South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-09-04
KLEIN SAYS
P0 ELL is
PARTY LEADER
Republican County Chairman
Testifies in Behalf of
Court Defendant.

After the defense had offered
testimony to prove that Rev. Lott
Powell, colored pastor Of the A. VI.
E. church at Capeau and Eddy SITS.
had called Mrs. Marquette. a white
woman, damned white trash and
had beaten Mrs. Powell on two oc-
casions, according TO her own state
ment, Republican County Chairman
Fred Kline appeared in city court
Friday afternoon and told Judge
Gilmer that he considered Powell
the leader Of the east side republi-
cans.
Mrs. Marquette is 90 years old
and she. with her husband, 10 years
her senior. said that Powell at
tempts 10 regulate the affairs OF the
entire north east side. and has dared
her husband 10 come out in the mid
die of the road to be beaten up.
Mr.. Marquette is half the size Of
the cOlOred preacher and has suf-
fered for some time from i'll health.
This evidence was offered Friday
when Powell prosecuted two mem
bers OF his congregation, Leroy
Mathews and Garfield Boswell, for
assault and battery. The alleged as
sault took place in the church par
lOrs when Mathews insisted on his
right as a member Of the official
board to inquire into PowelTs right
as minister OF the church 10 an
nounce political meetings from the
pulpit. and the refusal Of Powell
10 announce a meeting of the coll
ored people at the colored Knights
of Pythias lodge hall y. Main st.
Powell Wife BCatCr.
After 10 mem bers of the congre-
cation accused Powell of wife beat
ing, TO prove their charges that his
reputation for peace and Quietude
was not Of the best. Deputy Pros.
Atty George A. Schock subpoenaed
Mrs Powell When she arrived she
said that IL was true that her hus-
band had struck her. Until that
moment Powell appeared in the role
OF an abused shepherd OF wandering
souls. and a righteous leader OF
the best people of the east side, ,"
as Powell styles himself.
Following allegations OF Rev.
PowelTs flock that the minister had
been appointed by Fred Klein,
county c. O. p. chairman, Atty.
Barry Scanlon. representing the de-
fense, issued the twenty eighth sub
poenae OF the day and had Mr..
Klein brought 10 the witness stand.
Chairman Is Questioned.
The following questions and an
swers were given on the stand:
Mr. Scaulon-What is your name?
Answer-Fred c. Klein.
Q.-What is your business?
A.-AttOrney.
Q-As a member Of the republican
party. do YOU hold any Office:
A.-COunty chairman.
Q-As County Chairman OF the re-
rnff1irum I will gGlr II have
ever in the past six weeks appointed
Rev. Powell as leader Of the
republican ColoreG people In the city
Of South Bend
Al decline 20 answer that Ques-
tion. This is no place 10 air party
politics.
Judge Gilmcr-I think that Is an
impca, hing question, and il an I'm
pearhing question, / would he glad TO
know the answer.
Kicin-As leader Of the republican
party. ] do not believe that that is
fair 20 me.
Judge Gilmer--I do not believe that
should he gone into but unfortun-
ately there has been n good deal of
politics and religion both brought into
this case. and that is the question on
which this case arises. There nave
been certain claims made here. and 1
believe unless YOU can give some reas-
on or grounds why the question should
not be answered, l believe we vii
have 20 have IT..
Scirlon-I do not want YOU 70 mis-
understand this We do not want 20
have YOU expose any OF the policies Of
your party, but this whole fight cen
ters around politics and ask that
You answer our question.
Judge Gilmcr-I viii not allow tho
discussion TO 90 beyond this. hut the
defendant has q right TO insist upon
his answer
SCanlOn-Havn you. within the past
four ar five weeks. appointed or dele
gated Rev. Powell leader ~ the repuh-
llcan cOiored people of the east side?
Klein Have ! appointed Rev Powell
as leader Of the east Side republicans?
That is not within my power II you
would ask IL ] consider him Ms n lead
or among tho east side republicans. /
would answer yes
Scnnlon-That Is all
Continuing the examination OF the
vitne9sos which lasted all day Fri
day IL was shown that the minister
mad called a political love feast
az which time wateTmelons and ice
cream were served 10 members of
The minister's republicans The
minister showed that he was I'm
CONTINUED OK PAFE FOUR)