The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-12-28
Crime, immortality, Lying
Are Alleged.
OUTLINE OF PRESENTMENT
Fourteen Signers Say Writer of up
john Letter Has Perpetrated
Criminal Libel.

NEW YORK, Dec. 2o.-lhe present.
ment against Bishop Talbot, whose
secrets have been so carefully guarded
by the distinguished churchmen who
are acting as his custodians. has been
made public.
The presentment itself. which is to be
given January 10 to a court of inquiry
called to meet at Reading. Pa, as well
az the names of the presenters, will not
be given out officially until the begin
ming of the sessions.
There are fourteen signers to the
document two of whom are laymen of
the Episcopal Church residing in New
York
He Unfrocks a Priest.
Although the prosecution has arisen
from the action of the bishop in depos-
ing the Rev Ingraham n. w. Irvine
from the ministry. the unfrocked priest
has not seen the presentment, and he is
now in more senses than one a lay
figure.
Two wealthy churchmen of this city
have taken the lead in the reopening of
the case. The twelve presenters en-
gagged Herbert Noble. of this city, to
guide the efforts by which they hope to
right a terrible wrong and to re-
move a bishop from Office.
Their charges are as follows: Crimi-
nal libel immortality, TO wit, false state
ments; the circula ting of a false md
malicious and defamatory report; faIsi-
flying breach of ordination and couse-
Grafton vows; conduct unbe;o1l,nS 4
bishop
Mrs. Elliott Named.
1t is maintained that the bishop con-
spired with Mrs. Emma o. Elliott. Of
d., ;,,;, -,
Irvine: that he sent a defamatory letter
making groundless charges of gross inn
morality against the clergyman and dis
patched a duplicate of the same MESA &c
after an interval of two years.
This message, known now as the Up
john letter, furnishes the groundwork OF
the charges which the presenters
brought to the attention of the veneer
able head of the house of bishops, the
Right Rev DIR. futile They are still
continuing their Investigations, and sin
detectives have been employed to collect
evidence.
A Sensational Trial.
If the court of inquiry finds there IS
enough evidence TO warrant action those
who are interested in the prosecution
say one of the most sensational OF
church trials will be the result
All the members of the court of IN
Quiry Were chosen by lot, after which
the Rev. DR.. Morgan Dix was asked TO
be chairman He declined to accept the
office. pleading his advanced years. and
the presentment was forwarded to the
Rev DIR. w. B. Bodine, of Philadelphia,
who will be foreman of this ecclesiasti-
cal grand jury.
Cause of the Scandal.
Briefly, the trouble between the bishop
of Central Pennsylvania and the priest
arose from the communication OF
Mrs Elliott a member OF the church al
Huntington of which Mr.. Irvine was the
rector Bishop Talbot had often been
entertained at the Elliott house
Mr.. Irvine. learning that Mrs Elliott
had obtained a divorce and had mar
ried Mr.. Elliott, who had also obtained
a divorce, presented the facts, put loi
the names 10 the bishop, who is said
to have advised the clergyman to sus-
pend the woman mentioned hypothet1-
cally in the case
On learning Of the identity of the per
son the bishop is alleged to have disap-
proved the action of the rector and to
have ordered the reinstatement of Mrs
Elliott. Charges were made against the
rector ard he was declared by the Dish
cp to be no longer priest.
The Presentment.
The presentment is based almost en-
tireIy upon the tUpjohn letter
This letter was written by Bishop Tai
bot away back in 1902. and would prob
ably have never fallen into the hands OF
the influential men behind DIR. Irvine had
not the bishop, intent upon his contro-
versy with the unfrocked priest, for
warded a copy of il last summer to the
Rev. DIR. John Fulton. of Philadelphia.
editor of the Church Standard" Of
fetal organ of the Episcopal Church.
The presentment. covering dozen
pages Of typewritten legal cap, is divid-
ed into four separate and distinct
charges as follows:
Crime-to-wit-a criminal libel i'm
morality, to-wit false statements u
breach of ordination and conservation
vows and conduct unbecoming a
bishop
Under each charge are grouped speci-
fications. which add lying" -'falsifica-
ton" and the circulation OF untrue,
malicious, and defamatory reports to
the sum of accusations
Charges and Specifications
Addressed to the presiding bishop OF
the Protestant Episcopal Church, the
presentment reads:
First charge Crime. to-wit: A Grim
inaI libel.
Specification No. j.
The said presenters do hereby present