Los Angeles herald., 1906-06-13

terday was battle ground. II was n
contest between saints and sinners, be-
lievers In the tenets of the Holy Jump
ers." represented by REV" Henry
Prentice and his cohorts, and unbeliev-
ers such as Miss Elmma Robinson, the
pretty daughter Of the regular pastor,
j. s. Robinson.
Prentice was charged with disturbing
the peace at q meeting of the Church or
God" in a tent on East First street.
near Cummings street, last Wednesday
night. He Is accused of assalllng the
character of Miss Robinson In an uf1-
provoked manner, precipltating riot
which was only quelled by the oppor-
tune arrival Of the police.
ls Nearly Mobbed
Incensed at his alleged aspersions of
Miss Robinson, Prentice narrowly es-
capped being mobbed, and but for the
restraining influence of some cool
headed persons, the negro exhorter
might have been lynched for his attacks
Prentice was found guilty and will
be sentenced tomorrow. He posed as
q martyr and gloried in the shame OF a
court trial His followers stood by him
and testified to his pure character and
noble aspirations.
The trial dragged out its weary
course all day. The learned court
sighed in wearineSs, City Prosecutor
Beebe grew faint from over-exertion
and the bailiff had to seek the open air
for relaxation.
Are Unsuppressible
But the followers Of the negro
preacher sat and sweltered in the
sitting court room. occasionally lifting
their hands In ecstatic alteration OF
their leader and shouting "Praise Godl
with a persistency that no court bailin
ro1lld entirely suppress.
Miss Robinson was ably supported by
women living in Boyle Heights, who re-
scented in the name of womanhood the
insults alleged to have been heaped
upon the girl.
She made an effective witness.
II do not profess to be a Christian"
she said, "at least not in the way these
people are.
-'I went to the meeting last Wednes-
day night Father was i'll. Yes,
Brother Prentice led the meeting Does
he preach? Wen. IL you call that
preaching, guess he does. He makes
a loud noise
The witness said she had little SYM
pathy for the jumping style of religion,
but went to the tent meetings for her
fathers sake.
During the evening Prentice made a
number of remarks about me that
naturally resented" she averred
Repeats Vile oaths
She repeated the vile epithets he is
alleged to have used in addressing her
in the face of the audience. The wit
ness continued
Mrs Samson shook her fist at me
and told me I was a sinner bound for
hell. man in the audience jumped up
and stood near me to protect me. Prem
tice waved his hands at me and caught
me by the shoulder. / never melted
the mob. People crowded around me
to protect me- I heard cries Of Lynch
himr but ! never said word. When
the lights were put out asked some
one to relight them"
on cross-examination Miss Robinson
was asked by Attorney ]. II. Blanchard:
''Do you love Brother Prentice?
.'Wel. l can't say do after his
abuse" was the reply.
Don't you know what the good book
says about those who hate their broth
ers?"
Prosecutor Objects
''TIold on, there!" exclaimed City
Prosecutor Beebe. 81 object to the
question as not proper cross-examina-
ton"
The court thought it was not neces-
sary to drag in biblical illusions in the
case at bar
DIR. George w Campbell, a prominent
resident of Boyle Heights, was an inn
portant witness for the prosecution.
he SAID ne StOOppeu OulSlue the tent
to listen to the negro haranguing the
crowd He heard him call woman
horrible names. He saw the poor girl
crowded in the corner, with people
pressing excitedly forward
DR.. Campbell said Prentice looked and
acted like crazy man. He asserted
the tent meetings were a menace to
the peace of the residential district near
First and Cummings streets
Negro Gains Control
when Mr.. Robinson became i'll this
defendant got control of the worship
pers," said the doctor.
Praise God!" exclaimed Prentice
standing up in his seat.
The bailiff motioned to him to sit
down.
"These meetings were more disorderly
than any saloon could be-" said the
witness impressively. "If there were
any such disturbance in saloon the
police would pay 1t visit"
w. e. Armstrong, who rushed for
ward to protect Miss Robinson from eX'
pected attack by the frenzied negro
preacher, was another witness for the
prosecution.
Refuses to Be Sworn
When the defense was called, Sister
Tanahl, withthe air Of a martyr going
TO the stake ascended the stand.
She would not swear" but would
only affirm her statements, she said.
Brother Prentice was much abused,
she said. 1--WE have the utmost faith Ii
his ministrations and he feeds us will
the bread OF life" Two gray-whiskered
men in the rear arose with uplifted
hands.
PRAISE be to God." they said.
The bailiffs raped for orGer.
Sisters Samson and Hanley added
their mite of Testimony about the mol
which was about to wreak its horrible
win on the sanity pastor
REV Henry Prentice was in his
glory when he ascended the rostrun
and held forth for nearly half an hour
There was no stopping the eloquent flow
OF his rhetoric. In vain his counsel In
terrupted him. In vain City Prosecutor
Beebe interposed objections.
Opens Verbal Floodsates