The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-03-15
AT HIAWATHA.
Progress of Preparations For the Con-
ference Trial

ference Trial
Hiawatha. Kan. March 15-The forty
fourth annual session of the Northeast
Kansas conference of the Methodist
Episcopal church convened at 9 o'clock
this morning with Bishop ]. P. Fitz-
gerald of St. Louis presiding.
The session is being held in the First
Methodist church and a large attend
ance is expected as members of the
conference are still arriving.
A great deal of interest is manifest
in the trial of DR.. Alaric S. Embree of
Topeka on four charges. The charges
brought are gambling. falsehood, drink
ing and immoral conduct The charges
that were to be brought against DIR. E.
l. Thorpe, also of Topeka, and which
were to be that he attempted to defame
the character of a brother minister by
falsehoOd, in the person of DR.. Embree.
have not been filed and probably will
not be.
Dr. Embree was formerly pastor of
the Methodist church here and many
of his former parishiOners here announce
that they are unwilling to believe the
charges brought. DR.. Embree arrived
here last night accompanied by his wife
and they are being entertained here by
friends.
The charges against DR. Embree will
be brought before the conference late
this afternoon and the committee to
try him will be selected. The trial will
hardly commence before THURSDAY
morning
Bishop Fitzgerald will name &c mem
bers OF the conference and DR.. mbree
and his counsellor will have the right
TO choose 10 from that number as the
committee to conduct the trial. DR.. S
A Bright of Leavenworth and Rev A
J. Coe of Topeka will act for the prose-
cutlOn- Rev. J. K. Miller of Junction
City will act as DR. Embree's counsel
r. B. Welch of Topeka, Dr. Embree's
attorney, will arrive here tomorrow to
assist in Dr. Embree's defense but as
he is not a member of the conference
he 70
trlal but can advise his client.
Several witnesses will appear before
the committee to give their testimony
out the bulk of the evidence will be in
the form of dispositions taken at To-
peka- The taking of dispositions COM
menced March under the supervision
of DR.. A J. COe and most of the time
up to yesterday was occupied in the
taking of dispositions for the prosecu-
ton. DIR. Embree has but little time
TO prepare his defense and to have dep
ositiOns in his behalf taken and for that
reason the trial may be delayed in or
der to give him an opportunity to COL
lect evidence in his own behalf
The friends of DR.. Embree advance
another reason why the charges have
been brought and that it that Rev. \ .
J. COe. who has been active in securing
evidence against him, has been an as
pirant for the position of pastor of one
of the larger Methodist churches in To-
peka- DR.. COe is pastor of the Oakland
church. DR.. Embree's friends claim
that -Whlle ne was pastor of the First
church that Rev. Mr.. COe showed an
animOsity toward DR.. Embree and that
the feeling continued when DR. Embree
was transferred to the North Topeka
church and that the reason is that he
would have DR.. Embree depOsed that
he might succeed him in a larger
church.
Presiding Elder J. r. Madison says
that Rev Mr. COe has taken part in the
securing of evidence at his request.
Several of the witnesses who were ex-
pected to be in attendance at the trial
have objected to coming and some who
were expected to give evidence quite
damaging to DR.. Embree claim to know
nothing about the charges.
There was some doubt as to whether
the trial would be commenced at once
and 1t was thought that the committee
would not commence hearing evidence
TIL after the close of the conference
but the trial will be taken up at once
and will probably be completed before
the close of the conference next Mon
day afternoon.
The committee that will try DR.. EN-
bree will be in session apart from the
regular conference and will conduct the
examination behind closed DOORS From
the IL chosen will be selected a chair