davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Richmond planet., 1903-01-17
Had A Right To Publish
Church Proceedings
SUCH MATTER Is PRIVILEGED.
50 RULED JUDGE MINOR.
Mitchell To Pay One Cent. Williams To Paw The Costs
The Case Virtually Laughed Court" The End of tho
comedy The Testimony of the Witnesses
Mitchell To Pay One Cent.
Williams To Fay The Costs
ARRAY OF COUNSEL-FIFTH
WATERLOO
VINDICATED.-A VERITABLE
HIS HoNOR'S INSTRUCTIONS.
VOL. Xxx NO. 6.

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Richmond planet., 1903-01-17
TO EXCLUDE WITHOUT A EE.p,xo
BROTHER BRIGGS RULING.

He told in vivid language of the trial
the ruling OF Thos. H. Briggs, OF the
motion of Bro. Robert Watkins vvbo.
was guard at the penitentiary dur;no-
the Readjuster Rule, of the action %
Bro. w. H. Davis bobbing up and down
and moving that either he or She bc
sllenced. He declared the ruling of
Bro. Briggs to be the worst he had ever
witnessed. Finally he was excluded
while he was on the floor in his own de-
fense, the motion to exclude being mad,.
by Nelson Williams, Jr.
He was respectful to the chair
throughout. He had complied with tha
specific provisions of Hiscock's Direct
ory and after waiting a reasonable TINA
for the passion to cool. three months
later ne had sent an application TO the
church for a rehearing.
Richmond planet., 1903-01-17
THE QUESTION PROPER.

Judge Minor:-"I think the question
is proper and the witness will proceed !"
The witness continued. He stated
that he had appointed Nelson Williams,
Jrs., Madam as chairman of the finance
committee of the Grand Court of Vir-
ginia, 1. 0. Calanthe. At the Danville
session in 1898 that latter the adjourn
ment, lt was ascertained that there
was shortage of $27.S5. THIS was not
discovered until after the adjournment
OF the Grand Court when the report of
the finance committee disclosed the fact
that Sl3 had been credited to the Grand
Worthy Counsellor which had never
been paid to him, similar amount had
been accredited to Casper Rowlett, OF
Newport News, Va; L. w. Holbrook,
of Danville, Va, and to the Grand
Worthy Register of Deeds. In addition
to the shortage therefore the report had
been falsified.
Richmond planet., 1903-01-17
HIS wIFE's TROUBLES.

Another feature of Williams testi.
mony was the question propounded to
him by Mr.. Meredith relative to wheth-
er not he had any trouble on account of
his wife and the Grand Court of Vir-
ginia- He admitted that there was a
shortage. That he had paid the same
| with his check
Williams made a most unfavorable
witness and his counsel on the next
| morning found it necessary to place
him again on the witness stand in order
| to make correction of some of the re-
markabls statements that he made to
the jury.
Richmond planet., 1903-01-17

He did not desire any trouble, In fact
wanted peace, and for this reason,
although the meeting was scandalous,
had decided to bury all personal feelings
Richmond planet., 1903-01-17

On Friday night, January 9th, 1908,
the jury in the suit of Nelson Williams
Jr., against John Mitchell, Jr., for Ten
Thousand Dollars $4,000 damases
brought in a verdict of One () Cent
damages for Brother Williams. In this
court one cent verdicts do not carry
with them the costs of court and so Bro
Nelson Williams, Jr., will have TO re-
ceive the one cent and is expected To
pay the costs which will aggregate anv
where from 500 to $500.
A SURPRISING FEATURE.
This case had occupied the attention
OF the jury in the Law e. Equity Court
since Monday, January 5th, 1908. The
surprising feature of the case was of
course the verdict, but the most CRAFTY
ing part of it to the defense was the
ruling of His Honor Judge K. O. Minor.
who is one of the ablest jurists upon the
bench of this state.
He sustained the demurrer of Editor
Mitchell's counsel that the publishing
OF the proceedings of the First Baptist
church meetings was privileged and
that he could not be sued therefor. The
question thereupon reverted to the
forged names and around this she whole
case centered.
ipLEsT LAWYERS EMPLOYED.
il would be we'll to here that
Richmond planet., 1903-01-17
GIVEN SIXTY DAYS,


At the Danville session two years la
ter Mr.. Williams wife was given sixtv
days in which to make good the short
age. This she failed to do and came to
see the witness asking him not to sus.
pend her on account of her failure so to
do. She made no denials of the charges
against her.
The witness INDUCED her. Finally 8
years later, that Is, from the time the
money was misappropriated the Grand
Court OF Virginia at its session at Ports
mouth, Va, although she only asked
for only thirty days in which to paw the
amount, on recommendation of the wit
ness granted her sixty days, after which
time provided the money was not paid
she was to stand suspended from the
organization.
The money was paid by her within
the thirty days.
Mr.. Meredith:-"How was it paid?"
Answer:-'By a check drawn by
Nelson Williams, Jr."
The question of cooperation and anti
CO operation being under discussion, the
witness explained in detail the differ.
ence. He stated that he was q member
of the National Baptist Convention, al
so the Virginia Baptist State Conyen.
ton and a trustee of the Virginia Theo-
logical Seminary So College at Lynch.
burg, He had been one of the leading
figures in the contest between these op-
posing forces.
HAD BROKEN THE COMPACT.
He had been in favor of breaking the
compact between this institution and
the Northern Society and when the
latter had attempted to remove Prot. .sG.
W. Hayes as President of that Institu-
tion he had come to his support and had
won out in the struggle to have him re-
tanned. The School was mol onger un-
der management of this Northern So
ciety
He then gave in detail an account of
the meeting at the First Baptist Church
telling how he was interrupted, hooted,
Jeered and threatened with bodily in
jury at this church meeting He ex-
planned that he had been member Of
the First Baptist Church for % years
and this was the first time he had ever
attended a church meeting.
WANTED PEACE IN THE CHURCH.
He did not desire any trouble, In fact
wanted peace, and for this reason.
although the meeting was scandalous,
had decided to bury all personal feelings
and moved to make the call unanimous.
Richmond planet., 1903-01-17
THE PLEA TABLED.

Williams and his crowd had tabled il
A month later he had sent in accor-
dance with the church polity Am
application for mutual council WIN
Jams and his crowd had tabled it. Al
though the church membership was,
$500. the total vote ranged generallr
100 to l25. 1t will be remembered that
the witness had been excluded by g..
vote of 90 to Ga. Being so directed $40.
do by Hiscock's Directory better knows
as the Church Polity, he had applied
to the Fifth st. Baptist Chnrch foz,
membership with the idea in view that
they would call council to take ths.
matter under consideration. The Fifth,
ST. Baptist Church had sent COM
mittee consisting of deacons Edinborro.
Archer, Ed. T. Coleman, Samuel Brown
which committee had visited the deacon
board and the First Baptist Church ans,-
they had been permitted to examine the.
church records.s They found that ALI
that Editor Mitchell had stated was trusa
and so reported to the Fifth Street.
Baptist Church.
9TH ST. BAPT. CHURCH AND THE CoUSCyE.
The Fifth St. Baptist Church thers--
upon had called an exparte counsel com
posed of rs churches and 800 Delegates
The First Baptist Church had been in
vited to this council. After examining
into the facts this counsel ascertained
and declared that the First Baptist
Church had erred in dealing with the
witness and it recommended that he
be received into the Fifth st. Baptist
Church and that he was entitled to
membership in any Baptist Church in
good and regular standing,
Upon receiving this advice the wit
ness was given the right hand of fellow
ship in the Fifth st. Baptist Church
The First Baptist Church thereupo,R
appointed a committee consisting of
Nelson Williams, Jr. Thos, H. Briggs
and j. E. Jones to call council at the
First Baptist Church and they urged
the council to give the Fifth St. Baptist
Church 60 days in which to drop John
Mitchell, Jr.. from it's membership.
A CLOSE VOTE.
This council was composed Of only
about 20 churches and ON the first vote
recommending mutual council it stood
% to %. When finally the vote was,
taken on the recommendation against
the Filth st. Baptist Church, many of
the leading churches had withdrawn
and the witness learned that but one
church in the entire city had ratified
the action of this council.
Editor Mitchell was then cross exar0S-
ned by the counsel for the plaintiff.
Mr. hill Garter, wanted to know IL
Richmond planet., 1903-01-17
PRICE. FIVE 5 CENTS

Inc reason he had nottpublished anne
OounI OF the meeting was because Aa
was ashamed of the proceedings e1Ho
presumed that at the next meeting re-
son would assume sway, but when -.
went there he found the situation iDss
as bad as before. S>'~
he mad then decided that the ousvr
way to bring about change was To ira
yoke the aid of public opinion and ls,
CnHn published the article did God
call the Pastor?'
THE STATEMENTS WERE TRUE.
ne declared the facts contained thene-
IN true, that there had been no 6nn;,K
Chereo1 and that any one desiring fC
question the accuracy could do 80
through the columns OF the P1.AHxT
he related his visit to DR.. 7 n
ZONES who told him that he did not sipr-
ehe paper or the application for tRa
ti t.ineeslng winch had been presented 20.
Tue I ueaSon BOARD by Nelson Williams.
one to do so for him Mr.. Daniel Hoj,,,aS1
mad told him the same thing M
Glles Hayden had made similar stetn-
nent: DE had reported these facts tr,
the FIRST Baptist Church deacon boarIS
ana had published an account OF the AZ
Ia 1alr IN the columns of the PLANET
There had been no denial OF the aocu-
racy OF this report and he had stata.,t
from time to time that the columns oF
the PLANET were open to any memho-
OF the First Baptist Church.
TO EXCLUDE WITHOUT A HEARING
He told of Williams attempt to ex-
ciude him IN his absence. He display
eI tne notice sent to him finally by the
church charging him with publisb;1s.
the business Of the church and the mr.
vate letter Of Rev. W. T. johnson I'm
violation of the church polity. Ho.
declared that church could not Law
tully send him written notice TO an
pear. they should have sent committee
60 MIN. That a letter addressed to
25oO people could not be private lettsr
and that he had not, in publishing the
business of the church, violated eisher
the church polity or the constitution OF
the church.
Richmond planet., 1903-01-17

Editor Mitchell in his abse1cg:-w4thout
hearing and before he had been sum-
moned before the church.
Richmond planet., 1903-01-17
EDITOR MITCHELL TESTIFIEs.

The defendant Mitchell was called to
the stand after being duly sworn he
said:
II was born at Laburnum, 'Henrico
20, Va. Ny mother belonged to the
Polards of Hanover Co. and my father
to the Lyons, of Henrico Co. When
{ years of age 1 was brought TO Rich
mond and lived at the residence of At
torney James Lyons, which place is now
known as Westmoreland Club"
Mr.. Meredith:-"State If there was
any trouble in the Courts of Calanthe
ana the nature of the same"
Mr., Smith, object"
Mr.. Meredith:-"It is perfectly prop
er, Your Honor, for the witness to state
the facts in this case for by them we ex.
pect to show malice on the part of che
plaintiff" Then followed a wordy
colloquy between counsel.
Richmond planet., 1903-01-17


Editor Mitchell in his abse1ce:-wlthout
nearing and before he had been sum-
moned before the church.
EDITOR MITCHELL CoRRoBoRATEp.
They also showed that he had made
the motion in the following meet
ing to exclude Editor Mitchell. The
records showed that the plea for n re.
nearing was tabled. That the plea for
mutual council was tabled and that
committee consisting of Nelson Will.
lams, Jr., Tom Briggs, and J. Z. Jones
had been appointed to arrange for a
counsel in order to have Editor Mitchell
put out of the Fifth st. Baptist, Church,
That the Fifth ST. Baptist Church
had been given so days in which to
drop Editor Mitchell from It's member
ship and upon it's failure so to do. the
right hand of fellowship had been with
drawn by the First Baptist Church from
the Fifth st. Baptist Church.
1t was brought out by the testimony
OF deacon j Q. Farley that he had cali
ed for the constitution of the church
Mr. Meredith called upon Clerk VAN
dervall to read that section of the con.
stltutlon an to the surprise of every
BODY 1t was found that in the written
law OF the church no member could
come before the church on trial until
ne had first appeared before the deacon
board. This settled the case so far as
the church procedure was concerned,
and sustained the CONT ntion of Editor
Mitchell.
Richmond planet., 1903-01-17
THE RECORDS OF THE CHURCH.

Bro. B. p Vandervall, clerk of the
First Baptist Church, who had been
summoned as witness for Nelson Will
lam, Jr., brought the church records as
ordered by the court He was called to
the stand by Mr.. Meredith and was
subjected to rigid cross ANIMATION
The records of the church showed that
Nelson Williams. Jr., had called Che
meeting and after the meeting was call
4 mad made the motion to exclude
Bridgeton pioneer., 1903-10-15
Recovered Speech and Hearing,

Recovered Speech and Nearing,
Messrs. Ely Bros.:-l commenced u.s.
ing your Cream Balm about two years
ago for catarrh. My voice was some
what thick and my hearing was dull.
My hearing has been fully restored and
my speech has become quite clear. am
a teacher in our town.
L. G.. Brown, Granger, o.
The Balm does not irritate or cause
sneezing. Sold by druggist at so cts. or
mailed by Ely Brothers Sc Warren st.
New York. IL 1w
Bridgeton pioneer., 1903-10-15
JOHN SHAW is
NOW In PRISON.

John Shaw was under bail for steal
Ing a watch. and then he disappeared
with graphophone belonging to Alva
Lloyd. Mayor Hampton issued war
rant for him, but the fellow slipped
out and until Saturday he managed to
elude the pursuing officers. Saturday
Shaw turned up in Jersey City and
upon direction of the authorities here
was arrested and held until Constable
Lorenzo Woodruff could reach there.
The constable started for Jersey
City Saturday morning He got as far
as Florence, and the floods having
broken railroad connections, the Off
Ger was obliged to return to Philadel-
phia. He made a more successful
effort later and arrived in Jersey City
Saturday night when the Jersey City
police gave him every attention and
started off Sunday morning Flor
Bridgeton with his prisoner, arriving
here Sunday night. Shaw is in jail.
Constable Woodruff has been closely
following this case for some time and
he has learned much about Shaw. In
the first place Lewis Bowen was
bondsman for Shaw in the Coursey
case. Then Shaw took Lloyd's gra pho
phone. When he went to Philadelphia
Shaw is said to have been accom-
panied by married woman of this
place, and the pair took furnished
rooms in Philadelphia His money
gave out and he sold the graphophone.
Then the pair skipped their board bill
and went over to Camden. They re-
NAMED there awhile, becoming in
volved in debt. and finally the woman
came back to Bridgeton and Shaw
went over to New York. The young
man, he is only twenty two, has been
going a pretty fast pace there and
went broke. He thought he could
pick up some easy money and came
over to Jersey City, sending word to
his bondsman. Mr.. Bowen, that he
would return home if he would send
him five dollars. This was his down.
fall and now the prison is his abiding
place..
Bridgeton pioneer., 1903-10-15
THE WORK OF
CUMBERLAND COURTS

from Daily Pioneer Thursday Oct 81
All day yesterday the trial of the
case OF l. Whilden Moore against
William H. Richardson and George 8.
Baldwin continued before the Jury and
Judge Hendriokson, aud remarkable
legal battle it proved. Judge Arm.
strong on the one side. and Walter FL.
Bacon on the other. bringing out
every feature that was of Importance
or benefit to eth er side.
The evidence was closed Yesterday
afternoon and the mastery argument
of the lawyers followed, and the iury
and those in the Court room were all
attention during the hours occupied
by the counsel in presenting and sum-
ming up the case.
Judge Hendrickson declined to
charge the jury yesterday afternoon,
and that was done this morning and
the jury retired.
In the Grand Jury room there is
much Of interest. There is much
more business for the present inquest
than there has been for several terms,
more than one hundred cases being
presented to the attention of the
Grand Jury.
It is understood that many speak.
easy cases from this city, Millville
and Vineland are being investigated.
There is no intimation of the number
of bills found. and this information
cannot be cleaned until the present.
ment is made by the Grand Jury to
the Court
On Tuesday there were more than
eighty witnesses disposed of by the
inquest and on Wednesday ninety or
more witnesses were heard and dis
charged. There are still number of
cases for presentation. and the Grand
Jury will be in session all day to-day
and probably most of tomorrow.
At half-past nine o'clock the mem
bers of the Grand Jury assembled,
and made visit of inspection through
the couny prison. There they found
Sheriff Diament and Jail Warden
Kampf had everything in good shape
There were no other cases moved
this morning, and Justice Hendrick-
son adjourned the Circuit Court until
next Wednesday. Jurors will appear
this afternoon before Judge Trenchard
when they will be informed when the
Criminal Court will begin.
Bridgeton pioneer., 1903-10-15
w. w. ROBIN s
DIES FRIDAY MORNING

W. W. Robbins, for many years one
OF the leading and most progressive of
business men of Bridgeton, died Friday
morning at his home on North Pearl
street. He has been i'll from a COM
plication of diseases for some time.
But week ago he went to Phila-
delphia hospital and despite the pro-
test of the physicians returned home
this week. He became very seriously
Ill upon his return here and his death
has been looked for during the past
two days.
Bridgeton pioneer., 1903-10-15
[From Daily Pioneer. October Il. !


The Grand Jury completed it's work
this, morning, returning to the Court
the record breaking number of fifty
two bills.
Prosecutor Fithian had defendants
plead. They were as follows:
Tony Casso, fornication. Not guilty.
Edward Burke. illegal sale of liquor.
Not guilty.
William Mitchell, abuse of an in
fant. Not guilty.
Hugh Givens, larceny. Not guilty.
Walter Smith. larceny. Guilty.
Oscar Conahay. receiving stolen
goods. Not guilty.
Luoius Perce, two counts, receiving
stolen goods. Not guilty.
Harry Williams. larceny. Guilty.
Thomas Loper, breaking and enter
ing. Not guilty.
Fred Rosenbaugh, adultery. Not
guilty.
William Camp. assault and battery.
Not guilty.
Walter Fisher, breaking and enter
ing. Not guilty. Receiving stolen
goods. Guilty.
John Clevenger. affray. Guilty.
Charles Quigley. assault. Not
guilty.
Charles Quialey, resisting an officer.
Not guilty.
Henry Williams, assault and bat
terry. Not guilty.
Joel F. Pierce, illegal sale of liquor
Guilty.
Andrew Heudrickson, Somers and
Samuel Rogers, assault. Not guilty.
Bud Biddle. larceny. Not guilty.
George Corson, larceny. Not guilty.
John Rogers, larceny. Not guilty.
William Evan, larceny. Not guilty.
Daniel Kerins, Charles Corson, steal
ing chickens. Not guilty.
Other bills were found as follows
B. Albert Slower, neglect to bury
refuse.
Nicholas Garter, illegal sale of
liquor.
William Codora, bigamy.
Otta Leskey, Illegal sale liquor.
Henry Hoffmeyer. illegal sale liquor.
David Holoomb. illegal sale liquor.
Mary Buck, assault and battery.
Joseph Winchester, assault and bat
terry.
Sarah and Charles Gotf. assault and
battery.
Horace Crane and Edward Cossa-
boon, larceny.
Charles Dawson, assault and battery.
William Bentley, illegal sale liquor.
Martin Trincano, abusing livery rig.
Bridgeton pioneer., 1903-10-15
HUNT BROTHER
SOME STATE
POLITICAL GOSSIP.

The following dispatch from Tren-
ton appeared this morning in the
Philadelphia Record:
Trenton. N. j., Oct. 12.-Po-
litical gossip at the State House
to-day was confined to the Guber-
material candidacy of Congress-
man John J. Gardner. The opia.
ion prevailed that Mr.. Gardner
was in the race of his own voli-
tion. and Secretary of the Senate
Edge. of Atlantic, is authority
for the statement that that
county's delegation would be for
Gardner from the start, as a
"favorite son" but that if it was
found that he could not win,
former Senator Stokes would be
acceptable to them.
'It is said that Senator Bloom
field II. Minch. of Cumberland
county, is being groomed as can
didate for Congress should Mr..
Gardner not be an aspirant for
another term. Friends of Mr..
Minch say that the object of this
move was simply to put him in
line for the nomination two years
from next fall and not with the
!. expectation that Mr.. Gardner
would be out of the fight next
year."
Senator Minoh was very emphatic
his morni ng when shown the dis.
patch. He declared that he was not
being groomed for Congress nor was
he candidate for the National legis-
lature. He is exceedingly anxious
that there should be no mistaking his
position. He is for Congressman
Gardner to succeed himself and says
that it would be calamity for the
Second District to permit the retire
ment of that gentleman from Con-
gress. Senator Minch believes that
Congressman Gardner will succeed
himself and does not think that the
Atlantic county statesman is in accord
with the Atlantic county Republicans
who endorsed him for Governor. The
Senator was present at the dinner in
New York given by the Senators last
March, when Congressman Gardner,
in an able speech. declared himself
for E. O. Stokes for Governor. and
the Senator has never heard of his re-
tracting or changing that view. 1t
may be added that Senator Minch is
decidedly of the opinion that Mr..
Stokes will have the solid support OF
South Jersey for Governor.
So far as Senator Minch is concerned,
that gentleman has no ambition at
this time further than to so represent
his county in the New Jersey Senate
that the people will accord him re-
turn to that body upon the expiration
of his present term.
Bridgeton pioneer., 1903-10-15

Harry Leptz. malicious mischief.
VIM. Fl. Nichols. assault and bat
terry.
Richard Abbott. disorderly house.
Mike Braunstein and Moses Braun
stein. larceny.
Fred Ennis. indecent exposure.
Joseph Perry, fornication.
Henry Hoffmeyer, Sr., illegal sale
liquor.
William Sauer. illegal sale liouor.
Ernest Lobsoh, illegal sale liquor.
Fred Lobsch. illegal sale liquor.
John INLAND, larceny.
Bridgeton pioneer., 1903-10-15

Hemstitched Hanekerchiefs Sc
One thousand White Hemstitch-
ed Handkerchiefs Sc each, value Sc.
Tailor Made Department
Tailor made Suits and Skirts,
latest cut and finish, in Cheviots,
Tweeds, Mixtures, Broadcloths and
Silk Suits $3.50 to $45.0 Skirts
Sl.98 to $500.
Bates Bingham lOc value I2H
Millinery Department
In our Millinery Department
we are showing some special values
in new stylish up-to-date Hats for
quick choosing.
Tafsta Silk Bargain
Black Tafeta Silk, 36 in. wide,
SLIGO, value $1.25.
5000 yds Outing Flannel Sc
In neat stripes, light grounds,
Sc, value 10c.
Bridgeton pioneer., 1903-10-15
Assault Aroused the Town.

Millville. N. j., Dot. IA wave
of Indignation swept over the city to-
day when the nature of the charges
against Charles Slater became known.
Slater is in the county Jail at Bridge
ton and that probably saved him from
violence. He is accused of having
brutally assaulted his wife. who had
but recently given birth to child and
was still confined to her bed in feeble
health.
The assault, it was charged, oo.
curred after Slater and some boon
companions had INDUCED in drunken
revelry in the sick room. A son of
the couple appeared as his mother was
being attacked and Slater was sound
ly thrashed and turned over to the
police.