The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-11-08

while the matter is pending and will
not seek admission to the meeting.
That the party came TO Topeka to
settle the COpe-RO binSon- Moore con-
troversy is firmly denied by the anti
Cope faction. They declare that the
meeting was held at the special invita-
ton OF DR.. Loveland and that the
visitors will discuss only propositions
looking to the final settlement of
pending litigation. There is no con-
troVersy pending between the Topeka
woman and the Cincinnati bishop,
they urge, and no row of this nature
will be injected in the meeting
1t is this difference of opinion that
has caused trouble. Mrs. Cope and
her friends insist that Bishop Moore
must make retraction for the state
ments contained in his letter to Mrs.
Robinson of Detroit, in which he said
of the Fanny Murray legacy by the
Topeka woman. Unless she is vindi-
Gated to her own satisfaction, the mat
ter will be threshed out in the courts.
There is little hope for the retrac-
ton which Mrs. Cope asks. In the
first place Bishop Moore is firm and
determined in his position. He is
backed by the Cope opposition and
beth sides refuse to yield an inch.
In Oklahoma City last week, Bishop
Moore was asked if he would have
written the letter to Mrs. Richardson
had he known the facts as he has since
learned them. He replied that he
would.
II am not afraid of the world. flesh,
the devil or law SUITS Bishop Moore
is reported to have said in the course
of the Oklahoma City interview Then
he reiterated his statement that he
had no regrets for having written the
letter concerning Mrs. Cope.
On the other hand, Bishop Smith
believes that Moore was too fast He
was inclined to look at the matter
from both sides and probably sees
trouble ahead for the board of bishops
and the church as an organization
Facts in the case" Bishop Smith
stated recently, "did not seem to war
rant the writing of the letter.
Right there is the difference of opin-
ion. 1t is this matter that must be
ironed out before night.
Moore Stands Firm.
Il feel that 1 had an absolute right
to send the letter concerning which
Mrs. Cope complains" said Bishop
Moore this afternoon in an interview
with the State Journal, land do not
feel that there is any question of q
retraction that can enter into the dis
cussion. While I do not wish to say
that 1 would not make some sort of
a statement that would help to make
the matter clear. yet 1 feel that there
is no call for retraction or apologies.
There was no intent on my part to
ancial honesty, and 1 think that in it
self Is ample. There has been talk OF
lawsuits. They are only to worry and
annoy and I have lost no sleep over
that matter"
Does this statement please Mrs.
Cope? Not in the least. VIII she ac-
cept an apology of this nature? She
will not.
When her attorneys visited Okla
homa CITY last week. they had in their
DnSCoGSf0T1 a nafifiOn for S6U.UUU
libel suit against the Methodist bishop. |
Papers in the case were not filed when |
Bishop Moore and party consented to |
come to Topeka for a conference
The coming to Topeka did not end !
the controversy. Mrs. Cope's lawyers
presented a retration to Bishop Moore |
this afternoon and he has the docu-
ment under consideration. He will
either sign the apology or leave To-
oeka tonight as defendant in senSa-
-fonal action for damages.
The Robinson letter has stirred the
Meth odist church as a body and every
in the country is watching
The outcome of the trouble with much
interest and no little worry. II Bisnop
Moore does not accede to the Topeka wo-
mans demands, there will probably be |
more actions for damages and the sltua-
ion will be complicated by the expected
statements of people high in the church
The letter of which Mrs. Cope COM
planned was written while the Kansas
conference was in session in Abilene last
'pring. Tt was addressed to Mrs. George
D. Robinson, wife of a millionaire Detroit
re bitter enemies and Mrs. Robinson
circulated the contents of the letter which
effected on the honesty and integrity of
he Topeka woman.
When Mrs. Robinson refused to apollo
.ize, she was sued for $4,000 damages
rhen Bishop Moore came into the lime
light and he will be on the sridlron unul
he trouble is adjusted
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