Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-09
Officials of Three Banks Are
Summoned for Wednesday
by Committee.
BISHOP, IN HOSPITAL,
SILENT AFTER TRIAL
Methodist Prelate, Exonerated Sat
urday, May Give State
ment Later.

The Senate Campaign Funds Com
mittee has decided to inquire into the
handling Of anti-Smith campaign funds
in Virginia In 1928 by Bishop James
Cannon, r., of the Methodist Episcopal
Church South.
officials of three banks have been
summoned to appear before the COM
mittee Wednesday afternoon. They
were announced as follows:
Perry Seay, vice president of the
American Bank & Trust Co., Richmond;
B. T. White, assistant cashier Of the
First National Bank, Blackstone, and
j. A. Booker, cashier of the Citizens
Bank & Trust Co., Blackstone, all
Virginia institutions. Two more
subpoenas are being prepared. One
is understood to be for local bank
Official.
Bishop Cannon, exonerated here Sat-
urday night of series Of unnamed
charges by a committee of IL elders
Of his church, testified before the Sen
ate Lobby Committee last year that he
received over $65,O0O from E. C. Jane
son Of New York for use in the
drive against Alfred E. Smith, Demo-
cratic presidential candidate.
Only about half of this amount
was accounted for, however, the bishop
walking out on the committee without
informing it what was done with the
remainder.
Would Trace Remainder.
Chairman Nye of the Campaign Funds
Committee said today he would make
every effort to trace the remainder of
the anti-Smith fund. His committee
recently was empowered to investigate
1928 campaign activities under reso-
luton by Senator Glass, Democrat,
Virginia.
Meanwhile Bishop Cannon remained
silent today, but was ViSibly cheered
by the outcome of his hearing. He
remained in Sibley Hospital, rebuilding
his strength for return to his duties
IT may make statement later on, y
said the prohibition leader of the Meth
odist Episcopal Church South, ''but at
present there is nothing I care to dis
cuss."
Bishop Cannon is suffering from an
attack of arthritis, which has crippled
him badly, and upon leaving the scene
of the hearing at Mount Vernon Place
Church Saturday night prior to the
verdict of the board of IL ministers
clearing him, said that the strain of
the investigation had taxed him to
the utmost.
Decision Called BIunder.
The decision of the board, holding
that the charges did not show cause to
suspend Bishop Cannon, pending trial
by the General Conference in 1884, was
raped by Rev. Costen j. Harrell OF
Richmond, one of Bishop Cannon's ac-
cuSerS, who termed it "blunder," ac-
cording to the Associated Press.
DR.. Harrell said the charges, which
never were made public, were filed "for
the cause Of righteousness and for the
church,
I'VE were sure at that time that we
were right" he added, after we heard
the evidence in Washington this week,
including some very astonishing adj
missions by Bishop Cannon, we were
doubly sure that we were right. The
committee did not vote with us, but
time will doubtless reveal their blunder."
Other AccuSers Silent.
There was no statement, however,
from either of the other clerical ac-
cusers-Dr. Forest j. Prettyman of Bal
timore, DR.. I. p. Martin of Abingdon,
Va, and DR.. j. T. Mastin of Richmond.
These accusers could still bring the
charges up again at the General Con-
ference, but it was said this would not
be done.
One thing that the trial accomplished,
it was pointed out, was to establish
presidents for the conduct of a similar
hearing If such case ever arose in the
church again.
The board of clergymen conducting
the hearing, which was presided over
by Bishop w. N. AinSworth of Birming-
ham, was forced to develop procedure,
as it was the first time that a bishop
OF the Southern Methodist Church was
under Investigation on GRAVE charoas