The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-03-18
NOT LIKELY
That DIR. Embree Will Be
Found Guilty.
Almost Certain That He Will
Be Cleared.
ALL TOPEKA PASTORS
Unite in a Petition as to His
Good Character.
Trouble Appears to Have Bro
ken Out Because
The Doctor Was Liable to Han
die Mrs. Chrisman's Money.
WAS NO DISTURBANCE
Until DIR. Embree Seemed in a
Way to Get
So, 800 a Year and That Was
just Too Much.
WAS NO DISTURBANCE
Until DIR. Embree Seemed in a
Way to Get
80 800 a Year and That Was
just Too Much.

Hiawatha, Kan, March 1S.-One of the
points that the prosecution is said to be
using before the committee trying the
Embree case is that he has always been
a thorn in the flesh and that ever since
he has been in the Northeast Kansas
conference troubleand scandal have fol-
lowed him wherever he held a charge.
Stories of his difficulties at different
towns are being circulated. to prejudice
the conference against him, is the story
of the doctors friends. with the inten-
ton that the conference will decide that
they would be better off without him.
The stories being circulated are that
he got into trouble in Atchison for
shooting neighbours dog and that he
was generally disliked at Leavenworth
mostly on account of his prohibition
sermons.
While pastor of the church at Leav-
enworth, DR.. Embree lived in the Meth
odist parsonage and for many years the
house next to the parsonage was
known as a disorderly house and in
connection with this many stories were
circulated about him. While there, DR..
Embree was unrelenting in his fight
against the saloons and this is given
as the real reason why he was not liked
there.
After leaving Leavenworth he was for
two years pastor of the Hiawatha
dial or criticism was heard against him
while he held that charge. Since he left
here stories have been circulated and
are now being revived that he was a
habitue of a drug store where liquors
were sold and was known to drink
there. These stories SO far are hear
say.
While Dr. Embree was pastor in To-
peka at the First church two prominent
druggists of Hiawatha were fined $500
by the district judge for the Illegal sale
of liquors. These two druggists re-
quested DR.. Embree to intercede with
Governor Lewelling in their behalf. He
did SO and they were pardoned.
Later, when Governor Morrill,, whose
home is in Hiawatha, made the state
ment that the prohibitory law could not
be enforced in a community where the
sentiment was against it DR.. Embree
criticised him severely and his friends
claim that for these two reasons many
of the people here, who are friends of
Ex-Governor Morrill, and strong prohi-
bitionists, have turned against DR.. EN-
bree and are now scattering these stor-
les.
The doctors friends claim that the
prosecution has become so bitter that
now it is a persecution.
John V. Abrams was called upon to
impeach the testimony of DIR. Thorpe.
After r. B. WEIGH testified that he
would not believe any testimony given
by DR.. Thorpe against DR. Embree.
Abrams testified concerning the truth
and veracity of DR.. Thorpe who had de-
MED that he told James A. Troutman
that he had arranged to have Mrs.
Brooks meet DR. Embree and that he
(Thorpe) expected to drop into the Of
flee where they were to meet by acct
dent. Abrams testified that Troutman
had told him that Dr.ThOrpe made such
a statement to him.
Bishop Fitzgerald censureS the COM
mittee for not keeping the trial more
secret and for allowing any statements
about the evidence to appear. The i'm
SSin ixyn6 Inv NxyitY1
who have appeared before the commit
tee is that the members look upon the
trial as a sort of farce and are treating
it as such. The belief is strong that the
accused will be acquitted on all charges.
The dispositions and evidence are all in
and the defense proposes to allow the
case to go to the jury without argu-
ment, as they feel certain that a YER
dict of not guilty will be reached by the
| committee in a very short time.
The question has arisen and is being
| discussed by members of the conference
| that if Dr. Thorpe is not returned to
| the First church. what can be done with
| him? He will likely have to remain in
| the conference, and what charge to give
! one point is expected to have considera-
| BILE to do with his return to the First
| church, if such is the decision.
The following petition has been pre-
| scented to the committee:
| Topeka, Kan, March II, 1899.
| Rev J. P. Fitzgerald. Bishop M. E.
church, Hiawatha, Kan.
| Dear Sir and Brother: Believing that
| the Rev. A. S. Enbree, D. D., has been
| the victim of wicked and designing per-
| sons and that he has suffered thereby
| very greatly, unjustly and innOcently,
we, the pastors of Topeka, as below in
| Dictated, desire to bear testimony to the
| uprightnesS of his character
| AS a preacher of the Word, he is a
| man of more than ordinary power; a
| pastor, kind to the needy, sympathetic
| with the distressed and the unfortunate
| he has gone about doing good and has
| left the impress of a noble life upon the
| community. We have never questioned
| the absolute integrity of his moral char
| acter; as a Christian brother we have
| entire confidence in the uprightnesS of
| his life and the sincerity of his profess
| sion.
| The gravity of the situation urges us
to say one thing further, to-wit We
| are of the opinion that any official YER
| dict rejecting upon the character of our
| said brother, aside from the incaIcula BILE
| injury it would do him, would be ex-
| ceedingly detrimental to the moral and
| spiritual interests of this community.
| Because of the sacredness of individ-
| bear the above testimony; because of
| the Importance of the moral and spirit
| ual interests of this community, we ex-
| press the above opinion
| Praying that innocence may be vim
Sinated. truth exalted and the Masters