Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1905-01-13
TALBOT INQUIRY
AGAIN RESUMED
Board to Consider the Con-
troversy Convenes at
Reading
IRVINE GIVES OUT STATEMENT

Reading, Pa, Jan. 1s.-The board
Of inquiry appointed to consider the
Talbot-Irvine controversy, which
failed to take action on Tuesday be-
cause of the lack OF a quorum, met
again today, with 10 members present
There is grave doubt among some
OF the board members and other
churchmen versed in the canons Of the
church whether the board can take
up the controversy under the new
canon which went into effect on jan
uary 1. Several members of the board,
notably Francis Lynde Stetson, of New
York, will argue that the board is not
properly constituted, and therefore is
without jurisdiction.
Rev. DR.. 7. N. w. Irvine gave to the
press copy of a letter which he has
sent to the board OF inquiry. In It he
says he is willing to waive canonical
restriction and have the proceedings
open TO the public. Continuing, he
says:
Though the amazing spectacle will
manifest itself TO you and the world
that there are three gentlemen Of Cen
trail Pennsylvania on the board who
are, perhaps, committed to the fact Of
UNFOLDING Bishop Talbot, whatever the
evidence may be, am ready to appear
before you and testify.
"The gentlemen to whom I refer are
the Rev. Drs. Jones and Israel and
James M. Lamberton, Esq.
REV. DR.. Jones was a member OF
the standing committee OF Central
Pennsylvania to whom Bishop Talbot
brought the false charges against me,
concocted by the bishop and Mrs. EN-
ma d. Elliott, and his vote advised the
bishop to proceed against me. Within
the last few weeks land since this
board was appointed It has been re-
ported that Bishop Talbot and his legal
advisers met at the Rev. DR.. Jones
rectory at Wilkesbarre to consider
what steps should be taken in this
matter before you.
"Rev. Dr. Israel was one of the
three gentlemen appointed by Bishop
Talbot TO act for him as a COMMITTEES
of inquiry to receive both his and Mrs
Eliotts false charges. It was this
same DR.. Israel who signed the defec.
tive presentment against me; and
finally. when he had failed to grind
} out witnesses to sustain all OF his
specifications in the ecclesiastical
court, transgressed all precedent by
going on the witness stand to give evil
dence against me, suppressing ever
the points in my favor, so anxious die
he seem to be that l might be con
victed.
"James M. Lamberton, Esq, served
on committee which, while not hav'
ing given me the opportunity to pre-
sent one particle Of evidence, signed
report declaring that the sentence o.
deposition delivered against me b.
Bishop Talbot was just.
"All this being so, may not thu
church and the world expect a similar
fasco to that of the one in Harris
burg. when the faithful four friends o
Bishop Talbot, Of a like interesting
history, perpetuated the scandal b.
voting against his being presented?"
Regarding statements alleged Il
have been made by p. r. Stetson. tn
treasurer of the Central Pennsylvania
diocese. to the effect that DR.. lrvin
"has cost the diocese a great deal II
both time and money by his campaign
against Bishop Talbot whose hes
friends hope that the whole affair ma
now get the proper kind of an air
ing" DR.. Irvine says: For Mr.. Stet
sons better information, as we'll a
that Of the board, let me say: That
have done everything an innocent mol
tai soul could do to save both Bisho
Talbot. the diocese and the church-ai
large from scandal, but from first
last he has ignored all entreaties an
reason in order to fulfill his promis
d 10 Mrs. Elliott TO unfrock me for he
n And / leave 1t to the church and tn
n world whether, when I neither
II word, presence nor action assailed hi
Il before the Philadelphia Catholic Gu
" he had the right to assassinate me
writing that vile letter to DR.. Vi
john"
DR.. Irvine, continuing, contends TIL
u conspiracy existed 20 unfrock hiT
u and he quotes. in support of his CO.
~ tention, proceedings before the PEN
sylvania supreme court when the ma
= ter was before that body.
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