The Washington times., 1922-07-09
HIS ANSWERFOR
SLAP IN FACE,
TR0TTER AYERS
Woman Says She tainted
When Husband Admitted
Illicit Fatherhood.
DENIES BOOK THROWING
Was Slow in Beginning Song
at Sunday Night
Service.

City Rescue Mission here, for
separate maintenance, again took
the stand this afternoon.
She reiterated that the evange-
list and his secretary, Miss Flor
ence Moody, had confessed their
alleged relationship and told her
Trotter was the father of a'child
to be born to Miss Moody.
Saw Things at Mission.
Mrs. Trotter asserted she had pre-.
viously been compelled to caution the
evangelist about his relations with
girls at the mission, explaining, Il
saw things that would make me
angry"
On Friday, July 13, 1917, she testi-
fled, her husband and Miss Moody
came to her and told her of their
difficulties and the impending birth
of the child. She said she tainted
on being told Of this.
Later, they all began making ar
rangements for the event, the wit
ness said, adding she impressed upon
Miss Moody that afterward, you
must go your way and Trotter must
return to mission work"
On cross.examination of Trotter,
the evangelist said that during an
argument over a telegram from Mr..
and Mrs. w. G. Taylor. head of the
Pacific Garden Mission in Chicago.
Mrs. Trotter slapped his face.
Trotter related that this incident
was brought about when he received
q telegram from the Taylors asking
the Trotters to meet Mrs. Taylor at
the boat in the morning. Trottw
said he asked his wife to go with
him to meet Bob" as Mrs. Taylor
was known, and she replied. Meet
your own friends"
The witness testified that she kept
on making remarks about Mrs. Tay-
Tor, and In an effort to quiet her he
said, "Shut up and tapped her on
the top of her head with a fly swat.
ter.
The next instant. he said. she
slapped his face and, taking the
fly swatter away from him. struck
him. None of the blows hurt much,
he said.
Denies Book Throwing.
Trotter also testified that in Chi.
Cago he met William COlgrove.
former assistant of Trotter in mis-.
sion work here. who informed him
that Trotter had confessed to her
that he was the father Of a child
born to Florence Moody, well known
mission worker in Grand Rapids.
Trotter denied that he ever threw
a song book at his wife during
Sunday night service because she
did not begin singing promptly with
the other singers.
A smile swept over the faces or
the crowd in the courtroom when
this question was asked and an
swered.
The evangelist is still being ques-
toned relative to some l3O letters
written by himself and wife, which
have been offered as evidence. Some
Of the letters had the effect of
bombshell exploding in the court
room.
In one letter from the evangelist
to his wife he said: "If you are not
out Of your mind, YOU are the most
fiendish or devilish woman In the
world. In a few weeks you have
transformed yourself from a hand
maiden Of the Lord into degen'
crate"
Wife "Unfaithful."
Many Of the missives tell Of the
troubles which have entered Trot-
ter's life since Miss Moody gave
birth to baby in July, 1917. OF
another letter in which the evange'
list referred to his wifes character
before he married her, Mrs. Trot-
ters lawyer asked the mission or
Ranizer If he wasn't trying to in
timidate her and to keep her from
connectiI.' his name with Miss
Moody as the father of the child.
To this he said he was only writ.
ing the truth ond letting her know
she was no better than she tried to
make him out to be.
He said he believed Mrs. Trotter
knew who was the father OF Miss
Moody's child, but could not reason
out why she wanted to place the
blame on him.
Mr.. Troter then narrated the
"Magdalene" of the mission and
version Of the conference between
Mrs. Trotter, at which, Mrs. Trot
ter charges. both she and the girl
sobbed out their admissions Of
secret love.
Miss Moody told the circum.
stances OF the attack. said 1t had
only happened once. and that the
father was married man" he
said. "She pleaded that her mother
was an invalid and must never
know. she apDealed 10 us TO Stand
did you know who the father
was?"
bv' her-and we did"
Miss Moody said she would die
before she would tell who he was"
The questions, put to Trotter ly
the evangelist's attorney, Charles f.
Ward. follow:
Something to Answer.
Q.-Up until recently YOU held the
position of superintendent of the
Pacific Garden Mission in Chicago,
?didn't you? A.--Yes, sir.
Q.-Iow long had YOU held that
position? A.-Ever since the death
Of Harry Monroe, in 1916.
Q.-And how did you come to re.
sign that position? Al was com.
PEELED to by the legal publication OF
Mrs. Trotter's charges.
Q.-When was that? Ain Octo.
Der OF 1921.
Q.-What were the circumstan noes
Of your leaving? AIT hoard
meeting In October. I was inform I'd
II was for the best that a change be