The San Francisco call., 1896-03-20
HER PASTORS CHARGES,
Mrs. Prescott Will Investigate
the Charges and Record
Of Rev. Mr.. Ellis.
SUSPECTS HE HAS A MOTIVE.
Meanwhile the Minister Says He Is
Convinced That Old Clark Is
the Agents Victim.
OAKLAND OFFICE SAN FRANc1sco CAII,l

OAKLAND OFFICE SAN FRANCISCO CALL,l
908 Broadway, March 19.
Rev. John w. Ellis, pastor of the Cen
tennial Presbyterian Church, has locked
horns with Mrs. Prescott, agent of the
Children's Society, and this afternoon he
published statement rejecting on that
lady. Mrs. Prescott denies his charges in
toto and hints that Rev. Mr.. Ellis must
have some motive for attacking her that
has not yet been made public. The trouble
is all over the arrest of an aged man named
Clark for immoral conduct with little
girls.
There hangs upon this question, said
Mr.. Ellis to-day, ''the matter of mans
trial for serious offense. 1t would be an
unfortunate thing if Mrs. Prescott and
should differ so materially as to cause this
man injury. The case is one in which
my stand is merely that of clergyman.
and l have nothing personal in the matter
at all. After hearing Mrs. Prescott's story
1 should have left the matter alone if she
had not told me that she had had those
children in her house for three hours at
time and volunteered the information that
she knew what she was doing, for she said
she was a good cross-examiner. said to
myself, if these are the facts the children
must have been filed up with whole lot
of talk, and consequently thought the
straight story could not be obtained from
them.
NOW, another thing. / am in receipt
of number OF letters and have had sew
eral personal interviews with people who
complain bitterly of her treatment of them
and their families. These charges are very
serious. We are now investigating the
whole thing, and if the reports are true,
whatever Office she holds, if any, will be-
come matter Of vast Importance to the
public. The question of her right to enter
family and forcibly take children away
enters into this matter also. Ialways sup
posed the society was kindred organiza-
ton to religious bodies OF that character,
but find it is a public Office and that Mrs.
Prescott spends most of her time in the
District Attorneys Office,
"As for the difference, l am quite able
to sustain myself, being fully confident of
the stand take. l am also equally con-
tident that old Mr.. Clark is innocent of
the charges, for If were not, | would take
70 part whatever in this affair. / am
merely assisting him in trying to get some
attorney to take up his case. He has no
money nor has he any ability to defend
himself, so | am trying to persuade. an
attorney, out OF love or charity, to defend
him. As soon as he gets lawyer l am
done with the case. He is not a member
of my church, but I simply agreed to see
Mrs. Prescott for him. l won't let any
man suffer unjustly when it is in my power
to prevent it,"
II am quite at loss to understand what
is the matter with Rev. Mr.. Ellis" said
Mrs. Prescott tonight. alt seems to me
that he has some motive for attacking me
that has not yet been made public. He
says be never knew Clark and yet he ap-
pears to be deeply interested in his case /
think when the matter is more fully in
vestigated that Mr.. Ellis will be sorry he
has said so much. / never had the chill
drea for hours at my house; neither did
coach them. When he called on me
thought he was merely interested in know
ing the facts, and we talked over things In
confidence. He now says that l said
things | never uttered. My record is clean
and honorable. / know that Mr.. Ellis has
record, but 1 do not know just what
kind it is, but feel confident that it viii
not compare favorably with mine. l am
going to make some inquiries at San
Francisco and Walnut Creek about him,
and may have some very interesting things
to tell in the near future"