Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-03-14
F ORCES Of EVIL
BEHIND ARREST,
ASSERTS HAM
Dr.. Broughton Appeals to Con.
gregatiOn for Aid-ReSponSe
Wipes Out Proceedings.

\ grudge borne against him by the
forces of evil against whose interests
he fought in the recent war on vice
in Atlanta. said Rev. J. w Ham today,
was the basis of his arrest yesterday
in connection with a balance due on
the purchase of a diamond ring,
People against whom he has fought,
he said, have been waiting for their
inning, and found it in his indebted
ness.
Mr.. Ham found a friend in need in
J. T. Johnson, of Atlanta, an dcquaint
ance. who sent him a check for $50 to-
day, with the assurance that there
was more if necessary, and that it was
to help him out of the scrape.
In "A statement confessing his pow
erty and declaring that his arrest was
the work of his enemies. Mr.. Ham said
today:
Ten Minutes to Pay
God pity any man who fails in the
hands of a bunch of shyster lawyers
and politicians. This matter is so ri
diculously small that 1t hardly deserves
statement except for the benefit of
my friends. Thursday, a week ago,
my lawyer was authorized to pay S45
on the amount of $93, with the under
standing that March II the other SAT
would be paid. ! was taken unawares
while arranging for the morning Of
ferings at the church. and told to either
produce the other amount or go to
| jail There are not 200 men in Atlanta
who could pay their debts If given only
ten minutes in which to do it, as ] was.
81 am perfectly aware of all the
| forces back of this petty persecution.
IL closed up, unaided and ran out of
town. occupants of eleven disorderly
houses in the Fairlie-Luckie street sec
ton one year ago. Some folks have
| been waiting for an inning, They have
sought to make a financial embarrass-
ment, for the moment, appear as Il
criminal offense. l quote from a letter
of Mr.. j. T. Johnson, man with whom
| l never had twenty minutes CONVEX
sation in my life, having only met him
once. He does not pose as a leading
church man:
Sends Fifty Dollars.
| 81 note with much regret the pub
licity into which you have unfortunate
ly been drawn, and knowing you and
of your work, l am thoroughly conf
dent that this unfortunate affair has
been forced upon you through circum-
stances which you were unable to con-
troll, owing to the limited income which
has been accorded you. l therefore
| take pleasure in enclosing herewith
check for $50, which l trust may be
of some service to you at this time.
Very truly yours,
j. 7. JOHNSON.
! P. S.--If the above is not sufficient
to relieve you in the present situation,
kindly call on me for another $50 at
any time"
Continuing Mr.. Ham said:
This matter would have been closed
some time ago but for the fact of three
doctors bills in another state which
financially embarrassed me. Poverty
is next-door neighbor to suicide, and
a. twin sister of hell l am made to
suffer by an incident that is so trivial
that it has no weight with a healthy
minded, unbiased person"
Broughton Defends Ham.
DR. Broughton, in addressing the
| Bible conference audience this morn
ing. prefaced his sermon with defense
of Rev. DR.. Ham. Dr. Broughton said
in part:
Il have known Mr.. Ham for several
years. He has been as close to me
as a brother and l know him to be as
straight and square a man as there is.
have no comment to make in regard
to the persons who desired to get their
money by such stringent means, but ]
do not intend to have my friend slaugh-
tered because of an act of indiscre-
ton" At this point the doctor was
interrupted by cheering and loud APP
plause.
DR.. Ham this morning received a
check to cover the entire amount, bu.
will not allow any one on the out
side to do this. DR.. Ham is a Christian
man and if the good people of this as
sembIy do not pay the deficit, I viii!
personally do So" Contributions were
requested after the service and the
! liberal responses were more than sufi-
cient to raise the necessary fund.