Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-03-08
JOHN D. KNOX FOUND GUILTY.
NOTED TOPEKA PREACHER-BANK.
Err LOSES HIS CASE.
Kansas Methodist Conference Votes
to Gust Him From the Ministry
Famous Case Growing Out
of the Kansas Boom.

Topeka, Kas, March 7.-(Special) The
KaEsas conference of the Methodist church
in session at Manhattan yesterday took
up the trials of James Lawrence and John
d. Knox which occupied most of the busi-
ness session.
The charges against James Lawrence
were sustained by the committee appoint
ed TO investigate. but Lawrence settled UP
the business and the case was discharged.
The case Of John D. Knox was tried by
the conference of the Topeka district, in
December 1886. on a complaint filed by
Presiding Elder L. X. Billngsley, charg-
ing Mr. Knox with fraud. falsehood and
wilful Misrepresentation. At the trial Mr..
Knox was found guilty. and he appealed
to the Kansas conference. At the trial
held yesterday the committee was COM
posed of f. II. Brumbaugh. ID. D.. of Atch-
isoI. chairman: Rev. S. p. Jacobs. j. Bid
Olson, d. r. Moore. W. A Crawford, w.
J. Osborn, F. ii. Parkerson, II. A. Pas
ley. ]. 4. Simpson. S. c. Griffith, NJ G.
Goddard. Reys. G.. S. Dearborn and w.
II. Turner were attorneys for the church
and Reys. H ID. Fisher, J. 6. Henderson
and ]. o. Foresman for Mr.. Knox. the
charges were gone into thoroughly and the
committee found Mr.. Knox guilty and rec
commended that he should surrender his
ministerial credentials.
Rev John d. Knox for many years was
a circuit preacher of the Methodist church
in Kansas. He accumulated considerable
money in the early days. when 1t paid TO
be a circuit rider. When the boom str.Ick
the West he made some judicious invest
ments and became immensely wealthy. He
quit preaching and opened up a bank in
this city. which did IA rushing business 1t
was the official depository OF the Method
lists of this section. During the boom Mr..
Knox handled great deal Of Western pa
per- He indorsed 1t and sold il in the
East. The day OF reckoning came with the
collapse of the boom. Eastern people be-
gan TO fall back on him to meet the paper
which he had indorsed and which had de-
money lasted. and then he and the bank
failed. That was in 1889. His Methodist
depOsitOrs. whose money was tied up in
the failure of the bank. charged him with
crookedncss. He was arrested on stat,
warrant and tried in the local courts.
Alter q fight. which dragged along for
several months, he was acquitted
Having failed to convict him in court.
some of the Methodist brethren decided TO
church him. Charges were fled with III"
Topeka conference and he was convicted.
An appeal was taken TO the Kansas con-
ference and the decision OF the lower
court WAS affirmed. Mr.: Knox took an
other appeal to the highest tribunal of
that church. the general conference, and at
Cleveland two years ago succeeded IN ge.-
ting the decision of the Kansas conference
reversed and the case remanded back for
trial.
Several months ago a commission heard
the testimony again behind closed doors.
and made report to the conference. now
in session at Manhattan. After reviewing
the case. that body again found the de-
feIdant guilty, as stated above Mr.. Knox
will now take another appeal to the general
conference
The ex-preacher- banker still holds and
resiees In a magnificent residence in a To-
peka suburb. but he is without means and
Tor several years has eked out an existence
for his family as book agent.
About fifteen years ago Mr.. Knox wrote
a book on How 10 Make Money" At that
time he was interested in a marriage insur-
ance company. The company issued poll
cieS to single men, who paid certain
amount in premiums each year in propor>
tion TO the amount of insurance they took
out. The plan WAS that. when Il policy
holder got married he drew out the full
amount of his policy. 1t is said that a
large amount of money was made. and that
the company was very prosperous until
some OF the policy holders began marrying
OF, when the company collapsed.