The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-09-07
special Disnalch % the Pos

Special Dispatch TO the Post-IntsIIigencer
EVERETT. Sept. s.-w. T. For was
found guilty of the charge OF immortality.
and OF the specification, adultery. by the
select number of The NJ +. conference, ST
ting as trial members, about go O'Clock
this afternoon
Argument was completed about O'Clock.
The first ballot stood eleven for convection
and two for acquittal The findings as
presented 10 the open conference were
signed BY twelve members, one dissenting.
As Mr.. Ford came from the trial In COM
pany with his attorney. his face bore evil
dences OF the strain upon his nervous sys-
tenn. For two days he had been .aghting
for LIE itself One by one he saw the
pillars OF his defense broken down. until
the entire line was shattered. As he made
last appeal 10 the thirteen men who were
soon 10 pronounce him guilty, tears came
into his eyes. The Official report read be-
fore open conference Is as follows:
we. your select number appointed 10
cry w. T. Ford upon charges of immoral
fly hereby report our findings as follows:
Specification /. sustained.
Specification ?. sustained.
And the specifications sustain the
charges.
We. the select number. hereby declare
in accordance with the above that the
said w. T. Ford Is hereby expelled from
the ministry and membership OF the Meth
odist Episcopal church.
(signed)
r. u. FANS
A ANDERSON,
T. j. DYER
w Ii. IEECH.
c. o. FREEMAN,
T 5. PEARSON,
+ NJ. WHEELER.
W. o. BENADORN.
b l. HOADLEY,
w l. CASPER,
s r. BROkAW.
NJ r. HICkERSON."
The defense attempted to destroy the
evidence OF Jessie Morford. the complain
ing witness, under three heads. First ny
an attempt 10 prove conspiracy: second.
By dsproving statements Of criminal re-
lations third. by attacking the chastity
OF the accusing witness.
The prosecution brought some ten or
more witnesses 10 the city last evening
and this morning. Mr.. Benson. the jan
itor of the Hinckley block, testified that
there was a lounge in Mr. Ford's office
during all the time except possibly one
day: that he. Ford. had given him his
old lounge and had put in new one
that during this change II was possible
no lounge was in for a single day. Other
witnesses testified 70 the same fact. The
defense the day before had shown that
no lounge was in the room during the
time alleged by the prosecution.
The conspiracy claim was disproved.
largely by defendants own witnesses
The claim attacking the chastity Of the
glrl was made By a member OF Mr.. Ford 5
family, who asserted that she was dis
covered one night In criminal relations
with an unknown man IN the Madison
Street NJ L. church. The conditions uu-
der which she was said to be seen were
shown TO be impossible. and she was also
kept In Mr.. Ford's home three months
after this time.
The defendant attempted 10 prove con-
spiracy by two witnesses. who claim that
while they We're IN Ford's Office he. Ia
company with q woman. came into an
other part Of the Office and engaged In
| conversation, which witnesses overheard.
They stated that the woman demanded
$50 from Ford. threatening II he did net
pay her she would ruin him. This woman
J was pla ed the stand today and denied
/ the conversation.
Mr Ford and family returned to Seat
tie on fhe 4.5e train this afternoon. Jessie
Morford and her sister left on the Grey
bound az 5.s0