swear on the
Bible, the affidavit stated, that she would
tell no one of the affair. This, IL was
stated, occurred in 1889.
ALL OLD CHARGES.
None of the offenses charged were of
recent dates. They were all signed by
about twenty members and former mem
bers of the church, including Andrew
Brown, J. II. Hooker, j. H. Coffea, I. II.
Houston and others.
A bill of Indictment by the same par
ties was also presented against Rev
Love, charging him with violating the
constitution of the church in expellinq
them from membership, without giving
them a fair hearing
1t was agreed to take up the counts of
the indictment in the order named and
decide them separately. Objec-
tions were made that ]. H.
Kinckel, the colored lawyer. who
was assisting DIR. Love in the conduct of
the case was not a member of the church.
but the minutes of the church were re
ferred to to prove that he was received
as member several months ago. TWAS
decided, however, that neither party
should have the assistance of anyone not
a member of the church.
FIGHT ON EVERY ISSUE.
1t was evident from the beginning that
the opposition intended to make a point
upon every technicality that presented
itself, with the desire, apparently, of
multiplying or preventing the trial by the
church, in the hope of getting the matter
into the courts again. Their tactics were
comprehended by the other party, and
they We're given the greatest latitude in
presenting their case.
EX-Deacon Brown, leader of the oppo-
sition, showed himself to be shrewd and
sl1illful tactician and a good hand at an
argument. AS an obstructionist and fill
busterer he was away above par.
Rev. c. H. Lyons who made the first
charge against DR.. Love, was put upon
the stand He made a preliminary state
} ment that he bore no enmity to Dr. Love,
and only desired TO see justice done.
PARsON LYONS TALE
Il testify to the church and brethren, -
he said, that in January, 1889, letter
addressed to my wife came to me The
contents of the letter aroused me. took
the letter 10 her and called on her to ex-
plain it. The explanation she gave was
u confession of the crime indicated in the
letter"
DR.. Lyons was called upon to produce
the letter. This he said had been brought
upwith other property.
'lf l am required TO testify to what I
have seen / may as well stop" he said,
for have seen nothing with my own
eyes"
Taking up his testimony, Rev. Lyons
said that after mis- wife had confessed to
him, she went and confessed to the cook
and then afterwards told it to other par