The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1922-05-01
FIND PREACHER
GAGGED after
MANY THREATS
Lawton Congregation Is
Discussing Treatment of
Churchman Who Is
Under Fire Id
THREE MEN SOUGHT
IN NIGHT ATTACF
Will Need a Few Days RI
Before He Is Fully RecovA
ered-Fight Still On

LAWTUN, Okla. - The resigna-
ton Of the session, the governing
body of the First Presbyterian
church here, with the announce
ment that it would complain to the .
Oklahoma synod against what II
termed the persecution" Of the
pastor, the Rev. Thomas j. Irwin,
and statement by the minister
that members of church faction
were responsible for his abduction
by three unidentified men late Sat
urday night, were the developments
today i'm the attempt of a portion
of the church membership to have
the Rev. Irwin removed. The judi
clal committee of the governing
Presbytery will hear on May 8,
charges against Mr.. Irwin, alleging
conduct unbecoming a minister.
LAWTON, Okla--Both factions Of
his congregation here Monday were dis
cussing the abduction Saturday night
First Presbyterian church, who was
found lying in mud filled ditch IL
miles east of here shortly after mid
night Saturday, bound and gagged and
in a semi-conscious condition. There
was much speculation as to what ac-
ton Rev. Irwin would take in the mat.
ter for beyond saying that he recogniz-
ed none of the three men who felleo
him with blow on the head on = street
here and then took him in an atrtomo-
bile to the place where he was foun&
the pastor has not made n statement
as to what he intended to do about it.
Rev. Irwin, whose removed is sought
by a portion Of his flock because he
married a couple in public bathing
pool, exhibited motion pictures in his
church and preached the funeral SER
mon over Jake l.. Hamon more than
a. year ago, is to be tried by his prer-
bytery on charges Of conduct unbe-
coming a minister on May 8.
Threatened Him.
Recently he announced that certain
persons were trying to intimidate him
and for him to leave town.
According to his story of the Sat
urday night incident, he was on his
way to the home of member of his
congregation about o'clock when three
men stopped him and knocked him un-
conscious with a blow on the head
When he awoke he said he was in a
moving automobile, tied hand and foot
gag in his mouth and one of the
men sitting on him. He declared he
heard one of the trio urge the other
two to do away with him now" while
another suggested that they give him
one more chance to get out of town
before they killed him.
Thrown From Car.
Soon afterward, he stated, he was
thrown from the motor car into a ditch
at the side of the road and although
he succeeded in removing the gag suf-
ficiently to hail several passing motor.
lists, none would stop and render him
aid when they recognized him.
He lay in the mud hole approximately
three and half hours, he said, before
mobile to Medicine Park, picked him
up and took him to the residence OF
Senator j. E. Thomas nearby, where
first aid was administered.
Rev. Irwin Monday reiterated his be-
lief that the men had chloroforrned
him after rendering him unconscious.
Ele was unable to say whether his alb
9uctors Saturday night We're the same
Who previously had warned him to leave
.awton. He was not injured by the
linen, he said, and today appeared none
sthe worse for his experience.
Members Of Pastor H'win's family
today declared he would need few
days rest to fully recover from the
Istrain growing out of his experience
but made it plain that the minister had
suffered no physical violence at the
hands Of his captors.
The pastor returned to Lawton DUR
Ing the forenoon Sunday but did not
tnter the pulpit at his church for any
bf the services.
Rev. Irwin recently obtained court
Injunction prohibiting the El Reno
fresbytery from taking charge Of the
Hffairs of his church and announced
Ne will fight to finish the attempt
oust him. He bland intense bit
H,r political feeling md enemies Of
he church." for the situation and said
lie charges made against him wer
Fivial. n