Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-06-29
IS BECOMING FAMOUS.

u ULUUlIllliu lllllUuU'
A Continuance of Church Troubles IN
DarktOwG.
Rev. D. w. Elliott, Former Pastor
Takes Forcible Possession OF the
Pulpit Sunday and is Fined by
SQUIRE Dunning-Elliott Swears
Ont Warrants for Rev. j. h.
Johnson and His Friends.
Tho troubles of the Macedonia Col
ored BAPTIST Church on Charles street.
Second ward seems bound to become
matter Of local history and the amount
Of the litigation that has been stirred
Nm by the unbecoming contentious
among the congregation would NIL
good sized book. The account or prev
ions trials ventilated in justice shops
Is familiar to readers. The first act OF
Tho lonq-drawn-out drama that has al
ready become famous in Darktown TOOK
Mace several months ago, when the
church sections wife was arraigned be-
fore Squire Fitzpatrick for disturbing
a meeting by blowing out the lights
This meeting was held by friends OF
the former pastor, Rev. D. w. Elliott,
who wanted him rack.
The next act was the arrest OF Rev.
Mr.. Elliott and his friend, Mr.. Heane,
for Interfering with the Rev. j. H.
Johnson in conducting services on Sab
bath morning. Squire Dunning held
both parties to the grand jury.
The church council is alleged TO have
held a meeting since and have decided
that Elliott was the only one Of the
two. Elliott or Johnson. that had been
ordained and that Elliott was the
rightful pastor of the church. Conse-
quently Elliott went to church last Sab
bath morning for the purpose of tak1g
possession of the pulpit and conducting
the services. Johnson was in the pull
pit reading the Scriptures when Elliott
walked up, took the Bible from him and
commenced to preach. Johnson made
no resistance and sat down. Elliott
commenced to preach, but Johnson's
friends were determined that Elliott
should not enjoy his laurels so easily.
Whenever Elliott would give an adj
monition or deliver precept those
among the congregation would arise
in their seats and would ASK the preach
er if ne practiced what lie preached,
using words to that effect.
Constable Osborne Gray was sent for
by Jobnson's friends. After his ap
pearance the services continued with
out further contention Letween the
preacher and the congregation. Yes
terday Elliott was arrested again by
Constable Gray. He was committed TO
Jail and after remaining in duraye
during the afternoon was given
a hearing last evening before Squire
Dunning. The defendant was fined So
and costs for disorderly conduct. In
the meantime Elliott had sworn war
rants out before Squire Fitzpatrick for
Rev. j. II. Johnson and for five men,
bers of the congregation. After the
trial at Squire Cummings office had
ended, Constables Anderson and Shorts
came in and placed all the parties I'M
der arrest. Those arrested were John
son, Samson DolSberry and Lizzie
DolsDerry and daughter, Jennie Dolls
berry, and Marinda Jones. Anderson
started from Squire Dunning's shop
to Squire Fitzpatrick's office with his
prisoners in custody. Several hundred
people followed.
Marinda Jones was the most inter
esting member of the party and fur
nished no end of entertainment to the
crowd by stopping on the corner and
eXhorting in true Salvation Army
style to the sinners gathered around
her. Squire Fitzpatrick committed
Johnson, Cragg, Mrs. Dolsberry and
daughter and Merinda Jones to Jail,
in default of 500 bond each, to await
hearing this evening. Therefore,
the biggest part of the congregation
of the Macedonian Baptist church spent
the night in jail The attorneys for
Johnson and his followers were Hon.
]. o. Pendleton and Col. w. w. Arnett.
John j. Coniff was attorney for Ell
liott. Marinda ions, one of the party,
is Col. Arnett's cook, and the Colonel
was deeply regretting that to-day he
would be deprived of those elegant
biscuits which only his client can
bake.
-O--
RAINIER WENT To HERMANN