The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-04-26
Former HagerstoWn Banker
Will Soon Know Whether or
Not He Will Be Dismissed
From His Church.
CLAIMS THAT HE Is
INNOCENT OF CHARGES.
Many People Will Say He Did
Not MaIiclousIy Tell His
Brothers HagerstoWn Bank
Was Safe When 1t Was Not.

Hagerstown, Ind. April 2J.-As the
es, the members of the Dunkard
HChurch, also known as the Brethren or
German Baptists. confess great con
Germ as TO the result of the trial of
James NJ. Wyatt, accused Of fraud and
duplicity by twentyfOur of his former
brethren of the Nettle Creek congrega-
tion. The formal charges have been
considered in monthly meetings repeat
edly and ahve been passed on through
Ahe proper channels until they rest in
the hands of the standing committee.
ihe highest authority recognized by the
Dunkard church short of the annual
meeting itself. This annual meeting
is the legislative body of the church.
1t is convened once year and its rep
resentatives are delegates from every
congregation in the world. Ordinar-
is a delegate meet at these annual
meetings, and there consider every
form of grievance or project that may
be offered
The standing committee is body of
nine members. selected by the annual
meeting, for the purpose of receiving
matters of every description intended
for the deliberations of the main body.
This standing committee is composed
mostly of ministers, whose years of
service have fitted them for the re
sponsibiities of their position 1t is
this committee that has in its posses
sion the charges with which James M.
Wyatt stands accused.
Conflicting Testimony.
There is not a member of the
church anywhere who has heard of
the action that is not keenly interest
ed in the verdict of the standing com
mittee The whole transaction is so
unusual and without precedent in the
records of the church that the com
mittee is considering the case with
great care. In the first place there is
conflicting testimony. One serious
brother declares the facts are so and
so, and another brother just as ser
ious. and every bit as high in his
standing, declares il is not so. Twen-
ty-four members of the church say
that James NJ. Wyatt declared 10
them that he had retained his interest
and share in the Commercial bank at
q time when it was afterward prov
ed that he had sold it months be fore.
Every one of these members had a
substantial deposit in the bank and it
was for the purpose OF satisfying
themselves relative to the security OF
their funds that they approached Mr.
Wyatt and asked him directly if he
had disposed of his interest in the
bank. These brethren relied on the
wealth and credit of James NJ. Wyatt
to secure their deposits against loss
and We're of one mind to withdraw
their funds in the event that Wyatt
had sold out, But it is alleged that he
assured his neighbors and brethren
that he had not sold his bank interest
and had no intention OF doing so.
Lost Their Savings.
four say they allowed their money to
remain in the Commercial bank. with
the result that some months afterward
the bank closed and practically all
their savings were lost They there
fore charge Mr.. Wyatt with deceivinc
them with the malicious intention
of doing them injury and that hA sc
deceived them in order that he might
realize more for his bank stock thar
It been known that he had severed
his connection with the bank
1t is charged that he entered into ar
agreement with the officers of the
Commercial bank whereby he was t(
receive a certain sum for his share il
the bank on condition that he continue
20 pose as member OF the banking
3lrm and cause it to be circulated rha
he had sold all his other property
but regarded his bank stock as too
remunerative to part from. These are
the charges preferred and the mem
eers making them pray the anuua
meeting TO cause James NJ. Wyatt Il
repay the losses they suffered for the
foregoing reasons.
All these charges Mr.. Wyatt denies
IN the most positive terms and h,
cites disinterested persons by the doz
en- to support his declaration that HI
made no secret of the fact of his with
drawal from the partnership of tht
Commercial Bank. He also professe:
10 be able TO prove by dozens of mem
Sers of the church that thev wara u,sl
aware OF the fact that he had sold on
and quit the partnership of the Com
mercial Bank. Business men and citi
Eens OF every calling are free to ex