Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-10-05


week to be married. 10 that his incom
wns $500 and upwards. half Of whic
Was his.
Pleading with him that he was In
iuring the church made no impressio
upon Mr.. Western. He said he wa
not responsible to the church but
God for his actions. lie Haunted IN
church. according to the testimony {
witnesses. lie was warned that
would be brought to trial II he cor
tinued. but this warning had as muc
effect as others. He said he had q
much right. witnesses testified. to MAJ
ry people as any one else and he We
going to continue to and he did.
Wearing a Prince Albert coat thI
came TO his knees, Mr.. ,westren la
night proved a very refractory wi
ness. He WAS provokingly slow In h
answers when they involved a rep
that would inculpate himself II,
when he saw an opportunity to attac
counsel for the church. he was IN
lightning to seize the advantage.
He came to the trial without churc
counsel but accompanied by Kir
Brown, an attorney OF Elkton. /
was accorded the unusual courte.
OF having Mr.. Brown coach him in =
his questions, although this was nj
demanded by the rules. He attemp
ed through jitneymen TO attack u
character OF Rev. George l.. Aide
sen the regular Methodist Episcop
minister stationed at Elkton, but Wi
testimony of these witnesses refiec
ing on DIR. Anderson that did get In
The case was refuted by DIR. Aiders,
In rehuttal. In his own defense, NJ
Westren had pitifully small amou
of testimony. In the first few minut
on the stand he contradicted himss
and IL was through his efforts to b
smirch DIR. Anderson that the mo
important evidence for the prosec
tion was brought out.
The trial was held In a classroo
over the Sunday school room at q
church. Rev. Harvey w. Ewing. pa
tor Of Union NJ. r. Church. this ct;
presided as judge and at the opcnil
OF the the conference called upon Re
I. ]. Sard to make the prayer. Cou
Gilman James Evans was named
secretary FOR the conference and ]
Ewing then proceeded 20 read {
charges presented against MFR. We
tren. Rev. DIR. Robert Watt W
called as the first and most importa
witness for the prosecution.
Dr. Watt TestInes,
DIR. Watt, under the skiliful dire
tion of Rev. zack Wells, who. vi
Rev. Dr. John W. r. SumwaIt. act
as prosecuting attorneys. told of
knowledge Of the case. The distr
superintendent said that his attenti
was first called 10 the matter throu
a clipping sent him from an Elkt
newspaper. which called attention
what an alleged Methodist minisI
was doing and demanded that I
church purge itself OF his actio
Later DIR. Anderson wrote DIR. Watt a
gave him Information about Il
Watt then went to Elkton and. "
Dr. Anderson. called upon Mr.. wextr,
He learned from Western that he "
not tipping the jitney drivers TO brI
him couples seeking 10 b. MARI
but was paying them as a bus.n,
+ proposition 20 do so.
DR. Watt saw Western on Septe
Der and during this conversatl
said he advised him of the impropri,
OF what he was doing. that the i
+ OF hartering FOR marriages was an I
/ POSSIBLE thing in the eyes ot any q
/ ichurchman and particularly a minis
I OF the gospel DIR. Watt testified Il
no met with no complaisance and Il
Mr. Western told him ne didn't rec,
nize the church and didn't propose
stop. That he had as much right
Or. Anderson or any other minister
} perform the marriage. Dr. Watt $
he called Mr.. Westerns attention
his violation Of the discipline of
! church, and told him his acts were
/, turing the church. He asked !
what his (Westren's) standing ,
and was shown westren,s cid,
papers. Western said he was 'loc
ed'-a church term-iIleeaIy.
Western had made no protest altho,
the rules say he may do so IL not sa
fed
I was ANNOYED at the indifference,
the man." said DR.. Watt. II as
> him who was the secretary of
Montana conference from where
said he had come and was given
name of 4. II. Adams. wrote IN
hut found subsequently tnat N
was no such man in the Montana c
ference. l wired to Bishop Cook ,
presides over the Montana confere
and on September % received a r,
T. stating that Brother Western had n
located for sufficient reasons and |
|, the item of business had been lag
! transacted" Dr. Watt produced
telegram from Bishop Cook TO We
his statement.
I Dlvy for Jitneymen
DIR. Anderson. who was the witr
to what Mr.. Western told DIR. W
4 was called TO corroborate and give
: testimony OF the situation at Elk
Dr. Anderson said the marriage sit
ton at Elkton was fomenied by
: gf~ups of jitneymen who pounced
: couples as they emerged from
: trains: that :he jitney drivers v
cGmmercializing marriage and
them 10 men who are reputed to
giving them "a divy" for the busis
"All the authority of the State.
town, the railroads, are against
business said DIR. Anderson. 81
week the clerk of the court at Ell
, told jitney drivers that they could