The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1906-05-02
The Creighton Hearing.

Re@. c. ". Creighton prints in his
pape.: the Christion Appeal, the fol-
lowing about the recent inquiry at
Greenwood, which resulted in a trial
being ordered in the case against Mr..
Creighton, arising out of his charges
against the presiding elders Of South
Carolina:
We cannot at this time publish the
. full details of the investigation OF
the complaints made by the presid-
ing elders against the editor Of this
paper. We shall, however, publish
enough to give the public an insight
into the methods employed in that
proceeding.
On March 21st last, the committee
met in the Methodist church in this
place. ". T. Duncan, by virtue of
his office. acted as chairman; NJ. B.
Kelly served as SECRETARY. In addi-
ton. Mr.. w. T. Duncan had retained
the services of stenographer-a very
competent one.
We were accompanied by our coun-
sci, Rev. J. W. Daniel, and Rev. A.
j. Cauthen, and Miss Myrtle Davis,
our stenographer.
The committee was composed of
Peter Stokes, a cousin Of one Of the
presiding elders; W. A. Massabeau,
a nephew of another presiding elder
whose term Of office is embraced in
tie period covered by the criticisms
of the editor of the Christian Appeal,
and who is also under J. W. Kilgo,
one Of the complainants and pastor
Of Kilgo's family, and also that of
Bishop Duncan, who has been active
in this matter; T: C. O'Dell, who
served on the committee at conference.
When the committee met w. T.
Duncan, by an arbitrary ruling, which
is contrary to the law and practice
OF the Methodist church, excluded Dr..
Daniel, the counsel OF the accused.
Rev. A. ]. Cauthen, his brother-in-
law, and then also tried 70 exclude
Miss Davis. his stenographer.
The presiding elders made two COM
plants
l. Falsehood and SANDER To sub
stantiate that charge they produced
copies of the Christian Appeal con-
tanning an editorial on "Rings and
Results "How the Scheme Works.
Clerical Usurpation;" etc.
,. immortality To substantiate that
charge they produced copies Of the
paper containing communications
signed by "a Pastor,'' "Jno. S.
Moore "a Layman;" can Old Lay
man." and "Chas. P. Hodges The
alleged immortality consisted in pub
fishing in the Christian Appeal the
communications named.
We demanded the right TO cross
examine the accusers. Finally four
| Of them were put up. During the
cross examinations the presiding eld-
ers repeatedly refused to answer and
they were told by w. 7. Duncan
that if they thought the question in
criminated" them they need not an
sWer, and they did not. On other i'm
portant matters they answered, don't
remember, and other similar replies.
We were only allowed to cross ex-
anime four That concluded the tes-
timony. We were engaged until April
- in this matter, not including the
testimony OF the witnesses, j. w.
Kilgo and ". P. Meadors, as taken
by the stenographer was read, they
denied it; they were offered the prlvl-
lege to correct it in any particular
they pleased; they declined to make
their testimony. The witnesses had
been kept in the room over the pro-
test of the accused and prompted each
other during the cross examinaeio
And yet they refused to approve and
sign the testimony.
! We demanded of W. T. Duncan
that he present their testimony to
them for their signatures. but he
refused and on his own motion ruled
their testimony out. That left the
committee without word Of testi-
mony before them. Net word. And
yet they reported trial necessary.
There is a great deal more that we
would like to publish but it is thought
advisable not to do at present.
That man should be charged With
immortality for publishing communi-
cations Of such men as Jno. S.
Moore, Chas P. Hodges over their
own signature and similar communi-
cations Of \ Pastor, a Layman, ETC.,
Will be astounding to intelligent men;