Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-08-16
MAKES APPEAL TO COURT
roRmna ardroH.sArs HE IS VIC
TIM 0F rUusTICK


Gilbert F. wIfiams, Formerly rector Of
Washington parish. parish Of the Profess
tant Episcopal Ehursh in the District of
Columbia, whoi the 18TH of March. 1893.
after trial by eGflesiastical court that sat
at st. Marks Rro-CaShedraI Church. this
city. was declared 1oobe deposed and de-
graded from the ministry. this afternoon
petitioned the Supreme Court OF the Dis
trict of Columbia for writ of certiorari
1t Is asked that Bishop Satterlee be COM
manded to certify 60 the court the actions
and proceedings. including the testimony
and the conclusions OF the supposed &C.
cles1astical court, the judgment Of the
bishops and the canens Of the church, rele-
want to the case. This is asked to the END
that the acts, proceedings and adjudica-
ton. Judgment and sentence of the eccle-
slast1cal court and the bishop may be re-
viewed and corrected on their merits; that
the exercise of authority and errors may
De corrected according to law, the canons
and the right of the matter, and that the
petitioner may have such other relief as
the Supreme Court of the District of CO.
iumbia may think proper" The petitioner
Is represented by Attorneys VIM. A. Me-
10y and Henry e. Davis.
Ihe petition states that he, the petitioner,
was charged with, '1n legal effect, commit
ting rape upon one of his female parishion-
ers BY canon Of the diocese, says the
petitioner, 1t is specifically provided that
no accused clergyman shall be convicted
Oh any onense except upon the oafh OF TWO
cred1oie witnesses. or upon the oath or one
witness whose testimony is corroooraiea
by. pregnant circumstances. 1t is pointed
out that the only witness who appeared at
the supposed trial in support of the charge
against the petitioner was the female par
ishioner referred to.
At the trial. it is declared, there was
proved no pregnant or other circumstance
whatever In confederation Of the testimony
of the parishioner. On the contrary, 1t Is
ac0 fn6 fta rfn cd hyY
her own testimony, as well as by that OF
others, repeatedly to have made statements
inconsistent with and contradictory of her
testimony as to the guilt or innocence of
the petitioner. and she herself while testi-
flying, admitted that she had repeatedly
denied that the petitioner was the author
OF her misfortune, and also that she had
never accused him OF any relation thereto
untii within a day Of one month after the
birth Of her child .
Alleged to BE Without Jurfsdiction.
Continuing, the petitioner declares that
neither the constitution nor the compost
ton Of the supposed ecclesiastical court
was in accordance with the canons Of the
church, and that the supposed court" was
therefore wholly without Jurisdiction or
authority to try the petitioner; that the
proceedings were contrary to the canons
and that the conclusions Of the court and
the judgment of the bishop are void and Of
no effect whereby the petitioner was and
Is Wrongfully and unlawfuly pretended to
be deprived of his office of priest, and the
emoluments thereof, which are of great
pecuniary value"
The petitioner informs the court that Rev.
James E. sPoindexter.i a member of the
supposed ecclesiastical court" was not
qualified to sit as u member thereof, on
the ground that1Ae wsas biased against the
petitioner and hahi prejudged the charges.
Reasons fdri Bringing Action.
The petition concludes as follows:
AS Wonderland priest of the Protes-
tant Episcopal Church, and a good citi-
zen, having the Cause of religion at heart,
the petitioner. in the. Interest Of harmony
in the church and the cause Of religion in
the community attlarge, has been reluctant
to bring the proceedings and action of the
supposed ecclesiastical court" and bishop.
before secular f9urt with the inevitable
result Of producing great scandal In the
church and community, and for such rea-
son, and under the advice of his friends,
fellow clergymet9 laid other good citizens
he has forborne until now to seek the aid
of this court, and has,. on the contrary
from the time of mis- assumed deposition"
unremft tingly sought by every means with
in his power to effect within the circles
of the church a rectification OF the great
wrong done him in the premises. and only
now seeks the aid of this court
because of the final failure of all other eff
forts on his part and in his behalf and,
moreover, by reason Of the disgrace occa-
stoned by his condemnation and the loss Of
his livelihood through being deprived Of his
office the petitioner has been wholly with
out means to employ counsel or to institute
the necessary proceedings which he is now
enabled to do only through the charity of
friends and the gratuitous services of coun-
sci in his behalf