The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-12-05
WILL DR.. ROBINSON Do IT?
He Must Personally Present His
Charges, Says Mayor Connell.
Mr.. GUERNSEY WAS NOT HEARD
Visited Mayor Conncii as DR.. Robinsu..'.
Agent but Would Not DO Responsible
for the Charge-lIc was Refused
Formal Recognition Yestessiay.

developed In connection with the pulpit
charge OF Rev. DR.. Charles E. Robinson
against some unknown police officer.
1t was thought that some definite ac-
tion would follow the signing of affi-
davits Of denial by the policemen in the
mayors office Tuesday afternoon, but
as predicted in The Tribune, DR.. Rob-
inson yesterday relegated his respon-
sibility N the matter to j. w. Guern-
sey. an officer Of the Second Presby-
terrain church. Mayor Connell refused
to recognize Mr.. Guernsey az sponsor
for DIR. Robinson's utterance that "a
certain Scranton policeman had led
young men to houses Of infamy." The
mayor was disposed to ignore DR.. Rob-
inson's charges after o'clock last
night. but has extended the time until
10 O'Clock this morning.
However. after conference among
DR.. Robinson and some Of his friends
early last evening, The Tribune se-
cured enough information to warrant
the assertion that DR.. Robinson decided
not to personally place before the mayor
this morning the afi1davlts and other
evidence. This course was sanctioned
and even advised by his friends.
Summing UP the whole matter and
all the facts obtainable. up to a late
hour last night. Mayor Connell's efforts
to have DR.. Robinson prove his state
ment will prove unavailing. Meanwhile
every member Of the police department,
from Chief Simpson down to the new
est recruit among the patrolmen, will
be under the ban Of suspicion until DR..
Robinson himself faces the music or
finds some friend to reiterate his CDR.
Robinson's) charge. and then come for
ward and make an attempt to prove It,
DR.. Robinson Was Busy.
At 2.3O o'clock yesterday afternoon,
while DR.. Robinson was engaged with
someone in his study. the telephone
rang. Mrs. Robinson answered the call,
which was from the mayors Office. The
mayors secretary was talking. and re-
quested that DR.. Robinson be called to
the telephone. He was too busy, was
the reply. Mrs. Robinson was asked to
tell the doctor that Mayor Connell. or
his secretary, had been in the office
since $50 o'clock In the morning await.
ing a visit or word from the doctor in
response to the policemen's resolution
demanding that ne substantiate his
charge.
Mrs. Robinson left the telephone, but
returned in a moment and said that the
doctor would attend to the matter later.
Mayor Connell then prompted his Sec
retary to ask Mrs. Robinson to inform
her husband that he (the mayor would
remain In his office until 8 o'clock; II
DR.. Robinson did not appear before that
hour with the name Of the accused
policeman and the names Of the young
men upon whose evidence DR.. Robin
mayor ConnelD would ignore any
further attempt on DR.. Robinson's part
to specify the charge. Inc reply came
back that DR.. Robinson was obliged to
attend an important prayer meeting in
his church last evening and It would be
impossible for him to see the mayor
Thus the telephone conference ended.
N During the day four Of the young
men upon whose information DR.. Rob-
inson made his pulpit charge were
in Alderman Fuller's Office
with the alderman and two officers Of
the Second Presbyterian church. They
signed their names to four sworn affi-
davits containing specific charges.
They Called on tho Mavor.
In the afternoon the business of
placing the matter before the mayor
was relegated to Mr. Guernsey by DIR.
Robinson, probably after the telephone
between the mayors Sec
retary and Mrs. Robinson. At SIS
o'clock Mr.. Guernsey, accompanied by
Alderman Fuller. called at the mayors
office. Alderman Fuller explained tnat
he was not present as an official, nor as
q representative Of the Second Presby-
terian church, nor AZ one directly in
terested in the controversy; he remark
ed to the mayor that he was present
simply as q friend Of Mr.. Guernsey,
who had called at his office and had re-
quested that he accompany him.
II come here" said Mr.. Guernsey to
The mayor, "as Dr. Robinson's repre-
and member Of his cong"
do you come" decorously inter.
rupted the mayor. "as one prepared to
reiterate the charge made by DR.. Rob-
nson?"
mo, I do not"
do you know anything about the
of the charger"
mo"
Then must decline to listen to you
as a first party In this matter" said the
mayor.
Il don't desire to be known as q first
party" explained Mr.. Guernsey; II
I'm merely DR.. Robinson's representa-
i've; have made no charge, nor can
do So"
"Then you cannot expect to have any
discussion with me-" said the mayor.
II you wish a. citisen to discuss the
natter. I am at your service; but az Q
nouthpiece (pardon the applIcetion) or
Is q medium decline to recognise
,ou."
you. sir. are obliged to recognise
me- I have with me the affldavits and
lanes of DR.. Robinson's informants
md the name Of the sccused onlcer.
You are bound"
RespoMss Of Mayor couwsii.
II am neither obliged nor bound 20
recognise you, nor to be bulldoxed by
,ou." retorted the mayor with consid-
rabie warmth. "You say you will not |
'eiterate DR.. Robinson's charge and |
hat you have no knowledge Of its
ruthfulness, and while your assurance
md that Of DR.. Robinson. In this con-
lection. u refreshing. Il win not serve |
Il desired purpose. I shall not permit |
'ou nor any other person. excepting DR.. |
Robinson, who alone II responsible for |
IL utterance. to appear ~ chief In this |
natter. This once has not been closed |
ince S:0 o'clock this morning, but |
Turing that interval Or. Robinson has |