The Palatka news and advertiser., 1916-07-28
MINISTER INDICTED BY
FEDERAL GRAND JURY
Rev. J. E. Wray, Prominent
Methodist Pastor at
Live Oak.
Orlando, Lakeland, and Other Cities
Charged With Sending Obscene
Matter Through the Mails.


of the Methodist church at Orlando,
has been indicted by the Federal
grand jury, sitting at Jacksonville,
for sending obscene matter through
the mails. 1t is stated in behalf Of
Mr.. Wray that he has been suffering
from a nervous trouble for several
months and is now at the State Hos
pItal for the Insane at Chattahoo-
chee. A special dispatch from Jack
sonville in the Tampa Tribune says:
1t is charged that Rev. Wray op-
Grated as the Star Book company at
Lakeland and Live Oak, and that he
peddled through the mails a booklet
of the most obscene type and photo
graphs of women in nude poses Of a
lascivious character. The booklet,
consisting of 40 pages, was sold for
SIS copy. The photographs cost
$40 for set Of seven.
Rev. Wray, according to a story
from Live Oak, has been suffering
for several months with a nervous
trouble, and in the last few weeks his
condition has been such that his ply
sicians have recommended that he be
placed under the care of specialist.
With that in view and upon his own
volition, he will leave tomorrow for
Chattahoochee, where he will remain
some time for treatment.
The indictment was returned by the
Federal grand jury, which yesterday
completed it's work. According to
information upon which the indict-
ments were brought, the Star Book
company, of which the minister was
the alleged head, had been operating
for some time. The indictment
charges that obscene matter was
mailed from Lakeland, Live, Oak and
in railway post-offce, on the train
between Jacksonville and Pensacola,
herss The latter offense is alleged
to have been committed on June 21,
this year.
Rev. Wray is said to have held i'm
portant pastorates in Texas, Louisi-
ana and Georgia as well as Florida.
He was some time ago relieved of his
charge at Live Oak, according to the
information in the hands of officers,
following an alleged attempt on his
part to have his wife and daughter
adjudged insane. 1t is alleged that
he requested the appointment of
lunacy commission to examine into
the sanity of these members of his
family, the commission declaring
them both sane.
The pamphlet which it is alleged
ne mailed in violation of the law con-
sists of number of stories couched
unfit to be set forth in this indict-
mont and to be spread upon the rec
ords of this honorable court" accord
ing to the language of the Indictment.
Formerly Pastor at Lakeland.
Rev. Wray formerly was pastor of
the First Methodist church at Lake
land, serving there from january,
1915, to January l, 1916, at which
time he was transferred in the usual
way to his subsequent charge at Live
Oak. During his pastorate at Lake
land Rev. Wray became widely known
as q preacher of considerable power,
and attracted much attention by his
sermons. He is said to be widely
known throughout Florida end other
southern states.
After moving to Live Oak, it is al
legged, Rev. Wray's wife learned of
his alleged questionable practices and
she made complaint to the churcn
trustees against him, as a result Of
which, it is alleged, the trustees de-
manded that he resign his position.
Mrs. Wray, it is said, under pressure
from her husband, subsequently made
retraction of her testimony, but
the trustees continued to demand his
resignation, although, it is said, they
endeavored to keep the matter quiet
in order to avoid a church scandal.
1t is thought to have been in con-
nection with his wife's testimony
against him that Rev. Wray, as
stated in the above Jacksonville dis
patch, sought to have her and their
daughter declared insane, which pro
ceedings failed, it being ascertained
officially that both were in posses
sion of their faculties. The latest
step has been the appointment of a
commission to test Rev. Wray's san
ity. Just what effect this will have
on the Federal proceedings is not
known, but it is assumed that the Fed
eral action will take precedence. 1t
is said that it was not until very re-
cently-after the authorities had
begun to work up a case against
him-that the insanity proceedings
were begun.
Systematic Trend of Thought.
According to statement given out
yesterday at Live Oak, "There is
nothing sensational regarding the in
sanity proceedings against Rev.
Wray, but he has suffered nervous
breakdown and will go to Chattahoo
chez of his own volition for treat
ment."
Rev. Wray's prosecution of his book
business is said to have been con-