The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1900-09-28
MANSPIELD'S SIDE
OF THE ARGUMENT.
Capt. W. s. Capellar, a Well
Known Newspaper Man
MAKES A PUBLIC STATEMENT
In Defense of the Citizens CapeIiar Ar
rsigns the Elders. Including Fock-
ier-Ciersymen in sympathy
with the Citizens.

Columbus. o.. Sept. 2s-Capt. w. s.
Capellar, Of Mansfield, accompanied by
Sheriff Pulver and Deputy Pulver, the
latter's brother, were here today and
discussed the Dowie situation at length
with Gov. Nash.
In statement dictated for the press
Mr. Capellar set forth the side of the
citizens Of Mansfield. Believing that
1t has been a mistake to suppress the
details Of what happened at Mansfield
before the riots comenced, Mr. Capellar
gave unpublished details.
In part his statement is as follows:
while what I have to say Is no ex-
cuse or apology for the riotous proceed
ings at Mansfield, those who partici-
pated as leaders of the mob feel that
these proceedings were justified. One
Fockler, formerly Of Canton, held s.r-
vices In Mansfield for two years and
built up little congregation of forty
or more. He was exceedingly reckless
and extravagant in his statements in
proclaiming the peculiar creed of the
religious denomination known as the
Christian Catholic church in Zion.
THE civil authorities have done what
they could to protect the elders fr m
violence but the people of Mansfield
continued to regard them as disturbers
of the peace and, as one clergyman put
1t In his sermons last Sunday evening,
the Dowieites have continued to come
to Mansfield with chip on their
shoulders. think 1t safe to say that
there Is not clergyman in Mansfield
who Is not tacitly in sympathy with
the mob. The common pleas Judge i'm
paneled a special grand jury and in
dictments were found against Fockler
and other elders and also against some
of the leaders of the mob. Douglas
and Mengert are the Mansfield attor-
neys for the Dowieites and whether
they have handled their side of the
case properly / am not here to say It
was reported that they had secured
injunctions and writs of habeas corpus
against some of those who had taken
conspicuous parts in trying to prevent
the elders from holding services. That
and the continued distribution of the
Leaves Of Healing exasperated the cit
liens more. Those who took part as
leaders are known to the attorneys
They were not masked.
The courts are open and yet Douglas
and Mengert have done nothing further
than take out these writs. which they
have not served. Mayor Brown and
Sheriff Pulver have been Industrious
day and night in trying to prevent vio-
lence to the elders. I think I am safe
In saying that the worst is over, for as
surances have been given by the lead
ers In the disturbances which have al
ready occurred that they will make no
further trouble. But in this connec-
ton 1t may be said that our people con-
slider Overseer Piper as an aggressor
because OF his continuing to send the
elders every Sunday under these ex-
cited conditions. Judge Campbell, of
the common pleas bench, in his charge
to the grand jury few days ago, made
this strong point-that persons who
persist and continue to do those things
which lead others to violation of law
are themselves amenable."