The Washington times., 1911-11-23
FIGHT STARTED TO
REVOKE LICENSE OF
MARRYING PARSON
Attorney Accuses the Rev.
. G. J. S. Hunnicutt of En-
ploying Cappers.

Initial steps to stamp out "capping"
on the part of ministers authorized to
perform marriages in the District. were
taken TODAY by the United States At
torney's office. when Assistant Pros
ecutor 8. McComas Hawkeps filed
charges against q. J. S. Hunnicutt, and
urged that the permit issued to him
october 2s, 1910 be revoked.
The complaint was submitted to Jus
tice Barnard, who issued the permit to
Bunnicutt on the representation Of the
latter that he was duly ordained
minister of the Peoples Nonsectarias
Church. Justice Barnard issued a rule
against Hunnicutt directing that he ap-
pear next Friday and show cause why
the revocation OF his permit should not
be ordered.
The first complainant, against Hunnl-
cutt who has his Office at Sss Indiana
avenue northwest, which Is almost d.
rcctly opposite the courthouse. was the
Rev. william McKenncy. pastor Of the
Wesley Methodist Church. at Fifth and
+ streets northwest. He charged on
September g. that a runner" tor Hun
nicutt tried to persuade a couple to SUBJ
stitute the latter's name On q marriage
license In place Of his own. He called
the attention of the clerk of the Dis
trict Court to this alleged act. but re-
ceived no satisfaction.
Subsequent to this complaint, the
Pastors Federation Of Washington
adopted stringent resolutions condemning
the practice Of authorized ministers
employing cappers and presented them
to the District SUPP eme Court, through
Chief Justice Clabaugh.
, Nearly 100 clergymen met at the
M. A SAntaD1
cisiye action against the system Of cap
ping, and appointed a committee Of
nine to investigate the defects and pos
censing Of ministers In the District.
The idea of such q report Is to prepare
recommendations to be submitted to
cerssess SSI rsmsdisi esisison
W. L. MGKenney, c. A. Miller, P. A.
hIisss HIS0es wrsvy Rrstty%anIi WiI,a John n.E E.
ries. stsa ana T. John sSs N. seSlcs. T''A" H. De'-
who has become known as the mar
rying parson," was furnished by the
aerstood. had some grievance against
the defendant in the proceedings insti-
tuted today. Resolutions submitted to
the court through a subcommittee are:
I'VE set our seal of unqualified con-
domination upon such rnercenary and
undignified methods, and earnestly Pc
tition the District Supreme Court to re-
woke the licenses Of any persons guilty
after no license be issued to perform
the marriage ceremony except to q
clergyman of recognized and estab-
Investigations made by Assistant Dis
trict attorney Hawken disclosed that
. tseappers" Included men just outside
: fbe courthouse, cabmen, and railroad
officials conductor aon q Southern
. railway passenger train handing Hun
hicutt's card to one couple coming to
Washington from Richmond, Va. to get
married
''ards handed out by Hunnicptt rum
ners contain his name, according to the
his telephone number. according to the
assistant prosecutor. Frequently. It is
alleged tss the
they intend to get marriage license.
Hunnicutt refutes the charges. He
has in his possession certificates and
the church as preacher. One Of his
papers is a certificate issued by the
fourth quarterly conference Of the
Methodist Church. January II, 1903. AMI
president. 1t purports to be n renewal
Of license authorizing Hunnicutt t.
act as an r'exhorter."
The admission is made by Hunnicutt
that he severed his connection as "eX-
hoIter'' in 1909 because he was REGARDED
by some Of his brethren as "disor-
ganizcr."
Most recent of the documents is one
ton as minister from the Peoples Non
sectarian Church, of Washington. It
nsa signed p BY IheoSors tn Ealaint; 1dn, George
said thers ia no record Of the incorpora-
tion of tlis church.
Whether there will be criminal prose-
cutions in cDnnecticn With the crusade
H stamp CIT Gaping is yet to be de-