Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-08-16
MRS. LEE ANSWERS
SUIT BY PASTOR
Charges Rev. w. T. Reynolds
Used Liquor and She Tried
to DiSSuade Him.

Declaring that she knew of the min
isters fondness for liquor and that she
did all in her power to dissuade him
from its use, even to the extent of
treating and nursing him to prevent
him from disclosing his weakness. Mrs.
Marguerite Gu Pont Lee, member of
the wealthy Delaware family. today
filed answer TO the suit for 100000
damages recently brought against her
by Rev. William Thomas Reynolds, 2700
Connecticut avenue, a minister of the
Protestant Episcopal Church. and for
mer pastor of Christ Church in George
town.
In her answer Mrs Lee also asserts
that she had been paying Rev. Rey-
nolds a salary of $500 month to con-
duct the healing service at st. Paul'S
Church. near Washington Circle, where
the minister claims he was disgraced
and Inundated by statement said to
have been made by Mrs. Lee Febru-
ary s. In addition, Mrs. Lees answer
continues. she allowed the minister $50
a month for incidental expenses.
Sought to Protect.
Mrs. Lee through Attorneys John c.
Mackall and William w. Mackall. de-
MES she had any intention of defaming
the minister and asserts that any and
all statements made by her were lin
good faith with the belief of their truth,
with the desire of protecting the in
tercst of the minister and the interest
of the healing mission, in which she was
so vitally interested" The statements
were made only to Frederick Batzler,
a nephew of Rev, Reynolds, who had
accompanied him to the church on
that occasion, and in the hearing of
William Miller. chauffeur of the min
ister, and we're not intended for the
hearing of any members of the congre-
CATION, she claims
The holding of the healing mission
was her own idea. Mrs. Lee states, and
she requested the minister. whom she
had known when she was member
of Grace Church, where he was pastor,
TO undertake the mission. For a por-
ton of the time. Mrs. Lee says, she
paid $l25 month to Reynolds for the
hire Of his personal chauffeur.
Tried to Change.
She tells the court she frequently
saw him under the influence of liquor
She did all in her power. she states. to
persuade him to abstain and even
treated and nurSed him In an effort
to save the healing services.
The communication TO the nephew OF
Reynolds, she says, was privileged and
not proper subject for a suit for DAM
ages. Miller. the chauffeur, claimed
that the minister was sick, she says,
but she insisted that he was drunk
and that he should not be allowed TO
make a spectacle of himself before the
other members OF sthe congregation.
The minister had retired into an ad-
Joining room and Batzler and Miller
joined him, Mrs. Lee tells the court.
In few minutes. she states, she heard
great commotion In the room. and,
entering. found the minister much en-
ragged AT the sight of her, she says,
he threatened to call the police and
have her arrested and became loud and
boisterous In his denunciation of her
and her brother.
The minister. she asserts. followed
her into the hall. still denouncing her
to other members of the congregation,
and continued to follow her until she
drove off In a taxicab.