The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-06-03
JOHN D. KNOX'S TRIAL.
Members of Methodist Church
Continue Relentless Pursuit.
What Is Going On at st. Joseph,
Missouri.
Can't Forgive Him For Having De-
ceived Them and Lost Their
Money - Christian Broth
erhood and Lost Cash.
[From the st. Joseph (Mo.) News.1

The trial of Rev. John D. Knox of
Topeka on the charge of hypocrisy and
fraud began in the auditorium of the
First M E. church, on North Fifth
street, at 2 o'clock this afternoon. Bish-
op S. M. Merrill of Chicago is presid-
ing elder at the trial.
The Fl ministers from three different
conferences before whom the trial is
being conducted, arrived in the city last
night and this morning. They are the
guests of the members of the church in
olIIerent parts of the city.
BlShop Merrill was asked this morn
ing by reporter for the Daily News
when the trial would begin. He did not
answer the question, but stated en-
phat1cally that there will be nothing
for publication. When the trial is over,
the bishop said, the result will be an
nOunced.
we do not need the assistance of the
newspapers, said the bishop This
IS a private affair. 1t is personal, and
there is nothing about it for the public
to know. When it is ended, the result
Will be announced. That is all"
The Rev. John D. Knox arrived in
the city last night and is registered at
the Holman house on julie street He
IS afflicted with a bad cold and cannot
speak above whisper. His hair is
Wh1tened with years, and he is almost
feeble. He was seen in his room with
two of the ministers defending him
Rev. H. D. Fisher of Topeka and Rev.
j. .. FOresman of Horton. One of the
ministers was sorting over a mass of
letters and documents on the table and
on the bed
I'VE have nothing 70 saw" said the
Rev Fisher. Not a word. Let the
people over at the church do the talk
ing. Wait until the trial is over
AUmOrning the parsonage at the First
Methodist church has been filled with
visitors, and they began to swarm about
the church this afternoon. One of the
visiting ministers. who had not re-
ce1Ved instructions as to secrecy, said
the trial would probably continue two
days 1t is plain already that there is
considerable feeling in the prosecution
and defense of the Reverend Knox
The charge of hypocrisy made against
him is a new one. He has been tried
on the charge of fraud and the Topeka
conference expelled him from the min
istry. There has been an investigation
of the charge of hypocrisy, it is under
stood, but no trial.
A few years ago the Rev. John d
Knox was the pride of the church. He
was banker at Topeka and the funds
Of the members of the church all over
the country were invested by him.
With the funds of the members of the
church. came those of the Prohibition
lists, and his business grew rapidly. Dr.
Knox owned a handsome home north
west of Topeka and as a philanthropist
he had a national reputation.
The boom in Topeka real estate ruin
in his bank went down with it. 1t is
said that he invested the money in
Topeka lots when the prices were fab
ulOuSly high, and when they fell the
bank failed. The failure was four or
five years ago, and since then the time
of Knox has been occupied principally
in defending the lawsuits that were
brought against him.
He proved to be law-proof, however,
and it is not recorded that any of the
depositors got their money back The
widows and orphans who claimed that
they had been defrauded, appealed to
the church. Last winter the confer
ence of the Topeka district investigated
the charges against him and he was ex-
PEELED from the ministry. He was pros
ecuted through the First Methodist
church of Topeka, of which he was
once the pastor.
1t is said that the hatred of the man
who was once looked upon as philan-
thropist is widespread, not only in
Kansas but all over the country. He
is accused of having Travelled over the
country during the time he was finan-
cier soliciting deposits for his bank
and investments from members of the
church. Societies of the church placed
their money in his keeping, and much
of it was there when the failure came.
The magnificent home built by Knox
when he was a prosperous banker still
stands and is still occupied by him 1t
is all he saved from the wreck. Since
the failure he has been a book agent,
and in spite of his years he has been
reasonably successful.
Last summer he sold garden truck
from the land surrounding his home,
and in the fall he. with his two daugh-
tiers. travelled about the state, giving
an illustrated lecture on the Holy
Land, with a musical concert by the
young women. The daughters are tall
ented musicians. In his palmy days
Knox spent much of his money educat-
ing his daughters, and the eldest stud
led instrumental music in foreign
lands. She is also a pianoforte grad
uate of the Boston conservatory.
Rev. C. 6. Dearborn of Topeka and
Rev. S. Alonzo Bright of LeavenwOrth
who are conducting the prosecution
against Knox before the judicial con-
ference today. arrived in the city last
night and are registered at the Pacific.
They are said to be personally acquain
ted with all the accusations brought
against him.
Several of the witnesses to be used
by the prosecution arrived today. and
one of them was dressed a s a widow.
The prosecution, it is said. is based on
several charges. Thousands and thou
sands of dollars went down in the
wreck of the Knox bank. but the
charges on which he is to be tried in
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