The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1916-06-14
CHURCH TRIAL
ENDS BEFORE
POLICE JUDGE

When Mrs. Julia Pleasant for thirty
years a member of Wesleyan A. NJ. e.
church, South Tenth street, was ar
raigned before a church tribunal last
night charged with having slandered
one of the sisters, Mrs. Essie Paxton,
she took exception to the testimony
of the church pastor, the Rev. H. c.
Pierce, and called him dirty, black
liar"
In an instant chaos reigned. Mrs.
Flora Hunter, daughter of the Rev.
Mr.. Pierce. resenting the charge made
against her father, arose, welding a
chair with both hands and brought 1t
on the head of Mrs. Pleasant, who
took the count. The police were sum-
moned, also a physician. and in a
brief time order was restored without
further trouble.
Enact Sequel In Court.
sequel to the "churching" OF Mrs.
Pleasant was enacted in city court to-
day. Mrs. Pleasant pleaded guilty to
charge of provoking the Rev. Mr..
Pierce, and Mrs. Hunter pleaded guilty
to a charge OF assault and battery on
Mrs. Pleasant Each was fined So
and costs.
The Rev Mr.. Pierce. following the
court hearing, announced that Mrs.
Pleasant had been expelled from the
church, this action having been taken
by the church tribunal.
While testifying Mrs. Pleasant re-
marked that If the Rev. Mr.. Pierce
was brought into court every time he
broke a church law, he would face
the court on an average OF once
week. She told the mayor that she
suffered much pain from the injuries
she received last night. There was a
profusion of adhesive plasters on the
top of her head.
Rev. Pierce Recites Facts.
Facts concerning the "churching
of Mrs Pleasant, as related by the
Rev. M Pierce, follow:
The last of April Mrs. Hattie Hill
attacked Mrs Essie Paxton on a
street Both we're members Of the
church. Mrs. Hill was fined in city
court. Later she was summarily ex-
PEELED from the church by the pastor,
It being charged that she had violated
a church law
Then Mrs. Hills friends, including
Mrs. Peasants, rallied to her sup
port. Andrew Mcconnell, father of
Mrs. Hill, was expelled from the
church on the charge that he had
slandered the Rev. Mr. Pierce.
Later, according to Pierce. Mrs.
Pleasant, while he was passing her
home, called to him and began to de-
nounce Mrs. Paxton, ending the ha-
rangue with the alleged declaration
that Mrs. Paxton ought to be tarred
and feathered, put on rail. rode out
of town and the rail burned"
Prefers SANDER Charges.
Charges Of slandering Mrs. Paxton,
a church sister, were then preferred
against Mrs. Pleasant. She was sum-
mond to appear before church tri,
bunal June 8. but the trial was post
poned until last night.
When the hearing began last night
the investigating committee, of which
W. T. Gaines was chairman, reported
that when they called on Mrs. Pleasant
she told them she did not care II she
was driven out Of the church; that she
didn't like Mrs. Paxton and would vel
come an opportunity to cowhide her
The Rev. Mr.. Pierce then testified
that Mrs. Pleasant had informed him
she would like to see Mrs. Paxton
"tarred and feathered," which charge
Mrs. Pleasant emphatically denied.
She declared she had merely Informed
THE minister that she would like tc
give Mrs. Paxton a whipping, conclud
ding by calling the minister dirty
black liar"