The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1919-07-22
PREACHER BEATEN
FOR LOVE LETTER

BALTIMORE, July 90 To the Rev
John A Custis, oolored, MY four
years old. pastor Of West Roland
| Park African Methodist Episcopal
| Church, Harriet A HilYeT, c0loTed
until July =, was as the Queen Of
| Sheba in all her radiance coming be
| fore King Solomon" 80 he pleaded,
"Entreat me not from following after
thee, will not leave thee nor for
sake thee"
But William Green. coloTed, s0n-iR-
law OF Harriet Hilyer, entreAted the
| colored clergyman 10 stop writing
such letters, which he believed were
intended for his wife. The latter re-
fused. whereupon Green assaulted the
preacher and both OF them were be
fore Magistrate Brendel in the North
western police station yesterday
charged with disorderly conduct, an
additional charge OF assault being
lodged against Custis. All because
Green intercepted the letter written
to Mrs Hilyer by the colored pastor.
Congregation Attends.
Never has such a case in which
coIored people alone were. concerned
enlisted as much interest as yester-
day. More than 200 of the congrega-
tional constituents of the West Ro-
land Park Church and other colored
churches were on hand and sprinkled
throughout the crowd were half a
dozen colored preachers listening
eagerly for something from which
to draw moral lessons for the sue
ceeding Sabbaths.
Never before in a police court case
have there been such verbal barrage
between opposing colored attorneys. !
Never before have persons accused OF J
misdemeanors stood "only before |
God" as the Rev. Custis maintained
he was standing yesterday afternoon,
and forgotten that Justice Brendel
still had authority to place unlimited |
fines II he felt so disposed
Dear Darling and Precious Loved |
One" began the letter which Green |
thought was intended for his wife and |
which the clergyman said was written |
to the mother-in-law, Harriet Hilyer. |
And because the letter was written
on the morning this month when
there was such an atmospherical de-
preston that artificial light was
needed. the pastor penned that il is
so dark I cannot see the silver lin
ing Of a single side of the cloud"
Which was interpreted as too per-
sonal for even a mother-in-law and
was resented by Green.
Sexton In On II.
He found the clergyman making
talk with his mouth" with the sex
ton of a colored downtown church.
The sexton admitted that he had
been Ginning and conversationing"
for some time when Green came along.
Green admonished the clergyman and
the sexton left. returning when sew
eral singing blows sent the Rev.
Custis into the arms of Patrolman
Joseph Rusicka and later to the Prov
ident Colored Hospital. in front OF
which the assault took place.
The Rev. Curtis was wrought up
as by the will of God" over the sug-
sestion of Steward Davis, colored. at
-orney for Green. that he was pay
Ing court to Mrs. Hilyer."
She Amt no alley woman" re-
.orted the clergyman, amid the gig
giles of the parishioners who filled
every vantage point in and around
The court room. ,"She is a broad
woman and a widow and am a
Vidower." The letter alleged to have
been intended for Green's wife and
which the minister said was for the
nother-in-law. contained the sem
.ences, Your God shall be my God
your lodging place my lodging place."
Ind where thou goest 1 will go:
will live with three and I will die
With thee and 1 will be buried with
hee."
Preacher Wouldn't Argue.
The Rev. Curtis" Green said. was
living too much at my home and
when 1 told him to stay away he
argue but said there was
Nothing to talk about" Green, how
.ver. found something to fight about
md the arrests followed Justice
3rendel dismissed the assault case |
md fined both Green and the clergy
nan 81 and costs for disorderIy con-