The times., 1899-10-29

There is to be sequel to the in
terruption of the Mormon meeting at
Arlington and the subsequent banish-
ment of D. b. Broadhead and F. C.
PectoI elders of the Mormon Church,
from Alexandria county. Warrants were
obtained yesterday by agents of the Sew
enth Day Adventists from Justice NJ. c.
Stevens. charging Thomas D. DeLaishmut,
Fred J. Corbett, Frank Bailey and others
with unlawful disturbance Of a meeting en-
gagged in the worship of God.
Sheriff Palmer will today receive the war
rants from Justice Stevens, and notice Will
at once be given the defendants to appear
for trial this week. Owing to the proml-
nent position held by the accused persons,
arrest and imprisonment prior to the trial
is improbable. Those included in the charge
are alleged to have acted as leaders for the
crowd Thursday night, when the church of
the Seventh Day Adventists was entered
and Messrs Broadhead and Pectol elected
and banished from the village and county.
Early during the present week Justice
Stevens Will hold special term of court
for the trial of the accused. Both sides
viii be represented by counsel. The prose-
cution is in the hands of the proper legal
officers of the county and, it is said, will
be vigorously pushed.
Difference of opinion has developed as TO
the proper place for trial Of the cases. The
superintendent of county schools, James Z.
Clements, was yesterday requested by JUS
uce Stevens to grant the use of the COlum-
bia schoolhouse at Ballston for the pur-
pose, but after consideration the necessary
permission was denied 1t was explained by
Superintendent Clements that the school
houses were under the control of the board
for public schools and that he did not have
the authority to grant their use for court
purposes. Later, owing to the Importance
of the cases, which it is stated, will settle
the rights of the MOrmons in Alexandria
county, it was decided to hold the trials
in the county court house at Fort Myer
Heights. Objection to this plan had been
urged on the ground that the county court
alone could legally occupy the building for
trials, but recent decision of Justice Love
allows a magistrate the privilege of the
court room.
No difficulty is anticipated by the prose-
cution in securing witnesses of the affair.
Members of the Church of the Seventh
Day Adventists are said to strongly favor
the prosecution of the cases, and many will
testify against the accused. From all ac-
counts il appears to be the consensus of
opinion throughout the county that the
banishment of the Mormons was just, and
that their presence in the neighborhood
was a menace to law and order All de-
nominations join, it is stated, in a desire
TO get rid of the elders, and there are signs
of a determined fight in behalf CT the ac-
cused.
The present legal controversy is the re-
suit Of the interruption of religious
meeting at Arlington, Alexandria county,
Thursday night last. The details Of the
affair were exclusively published in the
Times" Friday morning, and created a
stir in Alexandria circles. While the meet
ing was IN progress, led by elders Of the
Mormon Church, a crowd Of men entered
the church and directed Broadhead and
Pectol to leave This they refused to do,
whereupon the meeting was suspended and
the leaders escorted amid confusion TO
car and sent to this city. Various threats
were made at the time by the crowd. Who
declared that severe punishment would fol-
low an attempt by the Mormons TO return
to Alexandria county. Among the Seventh
Day Adventists a feeling Of resentment ap-
pears to have arisen, and they are deter
mined in their effort to uphold their right
TO worship without interruption.