Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-07-02
INTO
IN TIMACY
CHARGE
BEGUN
Neighbor Declares She Heard the
Choir Leader Make Appoint
ment Over Party Line.

MACON, July Church peo-
pie here are greatly agitated to-
day over the investigation by
the executive committee of the
First Christian Church into the
alleged intimacy of two of its
most prominent MEMBERSHIP
fessor Frank NJ. Charlton, leader
of the choir, and Mrs. Marvin
Lee Lester, secretary of the
Ladies Aid Society.
The alleged improper conduct as
charged by two neighbors OF Mrs.
Lester. Mrs. ]. w. Jenkins and Mrs.
Alma Armstrong, is said to have &C
CURED on the night Of June s, when a
telephone conversation between the
Professor and Mrs. Lester was over
heard by Mrs. Jenkins. it is alleged.
According to Mrs jenkins, who is
on the same telephone line with Mrs.
Lester Professor Charlton asked Mrs,
Lester II Mr. Lester we're In.
Pair Watch for Professor.
Upon the reply of Mrs. Lester that
he was not in. Mrs. jenkins says Pro-
fessor Charlton said: How about
coming round, then?"
Mrs Jenkins claims she called Mrs.
Armstrong over and together the two
watched for Professor Charlton's ar
rival. He came to the corner OF the
Lester house. she claims, and then
went back and turned up the alley,
where he started to enter the back
gate of the Lester side gate. Mrs.
Jenkins says she screamed burglar"
and called Mrs Lester. who replied
that there wasn't any burglar there,
and cut Off
Nothing further was heard OF the
burglary" until June 81, when The
Macon News published an anonymous
story OF the affair using the names
then mailed anonymously to Mr.. Les
ter and Mrs. Charlton, and the church
investigation followed on Saturday
last. when certain of the parties were
summoned to appear.
Four Elders Make Inquiry.
Members of the committee, com.
posed of four elders of the church,
Lenoir NJ. Erwin, Orrin Erwin, H. w.
Roper and A. NJ. Smith. said to-day
that the investigation probably would
be completed the latter part of this
week The committee will then re-
port its findings in open meeting to
the church congregation, which will
vote on the guilt of the parties con-
cerned.
If proved guilty, members Of the
committee say both Professor Charl-
ton and Mrs. Lester will be ousted
from the church. On the other hand,
II proved not guilty. the parties will
be indicated in open meeting and
the church cleared of the charges
which have been placed against two
Of it's most prominent members.
Will Be No Whitewash.
Lenoir NJ. Erwin, member of the
investigating committee and United
States Commissioner here, and Rev.
Leroy NJ. Anderson, pastor of the
church, declared to-day that there
would be no whitewash Of the affair;
that the charges were being sifted to
the bottom, and the real truth would
be brought out in open meeting, as is
customary in the Christian Church.
IF the parties are guilty as
charged" said Rev. Anderson, they
will be dealt with accordingly, but
if they are not guilty of the charges
the church viii protect them. In
neither case. however will this be
done secretly. for the laws Of our
church provide for action by the cons
gregation as a whole in such cases.
Wanted Names Published.
There will be no whitewash, and
if any publication of the matter is
made I demand that the names Of
the parties, the name of the church
and the pastor be used"
Mr.. Erwin, who is taking an ac<
tive part in the investigation, made
the same statements in substance.
! He said both sides of the matter were
being investigated fully. ana no stone