The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-10-13
WEDDING STOPPED TRIAL
Preacher on Jury Had Marriage Cere-
mony to Perform.

Fort Scott Kan, Oct 13.-For half
an hour yesterday afternoon the trial
of the Rev. ]. NJ. Mason, a Methodist
/ minister of the South Kansas confer
ence, who is charged with dishonesty
and untruthfulness, was stopped while
one of the members of the jury per-
formed d marriage ceremony. The we'd
ding was to take place at o'clock and
the session of the trial did not dismiss
until that time. When the hands pointed
at o'clock the Rev. ]. B. Mckenzie
begged that the court excuse him at
$50 O'Clock.
Il have promised these people that
would marry them promptly at s
o'clock" he said. '"They may have
some romantic ideas about being mar
ried just at o'clock
c. w Bailey, presiding judge, asked
the attorneys for both sides if there
were any objections to dismissal at $50
o'clock. Both sides were willing and
Mr.. Mckenzie fastened to his parson-
age where the marriage was perform
ed The groom was Nathan B. Man
! ming, 50 years old, a job printer, form
erly county clerk here. The bride was
Mrs Mary Bearman, Sc years old, the
widow of John Bearman, who died two
years ago.
When the Rev George E. Satterlee
pastor of the First Methodist church
here, asked that the trial be discontin-
ued tonight because it was prayer meet
ing night the court refused to adjourn
until tomorrow. Mr.. Satterlee took his
parishioners to the basement of the
church while the trial went on in the
prayer meeting room.
The trial today was taken up with
testimony for the prosecution. Wit
nesses testified that Mr.. Mason had Ia
ken funds he could not account for.
At one time they said he subscribed $50
for a missionary collection. But be-
cause he had charge Of the church s
finances he did not collect his own bill.
They testified that at another time he
took a collection to raise So. His ap-
peal to the people was so strong that
they raised $40 and he did not account
for the difference.
Dispositions from H. F. McDougall, a
newspaper man of Ottawa, and from
w. G. Anderson of Wichita, a newspa-
per man, were read. They bore out the
testimony of Mr. Morrison and Mr.
Henderson. A deposition from A. g.
Stitch, a bank president of 1ndepend-
ence, Kan, a campaign manager, was
introduced. Mr.. Stitch said in his depo-
sition that in August, 1903, Mr.. Mason
deposited a small sum of money In his
bank The bank cashier by mistake
wrote $50 additional on the book, think
ing that Mr.. Mason had deposited $50
july IA He said that Mr.. Mason was
surprised when told he had $50 coming
to him, but said he guessed 1t was some
money he had forgotten about. A few
months later, when the cashier discoV-
cred what Mr.. Stitch said was a mis-
take, Mr.. Mason refused to return the
cash.
The first witness called for the de-
tense was the Rev. Bernard Kelley of
Ottawa He was presiding elder when
Mr.. Mason was pastor at lola He tes-
titled to the good character of Mr..
Mason and his ability as worker.
The defense expects to have all of
it's evidence in by Thursday noon. The
prosecution will then put on rebuttal
witnesses. A majority vote of the COM
mittee of jurors is sufficient to con-
Wet or acquit. 1t is expected that they
can draw up their conclusions in four
hours II the prosecution does not
put up too many rebuttal witnesses
the trial should be over by Friday
noon at the latest If Mr.. Mason is
found guilty by the committee he will
be held for trial before the confer
ence of the church next spring. The
trial here is a preliminary hearing to
find if the case is worthy Of the gem
eral conference