Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1917-07-06

portation committee of the Methods
Episcopal church, in which he declared
he knew the circumstances of the las
charge and that the charge was with
out foundation.
While this was being explained, Mr.
Mccain arose and said he would with
draw the charge
! Two men very prominent in Method
ism, it also developed at the hearing
have crossed the continent from New
York to take the stand if need be in
behalf Of DIR. Wilson.
One of them, the Rev, F. d. Law
yer, pastor of the Methodist church OF
Syracuse, N. Y, did take the stand. His
testimony was a bombshell.
Syracuse Pastor TestifieG
He testified that in Fort Plain, N.
Y, ON October "a, 1915, Mr.. Mccain
had introduced to him as Mrs Mccain a
woman who, he since had reason to be-
heve, was not his wife.
Rev. Mr.. Lawyer said last night,
supplementary to his testimony, that
if Mr.. Mccain wished to prove his in
nocence and worthiness to be a worker
in Methodism, he should now produce
Mrs. Mccain at the hearing.
Mrs. Mccain was not present at the
hearing yesterday. In an authorized
statement from Salem, however, she
has declared that she is "heart and
soul with her husband.
The procedure by which the de-
fendant in the case, Dr. Wilson, became
the plaintiff, furnished one of the big
surprises of the many surprises of the
day. 1t occurred almost at the outset
of the hearing.
Accused Gains by Admission.
Under the provisions of the Metho-
dist church discipline in case where
charges are lying and defamation of
character, the accused, if he admits he
made the statements to which excep-
tion is taken, can take the opening and
closing, to prove that the statements
he made are true, and thus put the ac-
euser ON the defensive
This is exactly what happened at the
trial. Dir. Wilson admitted that he had
made the statements against Mr.. Nc
Cain on which the latter based his allie
cations of lying and defamation of
character. Thus, under the provisions
of the church discipline, he had the
opening and closing of the case, and it
became incumbent on Mr.. Mccain to
defend himself.
He made vigorous objection to the
ruling on this point made as indicated,
by Rev. William Wallace Youngson, dis
trict superintendent, who presided as
Judge. DR.. Youngson oyerruled the OBJ
lection.
Truth Is Point at Issue.
Inasmuch.as DR.. Wilson has admit
ted having made the statements on
which these two charges are based, and
Mr.. Mccain has withdrawn the third
charge, alleging violation of law, the
truth Of the statements made by DR..
Wilson has become the sole point at
issue.
Two letters written by DR.. Wilson to
Mrs. Mccain, on which Mr.. Mccain has
declared that he bases his charges of
defamation of character, were intro
duced in evidence by DR.. Wilson him
self.
DR.. Wilson said he had written these
letters in reply to request by Mrs
Mccain for his opinion in regard to
divorce proceedings she contemplated
bringing against her husband. The let
ters were written i'll November and De-
cember, 1916.
Interstate Trips Mentioned. :.
One of the letters, read before the
ministers constituting the tribunal aid
dated November H. was as follows:
"Mrs. H. G. Mccain. 702 North Four
teenth street. Salem, Ore.-Dear Mrs,
Mccain: Mrs. Wilson and l, as soon as
our campaign was over in Omaha, went
to Kansas City. saw the United States
District Attorney. and there is no doubt
that Mr.. Mccain could be put over
the road for the interstate trips he
had taken with various women.
"We, however, started nothing OF
that kind being more anxious to help
you than to see him get what he de-
serves. We learned that there are
five division proctors appointed by
the court to look into the merits of
various applicants, and we were dl-
rected to prominent attorney now
filling this office by the name of Glen
sherman, 1877 Sarrito building, Kansas
City, who is a lawyer, a temperance
man, and said he would look into the
case after / had given him all the facts
about Mr.. Mccain, where he is living |
and whom he is living with, and made
clear to him that you had not forsaken
him, but that he had abandoned you.
"I then got your kilograms that you
had employed John W. Davis and went I
10 see him aud found that he was
absolutely uninformed on the kind Of |
Ease it was. and not very well inform |
"a ON law points involved.
Alimony Not Desired.
"He was talking about getting ali
nony for YOU, which is just what you 7
10 not want. for it implies giving Mr..
Mccain the divorce which he ought not /
10 be allowed to secure and must not /
De.
"I Offered both of these whenever 1
hey needed me. If Mr.. Mccain could /
be threatened enough to bring him to
his senses it might be that he would |
ret over this foolish infatuation, but /
whatever yoa do. don I consent TO any
livorce. for that is for life.
.'Mrs. Wilson viii probably write You
soon. ! am very sorry for you and
ittle Ruth ftheir ehildl that this
.reuble should come into your lives,
md If there IS anything that can do