The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1910-01-18
A Letter.
Parkersburg w. Va. Jan 5
Dear SIR

Lear Sir
/ am informed that
the notorious j. d. Williams, var
iously self-styled Prof. REV"
Evangelist, and at times lex
priest" as will serve the occas-
ion best, has, for some time past,
been delivering his old time IL
trades against the Roman Cathol-
&c Church in a number of the
more remote towns and villages
of the state, notably in Calhoun.
Gilmer, Richie, Writ and Roane
counties. | have heard to that
In some places ministers of the
various denominations have op-
ened to him their churches for
his filthy talk, and that many of
the people in places where the
Catholic Church is practically un-
known. take these con coctions of
the depraved mind and heart of
Williams as gospel truth. For
the sake of common decency,
therefore, and honesty and truth
also to undecieve those who have
allowed themselves to be imposed
upon, | ask that you publish this
communication over my mime in
an carly an issue of your paper
as possible.
j. d. Williams is a veil known
character in parts of West Vir-
ginia, Ohio and Indiana. From
his record, publishedin the Co
lumbar" of Columbus, Ohio,
Nov. 5, 1904, also in the Cath
Ole Universe" of Cleveland.
Ohio, Nov. II, 1904, likewise in
the Parish Monthly" of Hart
ford City, Ind, we gather the
following:J. D. Williams, Evan
gelist" and "ex-priest" never
was priest, a student for the
Catholic priesthood, nor never a
Catholic. He was one of the
state leaders of the A. P. A. in
West Virginia. At Buckhannon,
W. Va, he deserted his wife and
child and lived with a prostitute
until he was tired of her and
went to live with another woman
of the same character at Redkey,
Ind. This one was discarded for
a fourth with whom he cohabited
for some time in Portland, Ind.
In its issue of Jan. 16, 1904, the
Columbia" also charges Will
Jams with bigamy and swindling.
In support of the latter charge
1t states that on or about Jan. /,
1858. he started to edit an A. p.
A. paper in Weston, w. Va,
which he called the West Virgin
il Patriot. He induced a num-
Der of citizens to take stock in
the paper, promising to purchase
a complete outfit. He also pro.
cured quite a number paid uI
subscriptions for one year. He
had three issues Of the paper rur
off by another printing establish
mcnt and then decamped with
upwards Of 100000 in paic
stock and subscriptions, without
having purchasing the outfit
and leaving his friends in The
lurch. Though Williams haC
every opportunity of disprovinq
these charges if they were false
and of claiming several THOUSAND
dollars damages from the GO
lumbar" and the Catholic Uni
versity,' no attempt was eve
made to disprove them.
In the fall of 1904, Rev. w. S
Krcss, Of Cleveland, Ohio, open
3 ly challenged Williams in tn
b Disciple Church, Southington
Trumbull county Ohio, to com
to court and disprove thes
charges, Williams never dare,
to go beyond q threat and promis
which remains today unfulflled
b The challenge still stands; and
the charges be untrue William
p has now the additional chance O
bringing a libel suit against NIX
G We cannot bring Williams
s court because his charges arc M
q against a particular individua
e but against the Church which
h looked upon before the courts &
d corporation. Our charge
l. however, against williams al
rs personal, and if,wronged he h;
.e every chance of coming to cour