Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-07-02
CHURCH SCANDAL
STIRS MACON
SOCIETY
Investigation Made of Alleged In
timaCy Between Choir Leader
and Church Worker.

MACON, July Church people
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 members
Professor 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. j. w. jenkins and Mrs
Alma Armstrong is said to have oc-
CURED on the night Of June 5, when a
telephone conversation between the
professor and Mrs. Lester was over
heard by Mrs. Jenkins. 1t is alleged.
According to Mrs Jenkins, who is
on the same telephone line with Mrs
Lester, Professor Charlton asked Mrs.
Lester II Mr.. Lester were 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 around Them"
Mrs. Jenkins claims she called Mrs.
Armstrong over and together the two
watched for Professor CharIton'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 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 21. when The
Macon News published an anonymous
story of the affair using the names
A, b, c. Copies of the paper were
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 M Erwin, Orrin Erwin, II. 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-
I
! 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
, NJ its 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 O. 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 Mr.. Anderson,
| they will be dealt with accordinglv.
but II 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 con-
! gregation as a whole in such cases.
Wanted Names Published.
! There will be no whitewash. and
| II any publication of the matter is
made l demand that the names of
! the parties, the name Of the church
| and the pastor be used"
Mr. Erwin, who is taking an &C
tive part in the investigation, made
/ the same statements in substance.
| He said both sides of the matter were
| being investigated fully and no stone
| would be left unturned to bring out
the true facts in the case
! Professor Charlton and Mrs Les
ter deny the charges vigorously. and
! In this they are supported by Mr. Les
ter and Mrs Charlton. Each declares
/ that a full investigation of the mat
Il ter is CoUrted
Libel Suits Threatened.
n Mr. Lester said Tuesday night he
would consult with his attorney
II Claud Estes. Wednesday. to consider
filing suit against the parties who
have made the charges against his
wife for malicious SANDER
Y Professor Charlton also is Consid