South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-09-21
MAY BRING SUIT
AGAINST PASTOR
Nephew of Rev. Merrill Dwight
Hills Is Tired of Being
the Goat.

NEW YORK, Seut. 21.-Rejoicing
IN the possession of William ). Bfy-
ans commentator and hearty God
bless YOU" the Rev. DR.. Newer
Dwight Hills. pastor OF plymouth
church. who on Sunday confessed per
r,ifting his thirst for worldly goods
10 blind him 10 the highest Ideals OF
a clergyman retired into solitude
Monday while his wealthy friends
worked over plans TO clear him OF IN
debtedness.
IL was learned from men closely
associated with the noted preacher
that only a full retractiOn OF the words
that inspired Percy d. Hills, the doc
tors nephew. to institute suit for libel,
can save Dr. Hills from the Legal
spotlight.
Bat it was further learned that
DR.. Hills total Indebtedness amounts
10 a little more than 100000 and
that sum can De paid If Dr. Hllhs VIII
agree 10 the plan of his former busi-
ness mentor. Frank l. Ferguson. MI
Ferguson has told the 20 men who
hold the 100000 In bonds or the
Western Timber Holding Co. that the
interest on these bonds can be pald
and that the Canadian government
fee claims against DR.. Hills % TIM
her licenses in Albernie, 3. G., can be
settled and that every debt outstand-
ing against the clergyman can be
Iiquidated If the doctor will but as
sign his licenses TO committee of his
creditors and consent 10 the sale or
the licenses.
Must Retract to stop Libel Suit.
But II is learned unless DR.. Hills
does not retract and does consent to
reIinduish his title 10 the licenses, the
libel suit will go on and more serious
troubles may he visited upon him.
The 100000 Indebtedness above
the tim Der licenses consists OF per
sonal notes, borrowing and other OBJ
legations it is said. But such are the
plans of DIT. Hills friends that it may
develop that the noted clergyman viii
not have to sell his beautiful home
IN Monroe place. 1t may develop that
DIT Hills will be shown that ne will
not have TO abandon the lecture plat
form.
Speaking Of Dr. Hills financial diff
fcultics Mr. Ferguson said Monday:
when I became his attorney IN
Nav. 1909 DR. Hills financial COM
plications and embarrassments were
much more alarming than now. His
creditors had assumed threatening
attitude He entreated me to take
over the full management Of his bust
ness affairs and to advance or procure
the money necessary to tide him over
the crisis. ] found his obligations to
he far greater than L first supposed
them to be.
Acquired Over 81. OOO.O 900.
'In the FIVE years L transacted busi-
ness for him I acquired for him, either
by borrowing or selling timber lands
and contracts. more than $1,000, 900.
At least 75 per cent of all his financial
obligations were cleared up there
by"
Owes AIbucI1Ie Estate $500.
IT was learned Monday from one of
the mosS prominent members of DR..
Hills congregation that the doctor
owes the Arbuckle estate about $15,-
GOO which he borrowed. This claim
will not be pressed against DR.. Hills
Or. Hills attorney, Frederick w.
Heinrichs, has gone 10 Woodstock
Conn. on a vacation. In his absence
DR. Hills will say nothing.
DR.. Hills told newspapermen he
had telephone conversation with Mr..
w. J. Bryan Monday.
Bryan Approves.
According to DR.. Hills. Mr.. Bryan
called him up about SAB In the morn
ing and In part said:
you have done right. and no mat
ter how harsh critics may be, remem-
her there is a sense of justice in the
world that is ali but wider than re-
liEon itself ! myself have been the
subject of criticism and the center OF
storm. If criticism would kill a man
] would have been slain a million
times. Every man makes mistakes
and when he has made a mistake all
honorable men ought TO do what YOU
did-say so But one last word. Do
not for one moment allow this 10 in
terfere with our work in Plymouth
church or i'm the country. Good bye
and God bless YOU.
Mr.. Ferguson made public Monday
afternoon n letter purportng TO he
from Percy II. Hills TO DR. Hills in
which the latter demands "A retr1ctiOn
n Dr. Hills Portland oregon, inter
view and SAYS that he is tired of "he-
Ing the goat" The letter is dated July
%. 1915. Charles TreSsler Clark. 60
broadway. one of Dr. Hills attorneys.
declares that DR.. Hills never received
Ia, l.at