Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1921-01-28
ACcUSERS DENOUNCED.

ACcUsERs DENOUNCED.
Atlanta Minister Preached to Unusu-
ally Large Congregation Sunday.
Capacity audiences roundly applaud
ed two unusual sermons Sunday by DR..
Caleb A. Ridley. pastor of the Central
BAPTIST church, in which he scathingly
denounced his accuscrs in police court
Saturday and declared the belief, that
Il carefully planned blackmail scheme
had been their motive in causing his
arrest, says the Atlanta Journal Of
Tuesday.
Recorder Johnson had dismissed the
charges, which were preferred by Mrs.
c. p. Hamilton, Of 16 Cooper street,
who claimed the pastor made insulting
advances to her Friday afternoon on
the front porch of her home. After
hearing the evidence the recorder ac-
quilted DR.. Ridley with the remark
that it appeared that "only the best of
motives inspired the minister's visit to
Mrs. Hamilton's front porch"
Previous announcement that the case
would be discussed by DR.. Ridley at his
Sunday services caused the church to
be packed almost to suffocation at the
morning service and again in the even
ing.
IF you folks would come to church
like this to hear and receive the word
of God, we'd have a better city to live
in." commented DR.. Riley, rs he de-
nanded to know, where in the world
all these people came from
"Sit friendly tonight, friends he
urged, as the crowd grew larger and
surged back and forth in the aIsles. 1T
won't do on the front porch, but you
can sit just as close as you please
here
Tells of Incident.
Then he pulled off his coat and
launched into q detailed discussion Of
his visit Friday afternoon to the Ham
ilton home; later calls on him by L. NJ.
Johnson, a friend of tho Hamilton's;
the scene in front of his home on Coop
er street; his arrest by Night Police
Chief Jett, and the subsequent trial'in
police court which exonerated him.
1t was dramatic statement, caust1c,
sometimes sarcastic, then humorous,
always convincing. and when he con-
cludcd with an impassioncd appeal for
funds with which to complete the new
church which is now being erected on
Cooper street, the response was spon-
tancous and contributions were litera:
ly showered on the deacons and ushers
who passed through the packed audi
ence. More than $1,000 was raised Tor
the building fund at the morning SER
vice and this was increased by almost
another thousand Sunday night.
First Of all, I want to thank God for
the fair manner in which this unfortu-
nate mess has been handled by the
newspapers Of Atlanta" began Dr.. Rid
ley. The papers could have ruined
me il they had wanted to, but they
were unwilling 10 damn a man without
4 careful and painstaking investigation.
A man caught in my position is fortu-
nate that he has the consideration Of
the daily press"
Investigation Is On.
After voicing his deep appreciation
of the evidences of, confidence and SYM
pathy which greeted him on all sides
during the affair the minister declared
that his attorneys were still at work on
the case, and that if evidence to sub
stantiate his belief that an attempted
badger game" was at the root Of his
arrest, he intended to put "evcry one
of the scamps in the pcnitcntiary."
My visit to Mrs. Hami!ton's front
porch was made at 9 o'clock in the Gay
time" he continued, "and yet nothing
was heard Of my alleged misconduct
for more than seven hours. Then, aft
rr had retired. this man, J.. NJ. John
son. came in my house and said was
wanted at once ut the Hamilton home.
l. dismissed him with the remark that
| could not leave the house unless it
was an urgent matter in which could
do good. Then he came back, and this
time ! dismissed him with the remark
that he could go to hell.
Il firmly believe with all my soul
that they wanted to lure me into the
Hamilton home in order 10 get posses
sion of the payroll money they knew
had in my homo with which TO pay
the workmcn who are building our new
church. If had gone across the street.
the woman would have confronted me
with trumpcd-up charges and then
screamed, and they probably reasoned
that fear of scandal would have caused
me TO promptly surrender the payroll
money to get out Of the affair"
Frequent Applause.
II am very glad I did not fail INTO
the trap that was set for lAe. If had
gone with Johnson, know tllis-cithcr
IL dead preacher or dead man would
now be lying on the cooling board" An
oulburst of applause greeted the min