The Washington times., 1908-11-28
FINED FOR SPITE,
ASSERTS HOBLEY
Mission Worker BlameS
Slayton for Arrest in
Clarksburg.

ITS a lie as black as the hinges on
the gates Of hell" said Gen. ". r.
Mobley. head OF the Gospel Army.
which has It's headquarters in this
city, when asked this morning about
the serious charge on which be and
Mrs. Belle Harden. or Mrs. Charles
Mayes. were convicted before a police
court Judge in Clarksburg. ". Va, sew
eral days ago. General AIobley admit
ted. however. that he and Airs. Harden
had each paid a fine of s..
1T developed today that the Rev.
lanes Russell slaytcs. VINO made the
unique record of being me ffrst de-
serter from the United states Navy
10 surrender hims eli directly to a Sec
Rotary Of the Navy, was responsible
for the arrest Of the couple. Il deyel-
oped further that Slayton, whose ro-
mantle lie history wss laid bare be-
fore the Washington public over two
years ago, IS now the head OF the
regular Salvation Army in Clarksburg.
Slayton, II viii be remembered. was be-
trayed as a deserter by a woman who
sought 70 avenge herself, and his where
sbouts since his unique experience at
the Navy Department have been a mys-
terv.
do You suppose I would ever have
come back 70 washington to face my
friends II there had been one atom OF
truth in these awful allegations" con
tinued General AIobley. ''It was all the
work Of Slayton, who has sought 20
ruin me for years. and all because OF a
trivial matter that occurred when our
headquarters we're in c street north
west, just hack OF the postoffice.
AT that time Slayton was earning
plenty Of money to take care Of himself,
but we allowed him TO remain at the
mission and gave him . room and his
meals. we had some trouble over $50
that had been taken IN at one of the
meetings. SlaytOn told me that some
day I would want friend but not to
call on him.
Il had forgotten all about that little
difficulty, but just as were were about
TO board a train in Clarksburg. Slayton
stepped up with two policemen and told
them 20 place us under arrest. He asked
me II I remembered about the money,
how I had reprimanded him about it.
and his promise at the time that some
day he would get back at me.
Taken to Police Court.
"They took us directly 20 the Police
Court, and Slayton accused Mrs. Harden
and myself with travelling about the
country as man and wife, and obtaining
money under false-pretenses, asserting
that we had no organization, and were
simply collecting money.
yes, we-were each fined $. and the
money was paid. but had no idea that
I was being tried. / thought that il
was just a preliminary hearing to de-
tcrmine whether there was sufficient
ground to bind US over for trial by
higher court. I didn't know II was
formal trial until the court asked il we
were willing TO pay our fines.
Mrs. Harden and I have never posed
as man and wife. we have never Travelled
about the country together under any
such cloak, and our relations have al
ways been above board. Ask any one
who is familiar with the good work we
are doing In this city
Mrs. Harden Visited Relatives.
General BIobley then explained that
Mrs Harden mad been visiting rela-
tives near Elkins, ". Va, when she
sent him money TO join her there, so
that they could icolduct meetings IN
several towns and cities in West Vir-
ginia. Mrs. Harden. the general ex-
planned, has a great many relatives Iiv-
ing IN West Virginia. and in every town
they visited they were guests Of her
relatives. In some places, ne said Mrs.
Harden stayed with her relatives. while
.ae occupied a room in another house.
General MObley was found an the
Gospel Army headquarters. 133 Pennsvj-
known as the working girls home. Ha
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