Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-07-06
Vindication of Accused Leaders
by First Christian Church
Takes Place To-day.
SANDER SUITS TO FOLLOW
Choir Leader and Ladies' Aid Sec
rotary Plan to Demand Legal
Redress.

NAHUM July 5.-Society and
church folk here are anticipating not
only one of the sharpest legal fights
in the history of Macon courts, but
the airing of sensational charges in
volving the local churches in gem
eral as the aftermath of the First
Christian Church scandal, in which
Professor Frank NJ. Charlton, the
popular choir leader, and Mrs. Efne
l.. Lester. the secretary of the La
dies Aid Society, are involved.
The accused parties. upon the rec
ommendation of the elders commit
tee, which has conducted the inves-
tigation, Sunday morning will be ex-
Onerated Of all charges by the con-
gregation. Public expressions of con-
fidence in the accused parties will
be added, it is said, and a complete
vindication of persons and church de-
clared.
Instead of eliminating. this will
really mark the beginning of the con-
troversy, however, for almost i'm
mediately the accused and the &C
cusers and their friends will array
themselves for a legal fight which
bids fair to furnish live COPY" for
the newspapers for months to come.
Counsel has already been retained
by both sides. the Testers having
engaged the services of Attorney
Claud Estes to conduct their suit
for SANDER, while Attorney Julian
Urquhart has been selected by Mrs.
Jenkins to defend her In the courts,
in anticipation Of libel and Islander
suits. Professor Charlton also, it is
said. will be represented by able
counsel of Macon.
Real Sensation to Come.
The real sensation Of the entire
affair, it is said. will be produced by
Mrs. Lester, the accused church lead
err who declares that the charges of
her neighbor, Mrs. jenkins, were in
stigated by spirit of church jeaI-
ousy which has cropped out at in
tervals and at various sources since
the First Christian Church began its
period of marvellous prosperity.
My accusers," declared Mrs. Les.
ter, have been Jealous for long time
or the prosperity which has attended
our church. They have looked envI-
ously upon the increase in our mem
bership, which has been marvellous
and they have begrudged us the serv-
ices of Professor Charlton, our choir
leader who sings in our church every
Sunday morning and evening. These
are the primary reasons these people
and others in this neighborhood have
singled me out for many months.
have watched every move have made
almost, as well as that of Professor
Charlton, who has been a friendly
visitor with his wife at our little
home. 1 can ascrtbe no other reason
for these slanderous charges. unless
it is just gossip. have been made
the unhappy victim Of a plot to be-
smirch my character.
"Of course, I want vindicatlon; I
shall have that, by all means. and 1
suppose publicity can do no harm.
unless to my mother and sister who
will feel it terribly My name, how
ever, will never be the same, even
though I am cleared of these charges"
Lester Defends Wife.
Mr. Lester, who has defended his
wife from the start, upholds her in
the claim that church jealousy has
figured prominently in the charges
which have been preferred. Mr.. Les
ter was formerly a member Of Null
berry Street Methodist Church, where
Professor Charlton led the music prior
to his connection with the First
Christian Church.
The stated determination of Rev.
Mr.. Anderson, pastor. and Lenoir Err
win, elder and member of the inves-
committee of the First Chris
tian Church, to clear the name of the
either by ousting the &C
cused parties if guilty, or vindicat-
ing them if not guilty. is said to be
further indication of the prominent
part which the churches will play in
the coming trial in the courts.
Both Mr.. Anderson and Mr.. Irwin
declared emphatically to the reporter
that the name of the church must be
preserved by an open and unbiased
investigation of the entire matter II
the parties are guilty, they declared,
then they must be dealt with accord
ingly, but il they are not guilty Of the
charges then they must be vindi-
Gated and the church which holds
their membership indicated also in
open meeting.
Never have the church people Of
Continued on Page 2, Column 8.