Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1903-01-17

from the crowd that filled the court,
Mr.. Meredith enjoying the same and
with wave of the hand for the wit
ness to stand aside, smihngly remarked,
Your ignorance is delightful.
REV. JONES TESTIMONY.
Rev. DR.. j E. Jones took the stand
and in reply TO the question whether or
not he was a co-operationiss answered
In the affirmative. After stating where
he was employed and naming the Socie-
tytwhich controlled the Virginia U.fU Uni
versity he told about the application for
the church meeting on which application
Nelson Williams Jr., had signed his
name.
He stated that Editor Mitchell had
called to see him at his residence, and
had asked him if he had signed a paper
calling a meeting excluding him from
the church and if he had authorized
any one to sign such a paper. He stated
that he had not done So He was in
favor of the meeting, however that had
been called. He had left the church
that Sunday morning before the paper
had been presented to the deacons and
had told Nelson Williams, Jr. to put
him down.
NOT VERY DIsoRDERLY.
He did not think that the church
meeting which called the pastor was
very disorderly. He was present when
Editor Mitchell was excluded from the
church. He admitted that he had been
interrupted while making his defense
and when asked whether or not he as
| cribed these Interruptions to malice he
declared he thought they were due to
ignorance.
There was not a written law as to the
number of names to be affixed to the
application. 1t was due to custom and
the deacons usually regulated that.
Mr.. Meredith cross examined DR.
Jones in a merciless manner. He want
ed to know if he had not seen in the
| PLANET the statement that his (Jones)
name had been forged to the application
for the meeting. When the witness re-
piled, he wanted to tknow why he had
| not taken steps to correct the said i'm
preston.
MOVED UNEASILY.
Prof. Jones moved Uneasily in his
seat and admitted that it was due to the
| fact that he had been previously mis-
| represented in the PLANET. This dis
closed the fact that witness had malice
| against the defendant and Mr.. Mere
dith was not slow to bring this to the
attention Of the jury.
Il
sworn, in reply to queries announced
that he was co-operationist. He re-
| lated the cii cumstances in connection
| with the calling OF a pastor the First
| Baptist Church. He admitted that there
| was disorder in the meeting. He ad-
mitted virtually that the vote was not
unanimous by stating that 90 or more
persons in the audience had not voted
and that he had not put the other side
| of the question.
MIR. HILLS REASON
When asked about his having called'a
church meeting ON Nelson Williams
application and without the authority
of the deacon board, he explained that
it was because he was chairman of the
pulpit committee and no official COM
munication had reached him that the
names had been forged.
MIR. Meredith:-"Had you seen in
this copy of the PLANET the charge
that the names had been forged?"
Answer: II have not read the PLANET
thoroughly for more then two years.
He stated that he had read TIE head
line to articles.
HAD HEARD OF THE ALLEGED FORGERY.
Mr.. Meredith passed to other quest
| ions. He then reverted to the subject
IL
had heard that the names had been forg.
ed. Mr.. Hill admitted that he had
| heard it.
Mr.. Meredith wanted TO know wheth-
er in his position as a deacon he would
| call meeting when he had reason to
believe that the names ON the applicat-
ion were forged.
Mr.. Hill admitted that he did not
think that it would be proper.
Mr.. Meredith: "Are you sure that
You did not see the PLANET of Aug.
18th, 1901 which charged that three
names on the application for the meet
ing were forged
Answer: 81 am"
Will you swear that you did not read
the Planet Of this date Aug. 18th, 1901?
Yes" was the reply.
THE PLANET AS EVIDENCE.
Mr.. Meredith then drew forth a copy
of the PLANET of Aug goth. He pro-
eeeded to read to Bro. Hill. 1t was
letter written and signed by K. i. Hill,
cashier and w. P. Burrell, Grand
Worthy Secretary. 1t was dated Aug. %.
1901, and began with these words, 1--WE
have read in the PLANET of Aug. 18th.
1901 ETC." 1t placed Mr.. Hill in most
embarrassing predicament. He had
sworn that he had not read COPY of the
PLANET of Aug. 18th, 1901 and over his
own signature he had written a letter
stating that he had read PLANET of
Aug. 18th, 1901.
There was painful silence in the
court room as Mr.. Meredith announce d
that he was through with the witness.
REV. DIR. LEWIS AND THE COUNCIL.
Rev. DIR. u. D. Lewis was put ON the
stand by brother Williams' counsel 1t
was evident that it was expected that
he would testify about Baptist Coun-
ellis and cooperation. Before he had
gotten well started in his testimony Mr..
Meredithwanted to know whether his
knowledge of councils was due to the
fact of having any trouble in his church
recently.
Mr.. Smith: l object.
Judge Minor sustained the objection,
and Mr.. Meredith laughinglv settled
back in his seat and handed back copy
of fh.. WI he xrroo -