Evening star., 1937-02-02
CANNON IN DOUBT
OF HIS REPUTATION
Some Make 1t Good, Some
Not, He Says in Trial
of $500, 900 Suit.

Bishop James Cannon, jr, does
not know what his general reputa-
ton is in the community, according to
his statement by proxy at the trial in
Federal District Court today Of his
100000 libel suit against Represen.
tative George Holden Tinkham, Re.
publican, of Massachusetts,.
Nearing the end Of a severe cross
examination by Roger J. Whiteford,
attorney for Tinkham, Bishop Cam
non, through his counsel. Robert H.
McNeill, declared: Il have told you
that some people give me good repu-
tation and some do not"
The sharp exchange, contained in
a deposition taken while Cannon was
patient in Sibley Hospital here
last June, was read before Justice
Jennings Bailey and jury by attor-
neys arguing the case.
Doesn't Know Reputation.
"What is your general reputation
| in the community-this community
or the community where you live
good or bad?" demanded whiteford
in the deposition.
"I don't know" replied Cannon.
"You want half a million dollars for
not knowing? Is that it?" asked the
attorney
mo, sir. I don't want any man TO
tell me I'm liar"
The bishops reference TO being
called liar apparently was the out
growth of a heated exchange between
him and Whiteford in portion OF the
deposition that the court ruled should
not be read to the jury.
P. H. Marshall, associated with
Whiteford, remarked at this point that
Bishop Cannon had said his reputation
was good in his declaration Of suit.
McNeill stated: 1T was good"
whiteford interjected: And now he
doesn't know"
Quibbling Charged.
"I have told you that some people
give me a good reputation and some
do not" Cannon responded
That is quibbling," Whitetord
charged.
mo 1t is not quibbling, am not
in the habit Of quibbling," Cannon
asserted.
Under redirect examination by Nc
Neil, Bishop Cannon was quoted as
stating that he always had understood
that money for the 1928 anti-Smith
campaign, contributed by z. c. Jane
son, was to be used generally in Vir-
ginia. If the donation was expended
in only one State, it would not be
subject to provisions Of the corrupt
practices act, it had been pointed out
previously.
Whitefords final fling at Cannon
was an inquiry regarding records he
kept of campaign expenditures during
the anti-Smith drive in the South.
Cannon explained that some Of the
records had disappeared when the
Methodist Board Of Temperance
moved to a new building and that his
personal memorandum book of expen.
ditures also had become lost.
Right of Whiteford to cross-ques-
ton Cannon's proxy regarding other
libel suits filed several years ago by
the Southern Methodist Church leader
was debated yesterday afternoon out
of the presence of the jury. Justice
Jennings Bailey indicated he would
rule against this line Of interrogation.
Whiteford also questioned Cannon's
attorney concerning a bank account
which Bishop Cannon kept as execu-
tor Of an estate in Virginia. Tbs
attorney read from deposition Can
mons statement that some 1928 cam.
paign funds went into this executors
account" but this was repaid from
personal funds, Cannon said.
Cover-Up Policy Denied.
When Whiteford asked if the cam.
paign money was not put in the exec
utor's account to cover up this politi-
cal money" Cannons answer was an
emphatic no"
Didn't you use that estate money
for political purposes?" Whiteford
demanded.
NO" Cannon replied in the depo-
sition.
The written answers are being read
in lieu of Cannon's testimony from
the stand. as the bishop Is Ill in Dur
ham, N. c.