The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-03-29
To Protect the Name of Form
er HagerstoWn Banker,
They Say That Accusations
Are Unfounded.
WESTERN DUNkARDS
ARE MUCH SURPRISED.
Wayne County Man by Munifl-
cent Gifts Has IntrenChed
Himself in Their Favor-EX-
poets to Be Cleared.

Hagerstown. Ind. March 2S.-Great
activity is being shown by friends of
James NJ Wyatt of Lordsburg, Cal. in
charges preferred by the local branch
of the Dunkard church. Mr.. Wyatt for
merly was a member of this denomi-
nation but has been expelled because of
his alleged completely as d member Of
the firm of the HagerstOwn bank.
whereby a number Of other members
of the church and the general public
in this vicinity were defrauded. No
matter how active may become Wyatt's
friends there are those in this vicinity,
who can not view his case in any way
other than violation of faith.
The charges, which were signed by
twenty -four members of the church in
good standing, specifically allege that
James NJ. Wyatt. also a member at the
time in good standing, falsely repre-
sented certain relations he was pre-
sumed to hold toward the Commercial
Bank. of Hagerstown. The charges
further declare that Mr. Wyatt made
the false representation for the pur-
pose Of misleading and deceiving his
brethren in the church. without whose
substantial aid the Commercial Bank
could not have long continued in busi-
ness. The charges conclude by saying
that Mr. Wyatt Influenced the signers
to deposit their money in the bank,
and that they lost more than $4,000
| through the failure of the bank. which
occurred soon after Mr.. Wyatt made
| the representations as alleged. The
accusers ask that the annual meeting
of the Dunkard church require Mr..
Wyatt TO refund to them the sum OF
| 5000. which was lost by them through
| his false representations. as alleged. OH
pain Of being suspended from brother
hood in the church and active partici-
patton in church fellowship.
| Lordsburg Congregation Surprised.
! These charges were forwarded to the
! standing committee of the Dunkard
! church. which body represents the
| highest authority in the denomina-
tions. Copies were also sent TO MI.
! Wyatt. ard to the elder of the Lords
! burg congregation, of which he is a
member. Mr.. Wyatts brethren in Cal
! ifornia have caused to be sent to the
| HagerstOwn Exponent local newspa-
per. various newspaper clippings and
resolutions adopted by the Lordsburg
congregation. In all of these the &C
! tion Of the HagerstOwn brethren is
strongly condemned and Mr.. Wyatt is
sustained to the fullest extent.
The news came to the Lordsburg
! body never having received an intima-
tion that Mr.. Wyatt had left here un-
der suspicion of his local brethren It
| is asserted that James NJ. Wyatt is one
Of the most useful members of the de
nomination in California. that he is
! liberal in assisting every church re-
quirement and has strongly intrench-
ed himself in the hearts of his breth-
rem. Every charge made by the mem
bers of this church branch is denied
in full by Mr.. Wyatt's friends. and the
greatest indignation is expressed that
such "unfounded charges" should ev-
er have been made.
Expects to Be Cleared.
1t is stated. not by Mr.. Wyatt, but
by his friends, that at the annual
meeting TO be held in May. at Des
Moines that he will clear himself OF
every suspicion and succeed in showing
that the animus Of the charges is NAL.
ice and desire for revenge.
Further than this there are strong
hints of suits for damages to be
brought against those who have sign
ed the charges. An entire denial of all
the charges is made.
The feeling among those who signed
the charges here is one of amazement
that Mr. Wyatt's defense will be a de.
NAL of The facts as affirmed by twenty
four of his former brethren. AS fas as
the threatened suits for damages are
| concerned. no fear is entertained that
tAey will be brought There is to be
no weakening among those who made
the charges and unless something un.
looked for intervenes. the action
against Mr.. Wyatt will be prosecuted
| hn ~