Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1914-04-18
Was Even Refused Permission to
Lecture I'm a Methodist
Church.
Urged His Hearers to Drive RO-
man Catholics Out OF
America.
Dose OF HIS own Medicine

papers contained an item Ihls past
week telling of the Indictment Oh
six Catholic citizens of Denver TOT
alleged kidnapping and assault on
the Rev. Otis l.. Spurgeon, an A. r.
A. lecturer and agent of the Menace,
the dispatch telling how Spurgeon
was carried some distance from Dem
yer following the lecture and after
being severely beaten was then re-
leased and had to be taken to
hospital. On his recovery he went
before the grand jury and secured
the indictment OF Jeremiah Crohln'
Frank Loran, william Dolan, Frank
Nugent, Barney Sylvester and Tim
othy Callahan, the grand jury
further criticizing the police depart
ment for not giving Spurgeon better
protection. The dispatch also stated
that the minister was IRON Des
Moines, and came to Denver with
the avowed purpose of attacking the
Catholic clergy, whom he accused
of immortality.
Now for little light on this case,
which is sure to be heralded by the
Menace and other loud-mouthed
fanatics as a "Romish" outrage. The
'iRey." Otis L. Spur. con is the his
torical editor of the Menace, and
three years ago was assistant pastor
of the First Baptist church or Dem
yer. being removed by the Trustees
after one months service for stirring
nm dissension in the congregation,
and was given one years salary to
Immediately get out. Last week he
came to Denver with the intention
of giving a series of vicious and
obscene anti-Catholic lectures, and
also bitterly attacked Catholic SIS
ters, of which there was no mention
in the daily press.
The Denver daily papers refused
to accept either news item or an
advertisement announcing ms
speeches, so he circulated handbills'
after he had given two talks In the
Trinity Methodist church. Tne
Catholics saw these handbills after
the third lecture had been given,
and protested to the Trinity church
authorities, who refused to let the
bigoted minister talk Friday night.
He then held a meeting In the
Charles building, and among his
savings were that Catholic priests
maintain concubines, that the Pope
Is a white SLAYER, that Catholic
marriages are characterized by
immortality on the part of the pastors
and brides. etc. He said 1t was not
murder to kill Catholic priest.
on Saturday night meeting was
held in the Pentecostal Union Iem-
ple. and Protestant who is married
10 a Catholic woman arose ana
informed the lecturer that II one
word more was said about the
morals of Catholic women the
sneaker would be killed by him.
This mans name appeared in sun
DAYS News. Spurgeon gave the
names of two alleged Denver priests
who had been brought up on I'M
moral charges. The diocesan
authorities never heard OF the men
mentioned.
The speaker made such inflam-
matory remarks that he was
frequently interrupted from the
audience. and the noise became so
general that riot call was sent IN
ON this night he subtly urged
revolution to drive the Catholics
ont of America. Many Of the audi
ence left when the speaker refused
TO allow corrections OF lies.
On Sunday night Spurgeon was
70 appear at the Twenty-third ave-
nue. Presbyterian church. The REV:
Percy v. Jenness was duly informed
that Spurgeon had violated the
anti-riot law by advocating the mur-
der of Catholic priests, but refused
TO call off the meeting. The Trustees
asked for police protection and
Chief O'Neiil promised to seno
police by auto II they were needed
The Trustees advertised in Monday
mornings paper that the police had
refused them all protection.
On Sunday night a number OF
persons went to Spurgeon's hotel
kidnapped him, took him twenty-six
miles out from the city, and he IL
now In st. Luke's Hospital. The
religion and names Of his assailants
were unknown. Because OF his
charges about Catholic marriages
Protestants with Catholic wives
seem TO have been as angry as were
Catholics with him. The Catholics
OF the city are sorry any violence
was visited on him, but every one
who heard him has been compelled
TO admit that he was merely beat
at HIS own game, and that he got
dose OF the very medicine he adyo'
sated for the Catholic priests and
iaity.