Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-08
Victory for Methodist Bishop
Comes After Vigorous De-
tense of Self Against Grave
Accusations Kept Secret
"JURY" REJECTS ALL
48 SEPARATE COUNTS
Second Triumph Within Few
Months Over 0pponents-Goes
to Hospital Before Decision,
Which Is Brought to Him by
Son-No Comment Made.

Bishop James Cannon, jr., mil
liant leader of the Methodist Epis-
copal Church South, last night
was exonerated by board of IL
Clergymen of his church Of charges
on which he had been on trial
since last Tuesday.
The charges, while never dis
closed, were known to be of grave
nature, conviction of which might
have meant an end to Bishop Can
mons clerical career.
The verdict of the board came
after more than two hours de-
liberation, and followed a vigorous
15-hour summation of his de-
tense by Bishop Cannon, who had
fought bitterly every foot of the
way since the hearing started at
the Mount Vernon Place Church
Tuesday morning.
Had the Jury" hearing the case
found that the charges had sufficient
merit, Bishop Cannon would have b3en
suspended from Office pending trial be-
fore the next general conference of the
church in 1884. Such a suspension is
sweeping in its scope, inasmuch as it
would have barred the defendant from
performance Of any clerical duties
whatever until the general conference
had passed on his case.
Charges Remain Secret.
With Bishop Cannon cleared, the eX-
act nature of the charges preferred
against him by four travelling elders
will remain hidden from all but those
directly concerned with the case.
The hearing was conducted with the
greatest secrecy and at its conclusion
the verdict was made known In the
following statement issued by Bishop
w. N. Ainsworth Of Birmingham, Ala,
who presided:
"a committee of investigation in the
case of Bishop James Cannon, jr., con-
cluded its hearing in Washington to-
day. The committee found no trial
necessary.
Personnel of Committee.
"The committee of ministers who
conducted the investigation consisted
of Rev. H. B. Porter of the North Caro-
lima Conference, Rev. T. G. Herbert OF
the South Carolina Conference, Rev. r.
E. Stackhouse of the Upper South Caro-
lima Conference, Rev. A. M. Hughlett OF
the Florida Conference, Rev. w. L.
Duren of the North Georgia Confer
ence, Rev. E. M. overly OF the South
Georgia Conference Rev. w. E. Arnold
of the Kentucky Conference, Rev b.
P. Taylor Of the Western Virginia Con-
ference, Rev. A. T. McIlwaln OF tne
North Mississippi Conference, Rev. Il.
H. Harper of the Louisiana Conference
Rev. w. P. Whaley of the North Arkan-.
sas Conference and Rev. j. S. Barcus OF
the North Texas Conference.
Bishop w N. AinSworth OF Blrnlng-
ham, Ala, before whom the charges
were filed, presided over the lnVestlgaL,
ton and Bishops w. F. McMurry and
u. ". w. Darlington sat with him. at MS
wv. N. AINSWORTH"
Bishop Ainsworth had but slight
ampliflcation to make orally. IL Is
known that there were 48 separate
counts preferred against Bishop Can
non and that these had been grouped
under six general headings.
Find No Counts MeritOriOus.
When Bishop Ainsworth was asked
BY newspaper men upon issuing ms
statement If there would be anything
said concerning the charges he repned
with an emphatic negative, but added
that the board found that on none OF
the counts was there any ground Tor
holding Bishop Cannon for trial.
None of the principals was on hand
as the final chapter was written in
case which made history in the South
ern Methodist Church.
Concluding his defense shortly after
7 o'clock last night, Bishop Cannon.
leaning on the arm of his son, James
Cannon Sd, a professor at Duke Uni
versity, emerged slowly from the church
and entered his car to return to Sibley
Hospital, where he is under treatment
for arthritis, which has crippled him
so badly that he can walk only with
the aid of crutches.
AS he left he confided to friends that
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