The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-09-17
CHURCH WILL NOT PROSECUTE
DUFFY STREET BAPTIsTs PASSED
RESOLUTIONS LAST NIGHT.


Hnupt, Has Been Made GOOd-Meet-
ing of the Congregation at Which
Action On the Matter Was Taken.
Judge FaIIigant VIII BE Asked to
Dismiss the Warrant Church
Members Requested Publication OF
Resolutions.
A special meeting Of the deacons, build
tng committee and male members of the
congregation of the Duffy Street Baptist
Church was held last night. There was a
large attendance, the important nature OF
the business under consideration serving
to bring TO the church the most represent
alive members. All of the building COM
mittee, which consists of twelve members
now were present except one, Mr.. George
W. Haupt. Against Mr.. Haupt serious
charges have been preferred within the
past few days, and it was as a result of
them that the meeting was held
Mr. Haupt has been serving as treasurer
of the building fund of the church since
October, 1886. In that capacity he has been
entrusted with the care of all funds sub
scribed for the new building which the
church proposes to erect on the site of its
present ediice. Some large donations have
been received to this fund one being for
$500, and there have been numerous and
continued small contributions from the
church members all of whom have taken
an unusual degree of interest in the build
ing project. When the committee was or
ganized to look after this fund and its
proper disposal pending the time Of build
ing, a resolution was adopted directing
that it should be placed in a savings fund,
subject only to checks countersigned by
the chairman. In some way this was not
carried out and the fund was left solely
in the hands of Mr. Haupt as treasurer.
He deposited it in regular bank where
1t was subject to his own checks.
This seems not to have been known TO
the committee, from other reasons, though,
dissatisfaction with Mr.. Haupts reten-
ton as treasurer arose and about a month
ago his resignation appears to have been
requested, only to be declined. This was
the beginning of developments which led
up to the issuing of a warrant on last
Tuesday for Mr.. Haupt'e arrest on a
charge of larceny after trust.
The warrant was sworn out before JUS
tive Waring Russell, Jr., by Mr. B. L.
Bugg, one of the deacons, who in this
capacity merely acted as the representa-
tive of the building committee. Previous
efforts to arrange a settlement with MIR.
Haupt appear to have been fruitless. Off
GERS of the church insist that every OPP
portunity was given the treasurer of the
building fund TO produce the money or
provide for It's restitution to the church,
but without avail and recourse was only
had to the law as last resort. ]. r.
Cain, ESQ, attorney for the church, Rev.
j, D. Chapman, the pastor of the church,
and members of the building committee
were aVerse to proceeding to any extreme
measures, hoping that the treasurer would
give them a complete statement of his
accounts and turn over the entire funds.
They state that il was only after all prop
er indulgence had been given that the war
rant was taken out in order to protect
the church.
When the arrest was made the treasurer
insisted that the funds would be forth
coming in two hours, but appeared unable
to carry out this promise. A friend went
his bond for $500, and the warrant was
turned over to the Superior Court. Con-
ferences of the church officials and rep
resentative of M Haupt were held on
Wednesday, Thursday and yesterday, re-
sulting yesterday IN the placing in the
hands of Mr. Cain, as legal representa-
tive of the church, of $3.50, which. the
treasurer states, is the full amount of mon
les received by him. OF this, $500 was in
bank when the warrant was issued, the
balance 1t is stated, having been made up
by friends of the treasurer. The money
was received by the attorney subject to
the approval of the church and with no
promise that this act secured immunity
from prosecution under the warrant.
The meeting last night was called to
take action in the case. A full statement
was made to the members of the church
of all that had occurred. Attorney Cain
stated the legal aspects of the case, point
ing out that the only thing the chourch
could do, if 1t so desired, was to express
to Judge Falligant its desire not to prose-
cute the treasurer and allow an order to
be taken in open court on Monday dis
missing the warrant AS the grand jury
meets on Monday and would otherwise
have the case presented TO it for its con-
sheraton, il was necessary that any ac-
ton on this line should be taken at once.
During the meeting the fact appears to
have been brought out that treasurers of
some other churches were distressed in
mind by the publication Of the case i'm
fearful that an injustice might be done to
them in the minds of the public if, in view
of rumors growing out Of the case, the en-
tire facts were Withheld from the public.
This phase of the case was evidently given
due consideration before definite action
was taken by the church.
The meeting was in session over two
hours At its close the following resolutions
were given out for publication as correct
ly expressing the sentiments of the church:
Whereas, II comes to the attention OF
the Duffy Street Baptist Church, through
its deacons and building committee, that
the treasurer of its building fund, George
W. Haupt, having been duly requested
and after proper demand made, failed tc
account for the funds of the church known
as the building fund and as a result of sucf
failure, was on Sept. 10, placed under ar
rest for larceny after trust;
Whereas, since such arrest the friend:
of Mr. Haupt have placed in the hands o.
the deacons of this church the money e
cover his shortage, it is the sense Of this
meeting, that
Therefore, while we do not excuse OF
palliate in any way the offense. 1t is no
the desire of this church, and we do no
think it proper TO appear in the courts o
the country as a prosecutor of one hereto