Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-04-13
THR CHENOVETH CASE
ON TRIAL BEFORE MINISTERS At MOUNDS
VILE YESTERDAY.
The Proceedings Ksp! Secret but ths Dsis ndar
Seems to Have Made TOler-
ably Good Defense.


minister in front Of the Simpson NJ. T..
Church, Moundsville, yesterday after
noon to reporter for the REGISTER.
The occasion was the sensational church
trial OF Rev. ]. F. Chenoweth. formerly
of the North street NJ. E. Church, this
city.
It was after 10 o'clock yesterday
morning when the meeting was called
to order. Long before this time groups
OF ministers could be seen in earnest
converse on nearly every street corner
near the church. In all there were
probably twenty ministers.
w. w. Kelly, of the Clarksburg DIS
trict, presided. He acted as judge as
the trial was conducted just ike a
Court proceeding. Seven ministers were
chosen by and with the consent OF the
counsel and Presiding Elder Mick.
Their names follow: Rev. j. ID. hess,
Island. Wheeling; ID. 5. Tamolyn, Ne"
Martinsville; o. d. Perry. Wesley
Chapel; Archibald Moore, Grafton; >.
w. Warden, Warrington; c. w. Upton,
Cameron; T. w. Chichester, Dallas:
Rev. S. Z. Jones, of Parkersbnrg, and
Rev. J,E. Engle. of Fairmont, con-
Quoted the investigation, and Rev. Dr.
Fullerton, of Wheeling, and Rev. U: W.
Grimes, OF Moundsville, conducted Rev.
Chenoweth's defense.
The greatest of secrecy was observed
Even the witnesses were not allowed In
L.t ho annr0h whQrR the
hearing was being conducted. Doors
were carefully guarded. Attorney u
c. Newman acted as secretary. he was
put under oath as to absolute secrecy.
Some Wheeling ministers had scarcely
got inside the door when they were in
vited out. With all these precautions
all sorts Of rumors got aaoat; few, II
any, were reliable.
Presiding Elder Kelley instructed
the committee as to the necessity OF be-
ing guarded about letting out any In
formation. Beside his councillors sat
Rev. Chenoweth, defendant, one OF the
coolest appearing men in the house,
but not without look Of feeling OF the
great gravity Of the charge resting upon
him. The charge was "Grave offenses
against church discipline" Rev. Chen
oweth plead not guilty.
The prosecution was begun and the
examination was so searching, and the
points raised so numerous, that the sec
ond witness was not reached till after
dinner.
The first witness was Mrs. Mary
Pryor, proprietor of the Belaire hotel.
Many rumors are afoat regarding her
testimony. However, one OF the coun-
Gil informed the REGISTER that There
was not a shadow OF evidence in all her
testimony against Rev. Chenoweth."
It was after 6 o'clock in the evening
when the prosecution finished its list OF
witnesses.
After supper the first witness for the
defense was called. Rev. Fullerton
was greatly elated over the start made,
and said il the defense put up that
strong a case all through he believed
Rev. Chenoweth would be triumphantly
acquitted, Mr.. Fullerton thought the
defense could finish by 10 o'clock last
evening, when the speeches would
be made. There was arranged to
be four, two on each side OF
the case by the opposing counsel. 1t
was thought that by ~ o'clock last
night the question would go to the COM
mittee. II is thought the committee
will reach its decision about noon to-
day. II all went as looked for late last
evening.
Sentiment was we'll kept down among
the people OF Moundsville. The church
people worked hard to do this, but
when 1t became known that the trial
was in progress people in general ex'
pressed their ideas freely on the matter.
! Persons prominent were heard say that
when they heard OF the charges against
Rev. Chenoweth and Mrs. Lloyd, they
were perfectly daZed. Some others,
who at first believed the reports utterly
false, seemed gradually to be forced
to think differently, and others blamed
the defendant for being very indiscreet
A reporter for the REGISTER saw Rev.
Chenoweth just after supper, and he
said: Everything to-day seems TO be in
my favor, ard l. feel greatly encour'
aged. When it is over IL will be an
awful load lifted from me-"
IL is current rumor that dispositions
were presented from the woman in the
case, who is now married and living at
Palatine. Chas. Bogges, of Fairmont,
a relative of the young lady, who is said
to have been active in bringing the
charges against Rev. Chenoweth, was
there and gave important testimony, il
is said. 1t was stated, also, that GER
tain young man, former lover OF Mrs,
| LLOYD, found the minister out
in some of his Illicit deal
ings with his lady love
II was also reported and not denied tha
Mrs. Pryor, of Bellaire, said she recol
lected Rev. Chenoweth and the woman
stopping at her place, and where they
registered as man and wife. Itappear:
Mr.. Boggess called at the hotel soor
after to get some facts concerning the
occurrence. and this impressed the fac
on her memory.
Should Rev. Chenoweth be found
guilty he has two chances OF appeal
First, he can appeal to the annual Con
ference. and then IL not successful IL
establishing his innocense, he can Their
again appeal to the General Conference
which meets every four years.
i .ot.