Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1902-11-30
MORE CHARGES MADE
At Camden by Preachers Against
Each Other-Thompson Acquitted

| mas IIduC VI HIS lOIIllcl lie anu W
equations, as well as in other matters
to my injury and to the injury OF
the chaurch.
"(Signed) VIM. e. THOMPSON.'
At this point Mr.. Thompson asked
Presiding Elder Riggin if during the
year Presiding Elder Cason had not
filed charges with him against Mr.
Thomas.
| Mr.. Riggin responded that no such
charges had been officially flied.
! Mr.. Thomas in reply to the charges
against him, said he had only receiv-
ed a copy Of the specifications five
minutes previous to their being filed.
Mr.. Thompson disputed this state.
ment emphatically.
Thereupon the bishop appointed a
committee to hear these complaints
against Rev. Mr.. Thomas, consisting
of Rev. Mr.. Ware, Rev. C. Pope and
J. S. Hawkins.
However, subsequently, on the com
| been warned that Mr.. Hawkins was
not friend of his, and that he would
substituted the name of Rev. e. NJ.
Pipkin.
At this point Mr.. Thomas got the
floor and stated that he desired to
arrest the character of Mr.. Ca
son, presiding elder of the Monticello
district. He said he handed Mr..
Cason a notice of his proposed COM
plaint a few minutes befort, and that
Mr.. Cason had thereupon handed him
a copy of the complaint, which he
(Cason proposed to file against Thonl-
as.
Mr. Cason's complaint against Mr.
Thomas was thereupon sent to the
secretary's desk and read as follows:
During the past year l have, in the
presence of witness charged Rev.
James Thomas with falsehood and
duplicity. That the charges were not
made in spirit of malice will appear
from the fact that my proposition to
him was to submit the issues involved
10 committee of our brethren, with
the distinct specification that in their
judgment said issues failed to stand
as sufficient cause for such action,
then l would offer an apology. The
facts in the case were made known
to Presiding Elder Riggin, not in the
shape of a formal complaint, but in
the expressed desire for an honorable
and satisfactory settlement of the diff
ferences between us. and no adjust
ment has been made. 1t is with great
grief and reluctance l have been CON-
PEELED from a sense of duty to bring
the matter before the annual confer
ence and reaffirm the charges of false
hood and duplicity against the char
acter of Rev. James Thomas and re-
spectfully ack the appointment of an
Investigating committee"
At this point in the proceedings
Bishop Hoss arose and said that some
time recently he had assigned Rev.
w. E. Thompson to the First church
at Memphis; that he now transferred
him back to the Little Rock confer
ence. and knew Mr.. Thompson desired
this until all matters could be inves-
tigated and he be given clean bill OF
spiritual health.
At this point the bishop asked why
Mr.. Thomas had not arrested the
character of Mr.. Cason's name among
those who passed.
Thereupon the charges against Mr..
Cason were referred to the same COM
mittee who will investigate the
charges against Mr.. Thompson.
The name of Rev. Mr.. Godbey was
| then called and Mr. Thompson filed
complaint and specifications against
that gentleman, of which the follow
ing is copy:
Complaint is hereby made against
]. E. Godbey in that ne has been un-
brotherly, unkind, unjust and untrue
| in circulating and disseminating
through the columns of the Arkansas
| Methodist and by other means, re-
ports and rumors touching my char
acter and administration as minist-
er of the gospel to the injury of my
| reputation and usefulness.
(Signed.) "WM. E. THOMPSON.'
Mr.. Godbey indicated willingness
to have the matter tried and said he
was glad to go before the committee
at any time the committee was willing
l IT. NL1 ,v1o tint ocpi N &