Evening journal., 1917-01-25

ter until he returned from a long
tiresome trip several days later when
he was informed Mr.. Cooke was TO
have q trial. He called Mr.. Cooke
over the telephone. he said, and urged
him not TO hold the trial. Later he
wrote Mr.. Cooke urging that In view
Of the excited condition OF Wesley
Church II would be better that he
should not preside at the trial and
suggesting that the jury should be se-
! lected from outside OF Wesley Church. I
Mr.. Cooke also was to ask some
other pastor TO preside, DR.. Watt not
knowing anything about who was 20
be chosen II was suggested also
that a list OF 40 names be presented
from which the jurors were 10 be So
lscted.
Mr.. Cooke, DIT. Watt said, replied
in a sneerinE manner: II shall pre-
side az the trial Who will stop me2"
AZ this time also J. r. Beckiey and
J. r. Nickerson had expressed a wish
that the matter be adjusted. In spite
OF this. he said. Mr.. Cooke went be-
hind the list and chose laymen in
some cases who were not on the list
At one point in this testimony DR..
Watt broke down and wept II was
a few minutes before he could pro-
ceed.
DR.. Watt described the events at the
second quarterly conference OF 1919
and his attempt there to prevent trou-
, BILE. although he felt the air was
electric on one occasion at this
: time Mr.. Cooke in criticizing sermon
r which he had invited DR.. Watt to
preach said: ION some occasions
> you've got TO scold. You've got to
apply the whip" and later: you've
. got to divide the body or Christ"
A paper was presented signed by
ten names, only nine OF whom were
present. A minority paper was pre-
sented signed by six names. Both
, we're discussed as bearing on the re-
turn TO Wesley Church OF Pastor
Cooke.
]. r. Nickerson urged that only the
majority paper be considered He
, counted, no said. the name OF one
steward which was in the majority
> paper, but who was not present, and
: he refused 10 permit the name OF Mr..
! Pierce to be added TO the minority
paper Although Mr. Cooke had re-
4 auested a count vote" DIT. Watt said
4 he was later taken TO task for his
\ action in recognizing the minority
4 vote.
= He said he aid not know in person
the two parties in Wesley Church.
a although he knew Of them in gem
q eral way through the events Of the
s conference.
d AZ this time. he said, Mr.. Cooke
n had acted in what he termed bel
d ugeront manner and had made re-
N marks similar 10 this: You are not q
Il. L.. ~ Nd m nnfh.
q ing 20 DO with affairs here"
h In connection with the action o.
r Mr.. Cooke in the matter OF election Oh
a trustee In place Of George F. Thorp
d DR.. Watt said he had urged Mr.. Cooke
" TO be careful not 70 DO anything tina
e, would be untenable. and had been tolt
d by Mr.. Cooke that he (CoolSe) intend
r. ede 20 establish a precedent.
re At the preachers meeting abou
this time, Dr. Watt said. Mr.. Cook
ut asked that they hold a conference an
he he agreed to DO 90. provided othe
be ministers were permitted TO be pres
as ent. DR.. Watt said he asked M
he Cooke 20 tell him how he (Wati
could settle the trouble in Wesie
ed Church and was unable to set def
IN mite answer.
OF Finally in answer to a question {
nd the Rev. George P. Jones. Mr.. Cook
IL suggested he (Watt) might ser
ns Cooke back next year or say to tn
re. brethren OF the church that he wan
as ed 10 send him back. Dr. Watt r.
)r. fused TO do this, he said because
op was early in the year. and he said !
all thought the situation at Wesle
Church might change.
in Mr.. Dashiell then offered as III
I F.kf 10 Mr. Cn0Ira fro
m DR. Watt relative TO a later meetir
Is for consideration OF adjustment of di
20 houlty at Wesley Church Mr.. Cool
I'D said he had never received the lett
lat and at the request OF DR.. Watt, q
err letter was withdrawn.
DR.. Watt testified that during y
Ike course OF the trouble at Wesl'
ad Church he had conferred often wi
ad his brethren and his bishop. He sa
Ing the calling OF the trial had be-
to forced upon him by the attitude
out people in different places. on q
i'd street and in the homes. He had be-
the butt OF ridicule. he said, and HI
,le- been called by scores over the tel
Mr.. phone and urged to act. DR.. VIZ
urs completed his examination at abo
nts $40 o'clock. and recess was TAX
lm- until 7.80.
Night Session.
let The irst business when court
oke sumed the sitting at 7.s0 o'clock AT
lin evening recess, was reading Of a nul
Mr.. Der of letters which had been init
duced as evidence before the rec
gns and postpond, without objection ur
the this time to facilitate the hearing
nee Pastor Cooke objected 10 the let
'sti- dated October 2S and addressed
this him by DR.. Watt, saying he had !
lob received It. II contained In the mi
the advice 20 Mr.. Cooke regarding
and Watts alleged refusal TO take si'
Mr.. with the alleged opposition. DR.. W
TO testified he had mailed the letter
Wise ruled the letter might be
'ond mitted but with the understand
city by the jury that Mr.. Cooke had
: he received t. other letters from b.
the DR.. Watt and Mr.. Cooke. and deal
D he with affairs in Wesley Church, W
eng admitted.
ence Under cross-examination. DR.. W
poke said he could not recall a conversat
with Pastor Cooke az Union chuI
tiers and although he could not deny
ggeo said certain things. he did not re
icult any Of the things said on that oc
him sion. DR. watt said he had recei
urn a letter from DR.. Cooke speaking
a veiled threat and had replied the
stom was not such a thing. He said
but answer to a question why he
49,, t..,,.,t,+ tb, Rav I Howard GRAY '