The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-05-06
A FAMILY ROW
is Dividing the Members Of the
First Christian Church
Against Each Other in a Most
Lamentable Manner.
THE AFFAIR STARTED
In the Expulsion of Oliver HIT
From the Church
Owing to Revelations in the HIT
Divorce Case.
THE AFFAIR STARTED

There was a lively scene at the meet
ing of the board of trustees Of the
First Christian church last night which
almost terminated in blows.
The trouble is the outgrowth of the
Hit divorce case which created such
stir early in the term of the district
court. Mrs. oliver Hit brought suit
against her husband for divorce and
there was much washing of soiled linen
before the court in which the family of
the plaintiff Mrs Hit and the family
Of the defendant participated
Both families are prominent mem
bers of the First Christian church and
naturally the members became inter
ested in the proceedings in behalf of
either Mr.. or Mrs. Hit. Rev. J. F.
Sloan who lives at 629 Tyler street is
the father of Mrs Hit and j. J. Hit
receiver of the United States land Of
fee is the father of the defendant in
the suit for divorce
The families live just across the
street from each other. The greatest
bitterness has prevailed not only be-
tween the members of the families but
among the members of the church who
have taken sides in the quarrel.
When Judge Hazen denied Mrs. Hit
a divorce it did not end the trouble
anu AN-AI ny AAtE7 -AD7E upon L4iE suit OlA-
Yer Hit, the defendant, was publicly
expelled from the church. The charges
were similar to those made in the ap-
plication for divorce and alleged i'm
mo ality and other things which dis
qualified him as a church member He
made no defense.
Elder w. A Quigley of BAT Elmwood
avenue then preferred charges before
the church board against ]. J. Hit,
father Of the young man who was ex-
PEELED The charges were that he had
not told the truth on the trial of the di-
vorce case Of his son and dauehter-in-
law
at the meeting Of the board OF trus-
tees last night the charges against Mr..
Hit We're to be discussed and Mr.. Hit
was on hand He formally preferred
charges aginst Elder QuigIey and Ell
der Quigley says that charges were
also made against other members of
the board He charged Quigley with
dishonesty and immortality and asked
the board to take action in his case.
He also said some things about En-
met Roudebush and the two men al
most came to blows. Mr. Ouigley saws
Hit raised his cane to strike F2o1lde-
bush. Mr. Hits accusations caused
CONSERVATION among the church Off
GERS and no action was taken on any
of the charges
Elder Quigley said today that he
would be able to disprove the charges
made by Mr. Hit. II am well known
among the members of the church and
I am satisfied that they viii bear wit
ness that they have never heard any
thing against my conduct or my char
acter-
II said at the meeting that Mr.. Hits
accusations We're base as hell and
suppose that is more than I should
have said. hope that this trouble can
be fixed up and that it viii quiet down
MI. Hit attempted to drag Mr.
Roudebush into the affair when Mr.
Roudebush had been a friend of the
family for years. He knew them in
the east before they came to Kansas
and every one who knows him knows
that his character is frreproachable.
He charged Mr. ROudebush with
dishonesty at the meeting because Mr.
Roudebush had a business and like
some others his business was not a slIc-
cess There was a difference between
Mr.. Roudebush and Mr.. Hanson with
whom he was associated but Mr. Han
son told me that there was lust a little
Notwithstanding about what he was
to receive.
Mr.. Hit made wholesale charges
He charged members of the board with
everything imaginable"