Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1896-03-20
No2t.
Church rrI.I csn,rsvIIIs .nsr Jersey.


collected at the Centreville M. E.
Church to hear the church trial
against John Major and John
Youngs, two of the trustees, and
members of the church Charges
were preferred against them by Pas
tor Deming. For months stor-
les impugning the moral character
of Mr.. Deming had been circulating
all over the charge, and as Messrs.
Major and Young were not satisfied
with Demings explanation, that did
not explain, they preferred charges
against him before aQuarterly Con
ference, held at tMontag ne, last fall,
when the said charges were ignored
by the presiding officials, and since
that time the reverend gentleman
has tried to oarrest Major and Young
from their Office of trustee, and as
last resort, determined to bring
charges against them, and put them
out of membership in the church.
Mr.. Young did not get a copy of
the charges preferred against him
until on Saturday night, about p.
m. and Mr.. Major likewise. The
people expected cut and dried pro-
gram, and they got the pure article.
At precisely 3 o'clock p. m. pastor
Deming called to order commencing
the business in hand with prayer
and singing. Mrs. Minnie Bevans-
nee Clark, of Hainesville was elected
Secretary, and Ed. Vanness as pro-
-secutor, and lay figure. Deming an
nounced the jury in the case as fol-
lows: James Cole, of Montague
VIM. Drake, Kate Kintner, Laura
Rosencrans and Phebe Hampton all
of Sandyston.
The first named Mr.. Cole is about
so years of age, and very deaf, so
much that it is safe to say that he
heard very little of the evidence.
Mr.. VIM. Drake No. 2 had said that
he had not been in the church in the
last five years, nor contributed dur
that time, but he was here for a pur-
pose and proposed to stick. I will
refrain from any comments upon
the ladies of the jury, as presume
they honestly thought they were
doing Gods will as they understood
it, in the good old fashioned way
which is don't think, the church
will do that for you.
Mr.. Young objected to W. c..
Drake as juror for the reason that
Drake had publicly expressed his
opinion, and against Young. OBJ
lection overuled by Deming. Pro
secutor Vanness now read the speci-
fication viz. defamation, lying and
malicious mischief. Mr.. Young
denied the charges as read from the
PIKE COUNTY PRESS. Young then
asked for an adjournment saying that
he had not time to prepare his de-
fense or procure counsel Denning
refused the adjournment. Young
now offered to read his plea, but
was curtly shut off by Deming, he
then handed the plea to the prose
cutor that it might be read, and that
was also refused. Seeing they had
no chance for fair play, he and Mr.,
Major left the church and let Dem
ing have his way. Frank Layton a
law abiding citizen first witness Mr..
Young being charged with falsehood
in that he had said that the trustees
were induced to have Young and
Major arrested. by Deming. Lay
ton said that Capt. Simpson and E.
Lundy were eyewitn esses of the
breaking into the church by Young
and Major and upon their return to,
Centreville where the other trustees
were, they drew up a paper, which
all signed and had IL taken to-
Hainesville for the signature Of the
two trustees there, its purport being
the arrest of Young and Major.
Did not see Deming before that and
that Deming knew no thing about
their action Evidence corroborated
by Bensley, Lundy and LOder, all
alleged trustees.
Next charge was that Youngs had
told that Demings had went to
certain lady's home, and got her
affidavit, exonerating him from a
certain scandalous story and that
certain promises were made to the
lady, if she would, make the aftida-
Wit he wished.
VIM Clark was the first witness.
He said he was present when said
affidavit was made, that it was read