Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1905-03-29
Charges Against Rev. J. o. Knott
Unsustsined


.x Unsustained
i'd The one unfortunate feature {
the proceedings Of the Baltimol
O. Conference, Methodist Episcop,
% church, South, at Wine chester las
: week was the filing of forms
charges against Rev. j. Oil
d Knott, pastor of Trinity Metho
y dist church of Lexington, who wa
II accused of having withheld certain
n information in connection with tn
cost Of the windows in the new
9 Methodist church in Salem, Va.
erected while Mr.. Knott was pas
tor there previous to coming tc
: Lexington.
Bishop Duncan appointed al
the trial committee the following
! ministers; Revs. E. V. REGISTER,
chairman; Jas. P. Stump, secre-
tary; B. F. Ball, j. r.. Van Horn,
W. o. Ross, Thomas Cooper, O.
G. Beall, j. H. Boyd, D. 4. Eut-
sler, W. L. Dolley, and r. L.
Fultz. Rev. ]. S. Hutchinson was
appointed prosecutor and Mr..
Knott was represented by DR.. John
A. Kern Of Vanderbilt University,
as counsel. The inquiries were
carried on in secret sessions, and
after a thorough and exhaustive
investigation the committee reach
ed a unanimous verdict of ac-
quittal.
The report Of the committee
was made Tuesday before q
crowded house amidst profound
silence. Mr.. Knott was vindi-
Gated by unanimous vote of the
trial committee, signed by the
chairman, prosecutor, secretary
and each member. The report is:
eve, the committee of trial in the
ease OF Rev. Jno. o. Knott, of Lex.
ington, Va, believing the charges
brought against him to have been
occasioned by a combination of
circumstances and misunderstood.
lngs between the parties and some
lack OF carefulness on the part of
Brother Knott, beg leave to bring
in the unanimous verdict of not
guilty as charged"
The report was received by q ..
loud outburst of applause, aud Mr..
Knott was the sentre of a group
u admiring friends, who shook =
Ms hands warmly.
The matter might have been =
adjusted simply but for the !.
pirit shown by certain men from
salem. Mr.. Knott did not re- .
'eive any notification of charges a
icing preferred until Sunday 7
light before going to Conference. =
10 went to Conference ON Tuesday II
I last week to meet he knew not
that, He found an array OF let - u,
ers and men against him and was "
ssailed without any opportunity - =,
prepare defense. But be more -. ~
han proved himself equal to every "
tack made on him, and the COM &c
ittee wanted to report even be- al
IRE they did, but Mr.. Knott's 20
'unsel, DR.. Kern, wanted the
after dsnt ssfFtl!eea Without q shadow ii,
TIE yindication la perfect and "a "a
10 more satisfactory because the ~ ~
'osecution seemedi anxious to III
nyict. W.
The many friends Of Mr.. Knott v
Lexington are pleased at the ~ ~
tcome Of the trouble, 1t ia be- ="
wed, not only here but also In =,
lem and certainly among the W. -.
ethren OF the Conference, that y
9 charges were simply express i ~
)ns OF species or persecution so,
d malice aimed at Mr.. Knott by 40
rsons Wha did not like him. VA
10 reading before Conference by CIV
g. secretary Of the specific sy'
argos was an unheard of pro. an
sding in the Baltimore Cen ~
.ehce; 'TNkt information was ~ 80;
ended alone for 'the' trial com su'
ttss. It had the effect, how ore
pr, contrary to expectations Of sn ns
prosecution, Of winning for Mr.. 81
4ott the sympathy of the Con- 49, ~
ence, not one Of whom, except 0oe :
, the few who were pressing the O.
argos, entertained fora moment Ito
bought OF any wrong on his 0ou
ri.
Mr.. Knott expects t. return "a
ne EfiddY add will hlf his a
|pit at Trinity Methodist church the