Evening journal., 1904-07-01
WAS An
TICIPA TED B y
MANY IN VIEW OF
DAMAGING TESTI-
MONY AGAINST
MINISTER'S

Both the Rev. Wilbur F. Corkran, d.
D., pastor of Claymont and Bethlehem
M. +. Churches and the Rev. c. S.
Baker, d. D., pastor Of Asbury NJ e.
Church were this morning suspended
from the Wilmington Conference by
the board of inquiry which has been in
Vestgating charges of stock gambling
against them since Tuesday in Union
Church
The case of DR.. Corkran was finished
Hast night and placed in the hands of
fthe jury. A. went into secret session at
III o'clock and at10 o'clock this morn
ing reached a verdict of guilty. The
decision was not made public until the
meeting convened at $50 o'clock this
morning.
AS soon as the result was announced
the committee went into the case of
the Rev. Baker, which was even more
sensational than that Of DR.. Corkran
The ministers themselves were even
surprised that one of their number
should have been implicated in such
transactions.
1t required but a little over two hours
TO dispose Of the Baker case BY mu-
tual consent of the counsel for both
sides. it was decided to give the case
into the hands of the jury without fur
ther argument, as that which had al
ready been given was of such a char
acter that acquittal was impossible.
AS soon as this was agreed upon, DR..
Baker and his counsel quilted the room.
AS both men are now suspended it
win be necessary for the presiding el-
der TO appoint ministers to MI the va
cancies
on sunday the Rev A. S. Mowbray
ofi7c--fr5e-lt AEJih'v -Ohdacn. The
He'cdng elder. 6f course. has nothing
telee5 with the appointing of a man to
GeQfhe pulpit of the Rev. Corkran in
gene lehem, as that comes under the
servi Of Dr. Hover of the Philadelphia
diret terence.
80 re chairman announced the verdict in
rcase Of Dr. corkran. as follows
~T'charge ], specification I. Conducting
gambling operations through a firm Of
brokers In Baltimore and other similar
stock concerns. Verdict, guilty
Specification .. A confession to a rep
resentatine Of the North American. prac-
tically confessing gambling. Verdict
guilty.
, Charge o fraud; specification /. Sell
ing and attempting to sell stocks Of a
doubtful character. using misrepresenta-
tion in order TO induce purchases. Verdict
guilty, not Of fraud. but OF high impru-
oence and unministeral character.
"Charge 8. high imprudence and un-
ministerial ccs$iuct; specification ]. Ne
gotiations and transactions concerning
the sale of stock Of Stanard Telephone
Co.. of Crlsheld. Verdict. guilty.
specialization .. questionable business
relations with a firm in Baltimore. Yer
? dict. guilty.
Specification 3. engaging in secular
pursuits while receiving sufficient salary
ior legitimate needs. Verdict guilty
Specification 4. engaging in secular pur-
. suits Of questionable character and ex-
plotting stocks Of a questionable and
even ioubtfui character Verdict. guilty.
"He is hereby suspended from exercise
} Of ministerial functions and privileges I'm
iii the mex, session Of the Wilmington
Conference"
The next session OF the conference will
, be held in March 1905. and IL probably
will be in this CITY. Al chat lime DR..
Corkran VIII be given an open trial, and
il the charges now against him are sus-
famed he will be expelled from that body.
Has Nothing to Say.
Relative 10 the verdict of the committee
and the suspension. Or. CoriSran declined
TO make any statement as to his plans for
the future to a reporter for The Evening
journal. His reply was 81 have nothing 10
SAY az present FOR publication"
This mornings session opened at $50
: O'Clock. with song and prayer by the
' Rev. II. c. Turner The journal of yes
terday was READ and approved and the
Rev. j. T.. Prouse was placed On the press
committee in the place OF tine Rev. e. {.
WEATHER