The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-02-04
Hoard, Negro Evangelist, %
Guilty of Child Desertion.
Given Two Months in Jail and
Fined $500.
WITHOUT SUPPORT.
Father Left Children-Preacher
Lived on Collections.
Has Been Married Three Times
Wives Dead.

James Hoard, or Thomas Phoenix
HoarEi, as he insists on being called, the
alleged negro preacher, was tried in
the probate court this morning for be-
ing 3 delinquent parent, found guilty
and sentenced to two months in jail
and a fine of $500 by Judge schoch.
The testimony showed that he has
contributed nothing within the last
year to the support Of his children
here. three in number. They have been
in the care of the Humane society since
last March At that time their father
was arrested on a child assertion war
| rant. After a trial in the probate court
his children were placed in the care Of
the Humane society. The father was
| instructed to pay SIS a month for their
maintenance.
He failed to do this. Instead he has
been wandering around the country
| living off of collections which he took
UP from coiored congregations which
he has been 'evangelizing"
The would-be- preacher has been mar
| ried three times. It is said that all to-
gether he has IA children, four in
| Oklahoma and seven in Kansas and
three in Texas.
| The much-married mans wives are
all reported to be dead. The widower
| has done some manual labor, but quit
| work about year ago and went to
preaching, going from place to place.
About March 4. 1909. he was called"
to Kansas City to assist at a revival.
He went, leaving his children alone in
| the house, supposedly in the charge Of
| Bishop" johnson, colored man of his
Humane society was notified that two
! of the children were destitute and sick
| at their home. a miserable shack at 935
Spruce street. just west of Tyler near
| "B" street.
Investigations revealed filthy,
| wretched condition at the house which
was nearly bare of furniture. On a
rough couch, boy, Tom, lay, too sick
to get UP. His older brother. James.
had been begging. Neither was over
ten years old.
The father was notified and came
home. The trial and the custody IF
the children to the Humane society fol-
lowed. Since that Hoard has been
keeping his family or enquiring about
them. He was caught in Topeka few
days ago and tried this morning.
In the court room he appeared well
| dressed. carrying a huge Bible and a
gold watch. The latter he said had
been presented to him. He told the
court that the, whole proceedings was
a scheme to take his children away
from him and went to pains to show
how he had always taken his children,
we'll dressed, to church with him pre-
vious to year ago.
The Quincy school has received a do
nation of about forty volumes from DR..
! Mary e. Stewart for the school library.
These books are adapted for children of
the eighth grade. They include the
works of Dickens. Hall Game, Tenny-
son and other standard authors. The
class which graduated from the eighth
grade this winter had talked of also
| leaving books as a present but so far
have failed to do so.
A meeting will be held at the North
Side Baptist church at O'Clock tonight
to organize an antiphonal choir. This
is a vocal musical organization which
will sing responsive music. One-half
Of the singers occupy one end of the
room and the rest the other end.
L. P. Fraser and w. M. Van Ness
will direct the music. This same kind
of a choir was organized and sang with
great success at the church about a
year ago. About sixty took part. Mr..
Van Ness said he wished for all Of them
to take part this year.
The enrolment for the Quincy school
for the new term is about $50, which is
80 more than the same time last year.
The enrolment includes 80 in the frs!
grade and Sc in the second.
The A. F. & A. NJ. Golden Rule lodge
No. 80, have subscribed $4,000 to build
and furnish third story on the auto
mobile garage at Oil Kansas avenue
which is being built by Firth & Short
formerly of Wamego. 1t is expected
that the building will be completed and
| that the lodge rooms VIII be ready fol
occupancy by June l. The lodge quar-
tiers will include an assembly room 81
by so feet, three parlors 10 by Is and
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