Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-07-03
CHURCH SCANDAL
STIRS MACON
SOCIETY
Investigation Made Of Alleged In
timacy Between Choir Leader
and Church Worker,
Continued From Page I.

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-
ceTned.
II proved guilty. members OF the
committee say, both Professor Charl-
ton and Mrs. Lester will be ousted
from the church. on the other hand,
If proved not guilty the parties will
be vindicated in open meeting and
the church cleared Of the charges
which have been placed against two
Of 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 whltewash 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. Mr. Anderson.
they will be dealt with accordingly.
but II they are not guilty Of the charges
the church win protect them. In
neither case, however. win this be
done secretly, for the laws Of our
church provide for action by the con-
gregation as a who'll in such cases.
Wanted Names Published.
There win be no whitewash and
II 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. and no stone
would he left unturued to bring out
the true facts in the case.
Professor Charlton and Mrs. Les
ter deny the charges vigorously, ard
in this they are supported by Mr.. Les
ter and Mrs. Charlton. Each declares
that a full investigation Of the mat
ter is courted
Libel Suits Threatened
Mr. Lester said Tuesday night he
would consult with his attorney
Claud Estes, Wednesday. to consider
hling suit against the parties who
have made the charges against his
wife for malicious Islander.
Professor Charlton also is consid r
ering filing such a suit, according to
| his statement.
Professor Charlton has established
what he claims is an alibi. When
| seen Tuesday night he declared that
the charges were absolutely false:
that he left the church on the night
in question after $50 o'clock. met
Miss Edith Howell. the church or
ganist az Oglethorpe Street, spoke 70
her. and then walked on to his home
on Ntmpert Avenue. MIS-. Jepkins
claims she saw Professor Charlton
at the corner OF the Lester home
about 9 o'clock
Mrs. Lester Charges Malice.
Mrs Lester also denies the charges
/ in most vigorous terms. She declared
Tuesday night that she did not talk
! TO Professor Charlton over the phone
as alleged by Mrs. Jenkins. and did
not see him at all
The charge OF Mrs Jenkins and
others. she says, is simply a case of
malicious SANDER, as she has had
nothing 10 do with Mrs. jenkins for
more than year
My home life" declared Mrs. Les
ter, has been one Of the happiest on
record, I suppose-there has never
been anything even bordering on
scandal in my family My husband
has been kind To me and has been
with me constantly almost since we
We're married. For four years he
never left me alone at night
AS for Professor Charlton and hi ,
family, We have simply been good
friends He often drops by to sing
and play for Us. and our relations
have been just what the relations of
members Of the same church usually
are. love his wife dearly and we