The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1911-08-12
GIRL IN KNOTT CASE
Washington Church Official Comes
to Defense of Or. Prettyman.
DENIES CHARGES OF MISCONDUCT

The bitterness among members OF
the NJ. T.. Church, South. in Wash
ington city and in Warrenton. va
caused by the expulsion from the
ministry and from the church last
week Of Dr. j. o. Knott. nOw oi
Warrenton. was heightened when
DR.. Knott. who has brought suit
for $4,000 in the WarrentOn courts
for alleged defamation OF character
criticised the attitude Of Or. }. +.
Prettyman. presiding elder OF the
Washington district. in the trial
and against whom the suit is direct
ed. 5. W. Cockrell. president Of the
City Church Extension Society came
to the defence of DR.. Prcttyman
II developed that among the
charges against Dr. Knott WAS one
that he had been seen in this city
in company with young woman
well known In both WarrentOn and
Washington The name of the
young woman has been suppressed
through the unwillingness Of the
churchmen to bring her into the
spotlight OF publicity.
Mr. Cockrell. who holds the high
est laymans position in the church
in Washington. said yesterday that
the suit instituted against DR.. Pret-
lyman for defamation OF character
has placed the latter in an improp-
er light. Unless the attacks on Dr.
Prettyman are discontinued. he de-
clared, hS will expose all the testi-
mOny tnat resulted I'm the eXpul-
sion Of Dr. Knott He said DR..
Prcttyman had not preferred the
charges against his fellow-pastor but
only had acted in his official posi-
ton as presiding elder Of the
Washington district
DR.. Knott declares that the suit
has been brought against DR. Pretty
man. rather than against the en-
tire committee which tried the War
rcnton pastor, because Or. Pretty
man had gone outside his official
duties by discussing the case with
members OF the WarrentOn church
and making charges against DIR.
Knott The trial board did not go
beyond its authority. he said. and
therefore no action Is contemplated
against its members.
The proposition and the general
situation were generally prejudiced
10 my interest" =" continued DR.. Knott
"and Dr. Prcttman practically con-
stitutcd the prosecution Before the
trial board was ordered a committee
OF fifteen officials OF our church
met DR. Prettyman and went over
the case with him This same com
mittee later went 10 Washington and
appeared before the trial board, In
Guiding DR.. J. H. Wells and Il. l..
Fultz, OF Washington. and II. VI.
Canter. Of Alexandria
DR.. Prcttyman has refused to dis
cuss the case because OF his posi-
tion In the church. but Mr.. Cockrell
SAYS that his friends are willing TO
talk for him He said that the case
against DR. Knott was prosecuted by
DR. E.V REGISTER. who was appoint
ed to do the work by Bishop Denny.
He also denied that the trial had
been unfair.
"Dr. Knott was notified several
weeks before the trial Of the charg-
es preferred against him." said Mr..
Cockrell "He was told that n list
OF twenty psators had been select
ed, from which would be chosen the
thirteen members OF the trial board.
He had the right of challenge. and
he exercised it until the board was
reduced to the required number lie
had moro witnesses at the trial than
the prosecutor. Within 20 min
utes after the testimony was in a
verdict Of guilty had been
returned. OF course, he was OK
pelIed