Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-08
TRIAL BOARD HOLDS
CANNON NOT GUILTY
Verdict Clears Methodist
Bishop of Charges Still
Kept Secret.
Continued From First Page.)

the fight he had put up had been the
best of which he was able, but that it
had severely Slapped his strength.
Son Takes Him News.
Prof. Cannon, who has been his
fathers constant companion, returned
to the church to bring him news of
the verdict. From his hospital bed
Bishop Cannon announced he had no
statement to make.
Absent also were DR.. Forest j. Pretty
man of Baltimore, DR.. I. P. Martin of
Abingdon, Va; DR.. Costen j. Harrell
and DR.. j. T. Masten, both of Rich
mond, the travelling elders who pre-
ferred the charges. DR.. Prettyman had
remained for all but the night session
when the elders hearing the charges
started their elaboration, but the others
had left earlier.
There was no word, either, from any
of the IL ''turymen." with their work
at an end, they left the church hastily
to catch trains to return to their homes.
So great was the secrecy surrounding
the hearings that not even the identity
of the IL was revealed until their
names were given out by Bishop AIMS
worth.
Bishops Second Victory.
Bishop Cannon scored his second VIC
tory within a few months over oppo-
nentS within the church who have
fought for his custer. At the General
Conference in Dallas last year, when
his activities as an anti-Smith leader
in the campaign of 1928 and his con-
nection with stock market activities
were fresh in public mind, charges bear
ing on these two issues were raised
against him, but without success.
A few weeks later the new charges
were filed. It was known that they
went far beyond the scope of the origi-
nal accusations. AS a matter of fact,
it was said on the best authority that
the question of his political labors did
not enter into the present case at all.
When the hearing started Tuesday a
mass of documentary evidence was
produced and a number Of witnesses
called. and there were indications that
in the case matters arising during the
past several years were brought up.
Some of Witnesses.
Among the witnesses was Frank Nor
gan of Richmond, former Department
of Justice investigator, and now pri-
yate detective, who was said to have
worked for months building up the
case for the prosecution. Accompany
ing MIN 10 Tie nearing WhS tVoOcAI
| Thomas, Richmond lawyer George
lP. Adams, secretary-treasurer OF
Blackstone Institute, denomtnat1onal
Virginia school for girls which Bishop
Cannon formerly headed, was another
| witness. On the list also was Austin
OMalley of the New York Journal, a
publication owned by William Randolph
Hearst, against whom Bishop Cannon
now has a $5,O00,000 suit pending in
the District, in which he charges
SANDER. based on the reputed publica-
ton of matter which among other
things Bishop Cannon said reflected
on his family life. Bert Farrar, a
handwriting expert, was another sum-
moned to the hearing.
At the inception of the hearing, 1t
had been thought that Bishop Can
mons only part, under the presumed
procedure, would be the presentation
of a statement, If he cared to make
any. However, as it developed he was
extended the privilege of 1nterposing
objections where he deemed proper as
the case was presented and of cross
examining witnesses. This policy was
developed, it was understood, because
there were no precedents to guide those
in charge of the case, and because the
prosecution felt that the gravity OF the
charges which could entail three years
suspension, even though Bishop Can
non ultimately might be cleared, en-
titled him to the fullest defense possible.
with the way thus paved, Bishop
Cannon surprised even those closest to
him by the vigor with which ne con-