The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1918-05-24
COOK SEDITI0N
CASE is HEARD
BEFORE TURp|N
WITNESSES TESTIFY THAT UT
TERANcES WERE MADE
AGAINST DRAFT.
DEFENDANT DENIED CHARGES
Witness States That Cock Asserted
RE Would Rather Die Than Go TO
War-Would Rather Have His Own
Mer Shoot Him.


The case OF the United States
against Elder Clarence Cook, upon
charges Of having inierfered with the
draft, vas heard Wednesday before
commissioner L. Z Turpin. Assistant
United States District Attorney Ld--
Teton. of Nashville. was here 10 rep
resent Deputy L. s. Marshal E l.
Davidson in the prosecution.
Long before one clock, the time
set for the rrial. the circuit court
room was filled with people from the
Bryant Station vicinity where il is al
legged that tine defendant upon the
fifth day of May al Smyrna church
preached a sermon, during the delig-
cry of which he is alleged 10 have
advised young men in the draft to
stay at home and take the conse-
aueaces. and that he himself was in
the draft and that he was going 10
stay Mt home and abide the oonse-
QGenees
The first witness placed upon the
stand for the government was Miss
Penina Orr, an attractive young lady
of Bryant's Station, who stated that
she was at smyrna church ON the
fifta OF May, The first Sunday. and
that The defendant had preached .
sermon. and that during the delivery
OF same ne had advised the Young
men in the selectiFe draft TO not go
TO war. bur 10 stay al home and abide
the consequences Miss Orr made a
splendid witness and upon cross ex-
animation by James c. yoorhies, at
torney for the defendant she held her
own.
The next witness called Was Mrs
". II. Bryant. formerly OF Fayette-
TiIle- but Eho stated tsgat since her
husband had been in the army and
who is now on his wzy to France.
she had come hack home TO her father
at Bryant Station to live during her
husbands absence. she stated that
the first Sunday she was home after
leaving EreenEille- s. c.. where she
had been TO see her husband for the
last time. that she went to church al
Smyrna and heard the defendant
preach the sermon Her testimony
was in confederation of the testimony
of Miss Orr.
Ben Jones and John Harvey BrY-
ant were next called in order. Bry-
ant testified that Cook had stated
that he would rather 90 10 prison or
hare his own men shoot him rather
than go TO earnal war. as il was
against mis- religion. and that all
Christian men would do as he did
That he would die before he would
Kill his feIlowman-
J. J. Moser was next called and he
did not know anything. He evident
iy took his morning nap during the
delivery of the sermon
C. B. ReAvis stated that Cook stated
in his sermon that he would stay al
home and take the consequences and
advised the draft men not to go The
government rested its case here
A short recess was taken during
which the defendant retired with his
attorney for a conference Upon re
turning to the court room Cook took
the stand and was examined by mis-
attorney He positively denied ever
having made any reference to tine
draft in his sermon or referring 10
war in the manner in which the gov
eEnment's WITNESSES so testified He
stated that the subject OF his sermon
on the fifth day Of May was The
Christians relation to human or civil
government and did not refer 10 the
draft Did not advise young men not
TO 90 to war. that he had a brother
in the non-eombatsnt division and
that he had brother-in-lzx in France
fighting He stated that he had as
sisted three members Of bis church 10
fill ont their QUESTIONABLE and that
he had stated 70 them that while his
church was against carnsl warfare
and so stated IN the Questionnaire. but
that this would not keep them out Of
the war. but that il vas his duty and
their duty to their God 70 set ont
that they we're members Of : Christ
ian organization whose creed vas
against var.
Upon cross examination Cook vas
asked what vas the creed Of his
church and be answered By saying
that the New Testament vas the
creed. that his church had no man
made creed He quoted several pas
ssges Of scripture from Paul St John.
and others setting out that it vas
against his religion TO engage in car
nal warfare
Ernest White was called 70 the
stand by the defendants attorney who
stated that Cook had not made snY