The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-09-02
SAYS CHURCH
LOST NOTHING
DR.. Homer Eaton Denies Story
Of Scandal In Book Firm.
STATEMENTS BRANDED FALSE
Report Of Methodist Book Publishers Short.
age Founded on No Substantial
Fact, Agent States.

New York, Sept 2.-Ever since the visit
Of the subcommittee OF the general con-
ference OF the Methodist Episcopal
church 10 the Pacific Coast last July. TO
arrange for the meeting OF the general
conference In May there+ have been in
'sinuations involving the Rev. DIR. John
ID. Hammond and the firm of Eaton &
Mains. publishing agents Of the book con-
cern Of the Methodist church.
II has been said that the sub-commit-
tee, which was composed of q. L. Miller.
OF Rack Rapids, Ia: j. II. Andrews, OF
New York; w. f. Whitlock, OF Delaware.
o., and the Rev. Harry Spellmeyer. OF
Newark. N. j., while In the west also
investigated DIR. Hammond and discover
ed serious mismanagement. Some facts.
II was said, were allowed TO become pub
lie in order TO break the force OF the full
revelations in May.
Some OF these rumors were OF loss in
the business OF the book concern OF $685.
rs, In addition to a loss at San Fran
cisco OF $3,5l4.9S completely between Dr.
Hammond and the heads of the parent
establishment in this city; of charges
that DR.. Hammond gave no satisfactory
account OF the disbursement OF funds,
but when asked TO produce his books
ordered them destroyed. and that he
had not accounted for $4,000 a year al
iOWeQ IOr tne CDlneSe mission.
All these rumors were answered by
DR.. Homer Eaton. the senior agent OF
the Methodist book concern, in an inter-
view with a reporter Monday.
IS UTTERLY FALSE.
! Previous to the interview Dr. Eaton
had issued a statement to the news
papers concerning the allegation of n
. shortage OF $6S4. .29s Is, IN which he said:
"It is utterly and maliciously false.
The statement that Eaton a. Mains, the
! New York publishing agents OF the New
York Book concern have made TO the
general book committee a report which
does not reach the public is also utterly
and maliciously false. There Is not
shortage OF one cent In the New York
Book concern. At the end OF the fiscal
year of 1900 the agents OF the New York
Book concern, by direction Of the gem
eral book committee. cut down values
of real estate, merchandise accounts, etc,
charging the same against capital stock.
A large amount was thus taken off from
our inventory values, since which time
the real estate, merchandise, electrotype
plates, machinery. etc, have been car
ried In our inventory at less than their
actual cash values. So far as keeping
this matter from the public is concerned.
the statement OF sucn reductions in in
ventory was printed in our annual ex-
hibit and sent out to all the papers of
our church and presented TO each one of
the more than one hundred annual con-
ferences, where IL was publicly read for
the information Of all the interested
parties
With regard TO the other charges DR..
Eaton said
"Dr. Hammond was the agent in
charge OF our depository at San Fran
cisco for IL years. In July. 1900 the
Chicago general conference took the bust
ness out OF his hands and placed ~ under
the control of a local committee COM
posed of ministers and laymen.
BROUGHT NO CHARGES.
There were no charges brought against
him. I have never heard OF an intima-
ton OF a shortage in connection with his
removal. DR. Hammond had nothing TO
do with the books as far as 1 know.
Instead OF placing them in a safe-de-
posit vault they were kept in the cellar
of the house.
"a year or more afterward Il was dis
covered that some OF the old ledgers
had disappeared probably carried out
with the rubbish when the cellar was
cleaned. But they were old ledgers that
had been filled and all the live accounts
transferred to new books. and these
books are now In this building. There
is no scandal in this connection what
ever.
AS Tor the cnarge tnat ne mas falled
70 account for $4,000 intrusted 20 him
for disbursement in the Chinese mission.
Dr. Hammond Is superintendent of the
Chinese mission and I am treasurer of
OF the Missionary society. All disburse-
ments are made by drafts. which come
back to me as couchers. The amount
appropriated for the mission Is barely
enough TO maintain II. He couldn't keep
the mission moving II he didn't pay ex-
psnses and salaries. and all the mission
aries swear by him. All of the vouchers
have come In the REGULAR form"