Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1918-03-14
WITNESSES TESTIFY
| FOR PASTOR WALDR0N
Two Prominent Members of
Windsor Baptist Church Pin
Their Faith to Clergyman
Never Heard Him Utter Anti.
American Opinions.

| Rev. Clarence n. Waldron, former pastor
of n Baptist Church in Windsor, who is
charged with obstructing the draft laws
and with melting disloyalty to the United
! States. The government rested its case at
eleven o'clock in the morning and two wit
! nesses for the defence were on the stand
| in the afternoon.
During the trial yesterday afternoon a
number of clergymen were present and
several women brought their knitting Be-
! sides the Burlington people present there
was a large number of people outside of
! this vicinity who had heard of the case
| and wanted to see a part Of It. 1t is evil
! dent that the trial will last the remainder
of the week for, besides the witnesses the
defence already had on hand, large num-
Der arrived late yesterday afternoon.
Yesterday morning the government put
on several witnesses who substantiated
| the testimony Of those who had been on
| the stand before 20 :he cffct that Pastor
Waldron made such statements as "You
can't use my church for patriotic pur-
poses." ITO tell with patriotism" and
| other remarks attributed by former wit
nesses to have beer made by the minister.
| Tho witnesses were II. B. Ryther, who was
| on the stand when adjournment for the
! day was taken Tuesday: Nettie q. Will
| lams. a member of Waldron's church: A.
| X. Hall. for IS years q selctman in Wind
sor and an occasional attendant at the
Baptist Church. and Frank Ward.
The government closed with w. D.
Tuxbury as witness. Mr.. Tuxbury IL
| a retired business man of Windsor and
is evidently one who is interested in
| most OF the projects for the good of the
community He testified that he, as
x,l. nt~,..r
called on Mr. Waldron with reference
| TO observing Patriotic Sunday i'm October.
Waldron, according to the witness, re-
fused to take part part in the exercises
of the day. declaring that he did not be-
heve in fighting. Mr.. Tuxbury knew
| nothing of a meeting in Waldrons
! church Of a patriotic nature. although one
| might have been held at n time when he
was out of town.
| When asked If Mr.. Waldron had not
| told him that a meeting had been held
| in his church. Mr. Tuxbury replied. with
| out the slightest hesitancy, that he had
not. The witness further testified that
| Waldron refused to ring the bell on the
Sunday in question and that he further
refused to decorate the auditorium of the
church with the national colors. The
counsel seemed unable to derive any
benefit from a cross denomination Of Mr.
Tuxbury.
| At II O'Clock. when the testimony Of
| the government was all in. the court
| ordered a recess until three o'clock in
| the afternoon. The recess was taken
to allow the counsel for the defense
an opportunity to consult with their
] witnesses.
TESTIMONY FOR THE DEFENSE.
o. p. Nordland was the first witness
for the defense. Mr.. Nordland was born
In Sweden and has been in Windsor for
the last three years. He had been a
| member of MFR. Waldron's church since
April. 1917. and attended regularly until
the time when the pastor resigned. He
was president Of the young mems Bible
| class. He also sang in the choir Mr..
Nordland was present when the sermon
was preached. "1s the Kaiser Anti
Christi" Mr.. Nordland testified that the
| pastor read abstracts from magazi
and said at the conclusion: II do not
take the stand. I leave 1t for YOU to
use your own Judgment The witness
never heard Waldron say anything
against enlisting. Mr.. Nordland said
that Waldron repeatedly prayed for the
United States and rendered thanks that
the country had such a President. The
pastor. according to the witness. thought
time.
The witness knew Of mass meatine
held In Waldron's church under the aus
pieces of Dartmouth students. He thought
1t was held for patriotic reasons. He did
know that the church was turned over
to the young men.
Mr.. Nordland testified that Waldron had
advised his parishioners to help the Arme-
nian and Syrian relief work KNOWING
my position. as he did the witness tes-
tifed "he said to go ahead with aiding
the Red Cross work" He said on cross
examination that the pastor said repeat
eddy: my personal view Is that l cannot
kill. however. ! do not inf1ict my views
on other people" Mr.. Noordman said
that never to his knowledge had Mr.
waldron started any controversy regard
ing the war. In fact, the witness testified
that Mr. Waldron had said to him ut is
our duty to do what we can for our coun.
try
| When questioned by Mr. Billiard. Mr.
| Nordland, who wore his hair long like
, many artists. testified that he was q
, painter. Then he added that he ran q
: paint shop. 1t seems that Mr.. Nordlant
!, had a long acquaintance with the district
attorney He testified at the Brattlebort
trial and quite an intimacy sprung up be
tween them. Under further examination
= the witness practically admitted that h.
was a Holy Roller. He said that he be
lieyed all that Mr.. Waldron did when h,
was pastor Of the Baptist Church and o
! late he attended meetings at Mr.. Wald
ron's house, where the Holy Rollers o.
y Pentecostal observances were held. He wa
y evidently a firm believer In Mr.. Waldorf
and said: II am willing to place IN!
: honor and the honor Of my family in hi
d hands" Mr.. Nordland resigned all hi
: church offices at the time Mr.. Waidrol
y resigned, but still remained member o
d the church. II believe all that they d,
Q and more" he answered when in interro
n gated. Mr.. Nordland repeated under tn
It Examination that Mr.. Waldron preached
i the doctrine that Christian sOuld no
4 Lu, He also stated that he would follow
d Mr. Waldron anywhere. He himsel
|: ha. brought me to Christ" he testified.
Ia Nordland testified that Waldron CAV
d ,,,r, one of tho pamphlets "The WOr
80 the Cross" Extracts from the pam
,,,et were read by Mr.. Billiard.
}. Contained such statements as Bette
Thousand times die than shed tn
,ood Of a fellow; Under no circum
n s.ances can ! undertake any servic
70 ..SIch has for it's purpose the prosecu
l. ~, of this war" The booklet con
t. .o,med many other opinions of a simi
o. lar nature
li ,amphlets came from caused some dis
,e ,s.,on. Nordiand said that at a trus
ID ,a.s. meeting Waldron showed an ad
-.