The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-06-02
DROPS IT.
Mrs. Mary Snyder's Suit
Against Elder BiIIingsley
For SIander in the Methodist
Church.
S DISMISSED TODAY
At Plaintiffs Cost and Church
People Rejoice.
An Unpleasant Affair Very
Quickly Ended.


eopal church are standing trial in the
district court on the charge of SANDER
ing a member of their congregation. It
is the suit of Mrs. Mary Snyder against
Elder /. * Billingsley of Topeka and
Rev. George w. Braden of Perry and
was commenced before Judge Hazen
yesterday afternoon.
The suit is the outgrowth of a quarrel
in the Methodist church of Perry, of
which Rev. Mr.. Braden is pastor. In
June, 1895, Elder Billingsley received
an anonymous letter signed Billy Cor
rell' referring to Rev. Mr. Braden and
making statements rejecting upon the
character of that minister. The let
ter was turned over to Mr. Braden by
Elder BillingSley for the purpose of
ascertaining, if possible, the author.
After searching for the author of the
letter for some time, it appears that
Mr.. Braden came to the conclusion that
it was written by Mrs. Snyder, and ac-
cused her of being the author. This
charge Mrs. Snyder resented and wrote
to Elder Billingsley, the presiding elder
of that district asking for an inter-
view for the purpose of presenting her
side of the case.
A few days before receiving the let
ter from Mrs. Snyder asking for an in
tervieW, Elder BilIingsley received
second anonymous letter signed Perry
Itemizer," also in reference to Mr.. Bra
den, and, like the first, containing mat
ter both obscene and detrimental to the
minister's character. It made state
ments concerning alleged actions of the
minister of an extremely vile charac-
ter.
The letter from Mrs. Snyder was re-
ceiVed by Elder BillingSley a few days
before the quarterly conference in June
of last year at Perry, Kan. Elder Bill
Kingsley arrived in Perry on Sunday
and the next Monday morning saw Mrs.
Snyder at the church. This was the
morning on which the conference open
-Ts@r~ I
Mrs. Snyder We're cOnNersing the mem
bers of the conference gathered in the
church. In discussing the authorship
of both of the anonymous letters Elder
Billingsley told Mrs. Snyder that he be-
lieved that she was in both cases the
author This statement was made the
basis in bringing the suit.
Later Mrs. Snyder was asked to
withdraw from the church and on Au-
gust Is, 1896, signed papers of with
draWal from the Perry congregation
She afterWard consulted Topeka attOr-
news a bout the matter, and last winter
the suit against Elder Billingsley and
Rev. Mr.. Braden, asking for $4,000 dam
ages for slander, was instituted IN the
district court. Mrs. Snyder is now llV-
ing in Topeka.
Several witnesses were examined
yesterday afternoon, among them Mrs
SNYDER and Rev. Mr.. Billingsley- Mrs.
Snyder's testimony gave some insight
into the church quarrel at Perry, Dut
principally went to show that Elder
Bfllingsley had publicly announced at
the quarterly conference at Perry in
June of last year that she was the
author of two anonymous and I'M
proper letters, which she stated was
with malicious intent and wholly un-
true. ,.
on the witness stand Elder Billings
lev was directly examined by his at
tOrney, R B. Welch, and cross exam
ined by J. G.. Waters, attorney for Mrs.
Snyder. His testimony was as follows:
IL, ezi6
NV appointment is at Hiawatha,
but my family resides here
O.-What was your appointment be-
fore YOU went to HiaWathaE
A.-Presiding elder of the Topeka dis
o.GDid that district take in the Meth
odist churches at Perry and Thompson
o-Do you know the defendant, Mary
Snyder?
o.-Did you know her prior to June
8, 1896?
A.-No sir. .
Q.-When did YOU receive the letter
now termed the BILLY GorreI' letter?
An June. 1895.
Q.-What did you do with it?
o.-When did you receive the first
letter from Mrs. Snyder?
A-Shortly before starting for the
quarterly conference at Perry and
few DAYS after had received the an
onymOus letter signed Perry Item
izer."
0.-What day did you go to Perry
and where did you stay?
Al went to Perry on Sunday and
after holding service in the church went
home with Brother Braden. The quar-
terly conference met at o'clock the
next morning, June 8.
O-Where did you stay on Monday?
Al stayed at Brother Braden's un-
til nearly 9 O'Clock when Brother Mel
son Brown called and told me that Mrs.
Snyder wanted to see me at the church.
Odd you have Mrs. Snyder's first
letter with you then?
Ayes sir.
O.-What was that letter about?
At was about Mrs. Snyder seeing
me that Notwithstanding an appoint
ment for her to see me that morning.
Q.-When Brother Brown called what
did you do?
Al went to the church to see Mrs
Snyder; when I reached the church
woman who I was told was Mrs. Sny-
der I spoke to Mrs. Snyder and told
her that I had received a letter from
her asking to see me, and showed her
the letter and asked her if she wrote il.
She said she did. Then I asked her
what she wanted to see me about She
then said that her pastor, Brother Bra
den. had accused her of writing a letter
that had received signed BILLY Cor
ren" She said that she had not writ |
ten the letter and seemed to feel ag-
rrieved Then she handed me an en-
velope containing the GOrrell letter
which I had turned over to Brother |
Braden. and a portion of a Sunday
school record as a sDeciman of her |