The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-03-20
VERDICT OF
ACQUITTAL
Is Rendered In the Case of DR..
A. s. Embree.
He Is Found GuiItIess on Every
One Of the Charges.
NEW MEN ALL AROUND
Probable All Topeka Pulpits of
the III. E. Church
Will Be Filled by Others Than
the Present Incumbents.

Hiawatha, Kan, March 1e.-The Sc
1ect committee of u trying the Embree
case brought in a verdict last night at
1880 of not guilty. Not a charge was
sustained although the vote on soma
was close.
The evidence was all closed at the af-
ternoon session and at the opening of
the evening session the argument COM
menced. Each side occupied about an
hour and at $50 the case went to the
jury and in an hour the verdict was re-
turned and placed in the hands of Sec
rotary Edwin Locke who Immediately
announced the decision although the
formal announcement OF the verdict will
be made before the morning session Of
the conference on Monday.
When the ballot was taken on the
charge of drunkenness it was found to
be seven for acquittaI and five for con-
viction- On the charge of improper re-
lations with women the vote was prac-
tically unanimous for acQuittal On
the charge of lying the jury voted I'M
animously mot guilty" but on the
charge of gambling, dropping a nickel
in a slot machine. the surprise came 1t
was thought that this was too trivial
to be considered but the vote which
cleared him was very close.
AS soon as he heard of the verdict
DR.. I'm bree. who was waiting with his
counsel, Rev J. x Miller and R b
WEIGH for the decision, said thank
God" and the tears streamed down his
face. All during the trial Dr. Embree
had sustained a remarkable composure
and at no time had he shown the least
emotion but when the news of his COM
plete vindication came the doctor cried
for Joy as Rev Mr.. Miller grasped his
hand and sang Praise God from Whom
all blessings Flow The scene was a
touching one for those who had been
connected with the trial and DR.. S A
Bright, for the prosecution, shook his
hands.
II would give my right arm gladly"
said DR.. Bright of Leavenworth. IF
Brother Embree could be placed in the
position he held when he first came to
this conference, without whisper or
word against him was forced by or
ders of the bishop to act for the church
in the prosecution Of Dr. Embree and
much as I regretted having to do this 1
could not get out of it.
"As far as holding a charge in this
conference DR.. Embree is a ruined man.
II this fight against him was the result
of a plot those who plotted it have won
in measure. They did not win in be
ing able to sustain the charges but even
with this verdict of not guilty it will be
hard for him to hold another charge,
there will always be more or less talk.
this much the pIotters have gained. If
pIotters there were"
Rev. Edwin Locke of Holton, secretary
of the select committee, said before the
decision was reached: THE members OF
the conference would raise a thousand
dollars in ten minutes if that would put
DR. Embree where he was when he
came to this conference, without word
of scandal against him I do not mean
to say they would give the money for
the jury to bring in a verdict of not
guilty but if it would rub out the past
The question that is now being dis
cussed is what will be done with DR..
F L, Thorpe and whether he will be
returned to the First church at Topeka
for another year. The general impress
sion is that an entire change will be
made in the Topeka pulpits and that
new men will be sent to the First
church the Kansas Avenue church and
the Oakland church
There are but three or four ministers
in the conference who are capable OF
holding the charge of the First church
in Topeka The congregations OF the
churches where these ministers are now
are unwilling for any change to be
made. They wish their pastors to con-
tinue.
The expectation is that Bishop Fitz-
gerald will make no appointment for
the First church in Topeka, but that
when that charge is mentioned in the
list it will be announced Ito be filed"
Bishop Vincent will preside at the
conference that includes Bridgeport,
Conn. in three or four weeks. This is
the conference where DR.. Thorpe was
located before he came to Topeka and
it is expected that Bishop Fitzgerald
will communicate with Bishop Vincent
and endeavor to have DR.. Thorpe re-
turned TO his former conference and
new man sent to Topeka
HEWITT sat at the table next to
yours at the restaurant yesterday. and
1 don't see how you could laugh at
the stale stories that Gruet was tell
Ing" Javiff-H*He was paving for the