The herald., 1894-08-25
SAYS HIS PRAYER is ISLANDER.
Miss Tessa Kelso Sues Rev. DR..
Campbell.
One Ou tcome Of the Obscene Book
Exposure.
Rev. Campbell Prayed for the City
Librarian, who Thinks That
She Requires Damages
Therefor.

The bold and fearless utterances OF
Rev. J. W. Campbell OF the Methodist
church in sermon last Sunday relative
70 the vile literature in the Los Angeles
tublis EkxaJy, yhile met by the direct.
ors of that institution without resent
msnt, have caused the librarian, Miss
Tessa L. Kelao to make fight which it
10 possibly hoped will serve to draw
public attention away from the misman.
agsment OF the library.
At O'Clock yesterday afternoon F. H.
Howard and w. l. Foley, as attorneys
for Miss Kelso, filed lengthy document
in the county clerk Office. which proved
to be q complaint against Rev. J. w.
Campbell, pastor OF the First Methodist
church, on Broadway, for slander, and
in which the librarian asks for $4,000 as
q salve for her wounded feelings and
the injury done to her reputation by the
sermon preached by the clergyman.
The exposure of the presence In the
library of one OF the vilest books imag-
Unable, which was made by the HERALD,
and which excited the widest attention
in the city, brought out numerous ser
mons last Sunday on the part OF clergy
men Of Los Angeles, and they all spoke
In no uncertain manner with reference
to the state OF affairs shown by the news.
paper investigation of the library. Rev.
DR.. Campbell was only ono among
several, and his remarks were not whit
more pungent than those Of other gen.
tlemen or the newspaper; and still he
has been singled out for the purpose Of
bringing this suit.
The complaint is quite a spicy paper,
and enters into the causes for Miss Kel-
se's wrath in great detail. 1t starts out
by referring to her being the librarian Of
the city library and dependent upon the
profession Of librarian for her liveli-
hood.
Referring to the fact that DR.. Camp.
bell is the pastor OF the Fret NJ. +.
church OF this city, the plaintiff states
that she is not member Of that church
nor affiliated with IL in any way, nor is
che subject to the discipline Of the
church.
IN her Office, and under her manage
ment, Miss Kelso saye there are large
number of young female aubordinates,
and the library is daily visited by hun
dreds Of yeung girls. On this acoountit
10 indispensable, says the complaint,
that the librarian be q person OF un-
blemished moral character, and that
there should be no impeachment OF it
by imputing to her disqualification in
a respect which the Office peculiarly re-
quires.
Coming back to DR.. Campbell and the
Methodist church, the complaint states
that it 10 practice OF the church when
any of its members are guilty OF inn
moral conduct for the pastor to publicly
pray for such backsliding persons.
Whenever any person is prayed for"
says the complaint, "the congrsgatio n
understands it to be q charge made by
such praying person against the mora |
character OF the person prayed for"
With this prologue it is averred that
Sunday morning, August 19, 1894, in
his church, before 800 or more persons,
at the regular Sunday services, DR..
Campbell knowingly, maliciouely and
with intent to defame and injure the
plaintiff. publicly prayed for her in
words OF the following tenor:
e "Oh. Lord, vouchsafe thy saving grace
to the librarian of the Los Angeles city
library (thereby meaning plaintff) and
cleanse her of ali sin (thereby meaning
plaintiff was = sinful and lmmo oral
woman and make her woman worthy
of her Office" (thereby meaning that
she was by reason Of moral delinquencies
unworthy of her said Office.
DR.. Campbell, it is averred, knew the
congregation understood the offering of
the prayer meant that he as their pastor
charged that plaintiff was unfit to hold
the Office of librarian aud intended the
prayer to be understood as an accusa-
- Ill hat ha
10 false and malicious.
For tho second count the plaintiff al.
leges that she is not q French scholar
has not, does not and cannot exercise
any censorship as to what French books
may be admitted into the library, which
has been exercised by the book commit
tee OF the board ofdirectors.
1t ia alleged that no books are admit.
ted in the library save upon the censor.
ship and order of the book committee
that the plaintiff and committee have
been jealous and painstaking in their
endeavors not to admit improper books,
and to remove any book which might be
found unworthy, and at all times solic-
tied from patrons criticisms to aid them
in their censorship.
HIn 1892 the committee purchased
large number OF French books, and not
withstanding their utmost endeavors
among them was one LIE Cadet, by
Riohepin. The plaintiff had no part in
the admission OF the book into the Ii.
brsry. 1t was in fact An obscene book
unworthy Of place in the library, but
ito admission was without fault upon
the part OF any one, and especially with
ont the fault of the plaintiff. The real
character OF the book was not discovered
until August 18th, when without having
previously in any manner notified any
one connected with the library, a news
paper (the HERALD) published the fact
and violently attacked the administra-
ticn of the library.
r The complaint then goes on to quote