El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-01-24
VOL. XVIII, NO. 20.
COLOREDCHURCH-
MEN in COURT
They Have Succeeded In De-
monstrating A Lack Of
Discipline
IN RELIGIOUS MATTERS

IN RELIGIOUS MATTERS
The Conference Sent the African
Meth0dists A Man Who Has Been
Rejected And Assaulted By tho
Trustees, But He Still Remains By
His Charge.
The notorious African Methodist
church squabble was at full swing yes
terday afternoon In Justice El1is's
court room with the plaintiff, the three
defendants and . handful of the coa-
Rregation present. all dressed In their
"Sunday go-to-meetin' close"
The suit is but another chapter in
the now widely celebrated case which
grew out of the rejection Of Rev. Dr..
Brown OF Waco, selected by the con-
ference and sent to the church early
this winter to take charge of it as pas
tor.
Rev. Mr.. Hickman, the former
pastor, was by the same conference
ordered to remove to . pastorate q
Waco. He declined the sppointment
and st least portion of his flock con-
cluded that they preferred to have
their spiritual needs administered 70
the stranger. Two of the trustees Of
the church, Fuller sndi Smith. as custo-
dams OF the church property broke up
meeting ct which the new pastor Was
holding services, taking the stand that
he had not shown his credentials and
had NO right TO hold services.
Rev. Mr.. Brown swore out warrants
against them for disturbing religious
Worship, but 1t the trial in the county
court the jury failed 70 .gree.
the church and new trustees we're elect
ed. He was In possession Of the edifice
and property until last Saturday after
noon when the three former trustees,
Fuller, Smith, and Madjoy. repaired TO
the church and, proceeded ito re-
move him bodily and lock the doors Of
Warrants were sworn out against
them charging assault and yesterday
afternoon the case was heard before
Justice Ellis.
Rev. Mr.. Brown was the chief wit.
ness for the st6te and swore that he
was seated at his desk preparing his
sermon when the three former trustees
arrived. They requested him to vscate
the church so that they could lock the
doors. He declined to do 80. Then
Madjoy, Fuller, and Smith removed
him by force. He protested and strug-
gled but was put out and in the die
graceful melee badly bruised and skin.
ned.
W. S. Fuller, sthe first witness for
the defense, did not deny
that he and the other two
trustees had carried Brown out by
force but denied that they had assault
ed him. He alleged that they handled
the pastor with the utmost gentleness,
fret kindly requesting him to get out.
When he refused witness and Madjoy
him down on the outside. Browns
hat fell of, but with great pOliteness
Smith brought It to him. They then
locked the church doors.
"How did you carry him out?'' was
asked the witness by the county attor-
ney, on cross examination.
Just like you'd carry this chair"
You knew he had posse ession of that
church when you went there, didn't
you?
knew he Was appointed to preach
there.
James Msdjoy was the next witness.
He stestifed substantially the same
as Fuller in regard to the manner in
which Brown was thrown out of the
church.
"When we climbed in the church
window" said he, BRO. Brown was
sitting at his desk working. We told
him he would have to get out 90 We
could lock the doors. Bro. Brown riz
up and said he wasn't g0in'.
"Me and Fuller then picked him up
and toted him straight out the door
and s0t him 10 the street."
Cross examined by County At
torney Edwards:
you've had good deal of trouble
sbout this church, haven't you?''
o.. yes, da's been considerable
trouble.
You went down there to put on locks
that he couldn't open, didn't you?"
Yes, but he put on locks that We
Wasn't Mr.. Brown sent here by the
Yes, guess he was, but the sisters
and brothers and we'll wishers OF the
church didn't want him.
LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION.
Joseph Smith IL q we'll known old
1arkey and is the recognized leader
of the opposition against the new min
ster. He has resided in Ell Paso "a
years and was one OF the founders of
The A. M. E. church. In appearance
ne somewhat resembles Zulu
,hief.
"We climbed in at one OF the church
said he, land knocked
1own curtain. Brown was inside.
We sOt the stove outside and den
tart to fix up de curtain. Brown
vas standing by the window and his
bible was laying on the sill. / sez,
Git out de way and let me put up dis
He say he amt goin' no whar.
cached back and got q cheer and put
ICoutinuad ON Eourth naua