The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-01-11
CHURCH
AGAIN IN COURT
Property Owners Nearby Seek
to Prevent Its Use by Col
ored Congregation.
APPLY FOR I'M JUNCTION
Complainants Charge That Real.
Estate Man Broke Faith.
To Get Affidavits.
APPLY FOR INJUNCTION

On behalf OF a largo number OF
property owners on Clay Street. James
u. Shelton yesterday appeared before
Judge Ernest II. Wells In the Chan
Gerry Court, asking an injunction to
prevent the further use Of the Friends
Meeting House, on Clay Street, by q
new colored congregation which has
recently split from one of the colored
Baptist churches. Judge Wells heard
a partial statement OF the case. and
continued the application for the filing
of a%fiidavits to ~substantlatc the allo-
cations made by both sides.
In his application, Attorney Shelton
set forth In some detail that the church
on Clay Street, between First and Fou-
shee, had been owned and occupied by
a Quaker congregation and known as
the Friends Meeting House since No
vember Is, 1865. Recently the Quaker
congregation disbanded, few Of the
original members remaining. Last
year, with a view Of selling the prop
erty and winding up the affairs OF the
little congregation, Judge r. Carter
Scott in the City Circuit Court named
as trustees w. A. Kicks. James G..
Whitlock n J. Hoge Kicks.
Bought for Investment.
On October 10, 1909. sale was made
by the trustees to w. r. Atwood, q
member of the real estate firm Of
Edward S. Rose & Co.
The application alleges that Atwood
stated at the time OF the purchase
that he had bought the property for
the purpose OF tearing down the
church inc erecting two dwellings, as
an investment. The petitioners state
In their application for a restraining
order that they chad no dream OF an
idea that any white man could be
found in the city of Richmond who
would be willing to foist upon the
neighborhood G body of negroes"
Believing that Atwood was sincere
In his statement of having bought
the property to convert into residences,
the %neighbors made no complaint and
no effort to prevent the sale, believ-
Ing that their social and property in
terests were fully protected.
The petition goes or to state that
the %ncighbors have now been Informed
and believe and charge that Atwood
really purchased with the express in-
~tention of Immediately selling to a
certain negro congregation known as
the New Baptist Church" being a
DOhy VI uc6iotS Which SplitHOll lEolIt
the Fifth Street Baptist Church. coll
ored. recently. following the dismissal
of Rev. Alexander e. Edwards. the
latter being for Il time the leader OF
the new church.
Crowds Block Sidewalk.
On the third Sunday of November
the colored congregation took posses
sion of the meeting house. and has
since been holding services twice each
| Sunday. with crowds which far ex-
coed the capacity of the building, and
which have blocked the sidewalk in
front. SO far has the overcrowding
been noticeable that Building Inspector
Beck has been forced to interfere and
insist on certain supports being in
stalled under the main floor, with
changes in the exits.
1t does not appear as a matter OF
! record that any transfer of the prop
crty has been made from Atwood to
the colored congregation, and it Is
that transfer that the %neighbors seek
to prevent, claiming that It would be
seriously detrimental to their social
and property interests, and greatly
alter the character of the ~neighbor-
hood as a residential section.
Judge Wells took the paper under
advisement, and directed that affdavits
In support of the various contentious
be filed in writing.
The petitioners are: a.. o. Tiller, c.
F., a.. Bryce. n. ". Coleman. j.. II. Chap
pell. p. B. Hatcher. i. NJ. BEDFORD, II.
C.. Garrett. r. j. Gary, ]. NJ. Hulcher.
"A. C%authorn. A. W. Smith, j. Fl. Wade,
NV. %. Day. Fl. Ct. Heeke, r. Franclone,
sJ. Weinstein. NJ. Goshen and j. l.
Lindsay; and n. ". Coleman, Wilson
N. Bugg and r. z. Tiller as trustees
of the Clay Street Methodist Church.