Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-09-25
Pastor Found Not Guilty by
Unanimous Decision of
Churchmen.
HOPES TO REMAIN HERE,
MINISTER DECLARES
Presides Over Weekly Prayer Meet
ing at Mount Vernon Church
After Acquittal.

Cleared of a charge of immortality by
a Southern Methodist trial board, DR..
William A. Shelton returned to his
Mount Vernon Place M. E. Church
South last night and was enthusiastic
cally received by several hundred MEM
bers of the congregation assembled to
greet him.
The pastor was found not guilty of
the charge based on complaint by his
former secretary, Miss Carrie A. Will
hams, by a unanimous vote of the
board. which dehberated but a few
minutes before returning its verdict in
the Alexandria M E. Church South.
The formal verdict, announced by
DR.. w. S. Hammond, president Of the
board was:
After hearing all the evidence from
both sides. and after painstaking and
prayerful consideration of every phase
Of the case, we deliberately and unani-
mously find DR.. Shelton absolutely in
nocent of the charge preferred against
him in either of its specifications"
In his address to the jury after the
taking of testimony had been COM
pleted, it was learned today. DR.. E. v.
REGISTER, the prosecutor, asked for the
pastors acquittal. II can't believe this
myself, and I can't ask you to believe
it." DR.. REGISTER told the members of
the Trial Committee.
Supporters Are Pleased.
DR.. Hammond said the charge was
immortality, but refused to divulge the
specifications.
Leaving the church with his wife
after the verdict had been announced,
DR.. Shelton was met by a number of
his supporters, who received the news
of the acquittal with undisguised
pleasure.
II am more than gratified by this
verdict" DR.. Shelton told reporters,
although felt certain of my acquittal
once all the evidence was heard by an
impartial tribunal. My hope now is to
stay with the Mount Vernon Place
Church and strive to repair the dam
age wrought by this unfortunate affair"
DR.. Shelton said that as far as he
was concerned there would be no fur
Their action in connection with the
charges.
Mrs. Shelton. worn by the strain of
the three-day trial, said her confidence
in her husband never wavered.
Tomorrow is our thirty-first we'd
ding anniversary" she said, "and am
happy that we could receive this verdict
tonight I was confident my husband
would be acquitted, but even had the
verdict been otherwise my faith in his
complete innocence would not have been
shaken"
Attorneys Statement.
DR.. Shelton's attorneys, Raymond B.
Dickey of washington and Robert H.
Jones, IT., of Atlanta, Ca; issued the
statement:
After three days and two night ses-
sions of the trial committee, where
every vestige of testimony in support of
the charges was produced and where
the defense was enabled to properly
present its case. the tribunal vested
with the obligation and duty of deter
mining the truthfulnesS or falsity Of
the charge, composed Of clergymen
from various sections of the confer
ance embracing several States, has
given its verdict in language understood
1T should be borne in mind that the
trial committee had before it the al
legged confession and apology which
and furnished to all the
Washington newspapers in q vicious
but vain effort to prejudice the case
against DR.. Shelton"
Rev. j. H. Balthis. presiding elder of
this district, who was in charge of the
which resulted in the trial,
also said he was very happy" at the
Held Prayer Meeting.
DR.. Shelton last night presided over
church. his first official appearance
there since his suspension following the
drafting of the charges. In addressing
the gathering he thanked individually
those who had supported him through
out the trial, and expressed his deep
appreciation of the loyalty shown by
the entire congregation.
A mass meeting in celebration of his
acquittal will be held in the church to-
night following the regular quarterly
conference.
The mass meeting following the quar-
,erly conference will start at O'Clock.
Those in charge have extended an invi-
tation to the public, regardless OF creed,
20 attend.
DR.. Shelton was the only witness on
the stand yesterday afternoon. He tes-
tilted for about an hour before the
board retired to prepare its verdict.
One member said the board members
had arrived at their deci-
sion before DR.. Shelton took the stand.
Other defense witnesses heard yes
.erday were r. Deane Shure, the church
organist; Rev. John w. Rustin of Sails
bury, Md; Rev. w. A. Mckee of Bir-
Ala. Mrs. Mildred Stokes,
laughter of the accused pastor, and
Arthur Brooke, chairman of the board
Of the Druid Hill M. E. Church South
If Atlanta.
Predecessor Witness.
Miss williams, the complaining wit
ness, could not be located after the
rial. She. with her supporters, awaited
he boards decision in the George Ma
son Hotel, across the street from the
church in which the board was sitting.
DR.. William E. Lambeth of Durham,
Y. c.. Dr. Shelton's predecessor at the
Mount Vernon Place Church, was one
If the prosecutions principal witnesses.
Asked for comment after the trial. he
,milingly declined He said, however,
hat he was returning to Durham.
The charge against DR.. Shelton was
Irawn after a committee of seven
preachers, at the direction of Bishop
:. D. Mouzon of Charlotte, N. c., in
Miss Williams complaint
hat the pastor had been guilty of mis-
,on6uct while with her in the church
,fice on November /, 1880.
It was announced the trial was being
leld because of rumors and "in fairness
o all parties"
Iowa Alumni to Picnic.