Early 20th Century Anarchy: Dohl

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1914.04.07: "LET ME IN" SAYS WOMAN

April 7, 1914

"LET ME IN" SAYS WOMAN

JANE EST, I. W. W. LEADER, CREATES CONSTERNATION AT PREACHER'S HEARING

CASE MUST BE AIRED

Two Women Witnesses Testifying Against Pastor Faint While on Stand

NEW YORK, April 5.—Jane Est heretofore identified with movements of the Industrial Workers of the World created consternation at the Metropolitan Temple today by trying to force her way into the trial of Dr. Jacob S. Price, pastor of the Washington Heights Methodist Episcopal Church, charged with misconduct by nine women members of his congregation.

At the door she was confirmed by Dr. Frank J. Belcher, pastor of the Five Points Mission, acting as attorney for the defendant.

'Let me in!" she shouted in tones which immediately drew a large crowd. 'This is not a private trial; ecclesiasticism itself is on trial. Ecclesiastism has always whitewashed the church whenever charges are made against pastors. These trials ought to be held out in the open where people can hear them: There is a great deal of talk about shielding the pastor.

'I want to see Dr. Price," she continued. "I'd like to see him try to kiss me?'

The pastor of the temple. Rev. George W. Downs, tailing in an effort to keep the woman quiet, called in
policeman, who escorted her from the place and warned her to stay out.

Mrs. Hilma Dohl, whose testimony was excluded at the trial of Mr. Price yesterday, since her charge was not included in the general complaint, was allowed to take the stand. She said she had been improperly approached by Dr. Price and that she had subsequently received visits from two persons who tried with threats and intimidation to prevent her from testifying.

Mrs. Dohl collapsed while describing a scene at the parsonage, when she said Dr. Price drew her to a lounge
and hugged her.

Rather than relate humiliating fronts she alleged she suffered at the hands of Dr. Price while she was in
his congregation, Mrs Lillian Miller, now of Baltimore, refuses to testify, and then fainted in the witness chair.

When the prosecution closed Dr. Price took the stand in his own behalf, entering a general denial of all
accusations. Several members of his congregation were called as character witnesses by the defense.

1914.04.06: I.W.W. WOMAN RAISES RUMPUS

April 6, 1914

I.W.W. WOMAN RAISES RUMPUS

Forces Way Into Trial of Pastor Who Is Charged With Misconduct

NEW YORK. April 5—Jane Est, heretofore identified with movements of the Industrial Workers of the
World, created consternation at the Metropolitan temple yesterday trying to force her way into the trial of Dr.
Jacob R Price, pastor of the Washington Heights Methodist Episcopal church, who is charged with misconduct by nine women members of his congregation.

At the door she was confronted by Dr Frank J Belcher, pastor of the Five Points mission, acting as attorney for the defendant.

"Let me in," she shouted in tones which immediately drew a large crowd. "This is not a private trial. Ecclesiasticism itself is on trial. Ecclesiasticism has always whitewashed the church whenever charges are made against pastors. These trials ought to be held out in the open where people can hear them. There is a great deal of talk about shielding the pastor.

"I want to see Dr. Price. I'd like to see him try to kiss me!"

It has been charged that Dr. Price, among other things, tried to kiss a woman member of his congregation.

Followed by the crowd, the woman succeeded in pushing her way into the temple, but could get no further that the witness room. Here she described herself as a "church cleaner."

During the I. W. W raids on New York churches recently, Jane Est was a prominent speaker. She compared the movement to the French revolution.

Mrs Hilma Dohl, whose testimony was excluded yesterday since her charge was not included in the general complaint, was allowed to take the stand. She said she had been improperly approached by Dr. Price and that she had subsequently received visits from two persons who tried with threats and intimidation to prevent her from testifying.

She had decided, she said, not to press the charges on account of her children, but on opening the bible for inspiration her finger fell on a verse which seemed to urge her action.

1914.04.06: CHURCH GUARDED TO FOIL JANE EST

April 6, 1914

CHURCH GUARDED TO FOIL JANE EST

Washington Heights M. E. Members Feared New Row at Service.

DR. PRICE VICTIM OF PLOT, FRIENDS SAY

Lay Trouble to Women Spurned by Pastor Recall Friction Over Choir Head.

Fearing that Jane Est, the Industrial Workers of the World agitator, would repeat at the Washington Heights Methodist Episcopal Church the disturbance she created on Saturday at the trial of the church's rector, the Rev. Jacob E. Price, a detective was placed on guard yesterday morning before the service began.

The sleuth had nothing to do. If Miss Est was on hand she did not become active enough to excite attention, and the service went off as smoothly as had any of the others prior to the charges against the pastor by several women.

Combating the accusations against Mr. Price, two of the trustees of his church declared yesterday that the minister had really been "hounded" by the women, instead of forcing his attentions on them, and that the clergyman's refusal to give them encouragement so infuriated them that they decided to have vengeance by bringing charges against him.

The defence of Dr. Price was outlined yesterday for The Tribune by Walter Comfort, president of the board of trustees.

It will be shown, said Mr. Comfort that the charges were part of a plot to oust Dr. Price from the church in retaliation for his supposed instrumentality in bringing about the dropping of Charles Delmont as leading of the church choir.

As to the kissing charges themselves, he said, it would be shown that not only was Dr. Price innocent of even so much as indiscretions, but that whatever improper conduct had occurred had been in the form of advances made to Dr. Price by certain women, and that they had been repulsed. Piqued at this, he said their minds had been further worked upon by those interested in the spite plot against their minister, until they had been brought to twisted and exaggerated versions of what had really occurred.

"When the whole truth of the situation is placed before the trial court," said Mr. Comfort, "I do not think there will be any doubt that Mr. Price will be entirely exonerate. When these charges were first circulated, the board of trustees investigated them, and was almost unanimous in his favor. The only one who was not in his favor heard only one side of the gossip.

...

1914.04.05: DR. PRICE IS CALLED TEMPTER BY WIDOW

April 5, 1914

DR. PRICE IS CALLED TEMPTER BY WIDOW

Mrs. Dohl Tells at Trial of Stolen Kisses and Overtures by Pastor.

MISS EST CREATES SCENE

Girl I.W.W. Agitator Tries to Break Into Trial Room--Talks of Violence.

The select committee of Methodist ministers trying the Rev. Dr. Jacob Embury Price, accused of kissing women of his congregation, heard yesterday the story of Mrs. Helena Dohl, whose testimony was not allowed on Friday.

Mrs. Dohl, a widow who makes dresses, told the ministers that she called on Dr. Price at the parsonage of the Washington Heights Methodist Church in 1911. He met her, she said, and then led her to a couch and asked her to sit down and put his arm about her.

"I told the court that he kissed me then and said that we should be a comfort to each other," Mrs. Dohl said afterward. "I was frightened and burst into tears and ran away from him.

"Later two members of the congregation called upon me and told me that if I appeared against Dr. Price I would week and wish myself dead.

Sought Advice In Bible, She Says.

"I was in great trouble over it, so I opened the Bible at a chance to see what counsel it would give me. I opened at Proverbs xxiv., and the first words I saw were verses 24 and 25, reading:

" 'He that saith unto the wicked, thou art righteous: him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him.
" 'But to them that rebuke him shall be delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them.'

"I told the ministers about these verses and they seemed startled. They got out the big church Bible and looked up the passages and then sent for the persons who threatened me."

Mrs. Dohl is to be heard again tomorrow. After she testified the defence put on the stand members of Dr. Price's congregation who testified to his good character.

Ephraim Hill denied that he had threatened Mrs. Dohl or tried in any way to prevent her telling her story.

E. W, Lincoln of Dunlap & Co., Walter R. Comfort, N. B. Sprague, E. B. Treat, publisher, Thomas Hicks and Frank Moss, Dr. Price's counsel, were heard in the pastor's behalf.

Woman Calls Accusers Gossips.

A wealthy woman member of Dr. Price's congregation testified that she knew the women who had appeared against him and that they were gossips who had long been intimate friends and went making common cause against Dr. Price.

William Bruce, whose wife was among the first to hear the stories about Dr. Price, declared that the attitude of the court had completely changed over night.

"I thought they were going to whitewash Dr. Price," he said to a Sun man, "but I do not think now they will dare treat the charges lightly. Today for the first time the committee has been polite and considerate toward accusing witnesses. Hitherto we have not had a fair hearing. I think the change is entirely due to publicity given to the case in the newspapers."

Dr. Price, who will take the stand tomorrow to wind up his defence, would not discuss the case. He spoke with enthusiasm of his own part in founding and naming the Epworth League, before which he is to speak this afternoon, and spoke of this present troubles only with the phrase:

"Hooray. hooray for our country!"

Talks of Nearness to 'Real Animus.'

One of the members of the committee said after the day's session was over:

"The significant thing is not the number of women appearing against Dr. Price or the fact that they come from other places than New York. The notable thing is that they are, or were, all of a single congregation. No member of any of Dr. Price's other congregations has appeared against him.

"We are just digging down to the real animus beneath those charges. We have not brought it completely to light yet. Mr. Hill completely explained away the appearance of his having tried to silence Mrs. Doh.

"It would be improper for me to tell you what we know or what opinion I have formed, but if you knew what we knew you would understand why these charges have been brought.

"Not one woman has testified that Dr. Price was guilty of improper conduct with her. The worst that is charged is that he kissed and hugged them, it is a terrible thing and the mere accusations hurt Dr. Price beyond repair. He may seem jolly, but he feels this very much indeed."

Jane Est. who has made I. W. W. speeches in Rutgers Square, tried to break into the trial room in the morning and drew such a crowd that police reserves had to be called to restore order.

Miss Est Urges Violence.

Miss Est couldn't get past the doorkeeper, who, however, had to put his whole weight against the door to keep her out. She shouted loud and long.

Then she went out on the steps of the Metropolitan Temple, where the trial was going on, and told a rapidly growing audience that she would like to tar and feather Dr. Price.

"They say he fascinates women," said Miss Est. "Fascinates them! What do you think of that? I'd like to have him kiss me! And they try him in secret! Why don't you men break into that room? Do you suppose it is decent for a woman to have to appear against that old hugger."

"How dare you talk like that?" inquired the Rev. Dr. Frank J. Belcher of the Five Points Mission, who had come from the trial room at Miss Est's summons.

"Dr. Price isn't on trial," Miss Est shouted back at him. "The Church is on trial. Ecclesiasticism is on trial." Dr. Belcher disappeared. Miss Est went into one of the witness rooms and yelled and yelled. When the police came she said she was going up to the Eighteenth Street Methodist Church and "address the conference." She started, but word of her intention preceded her and she didn't get in.

1914.04.04: WOMEN FAINTED

April 4, 1914

WOMEN FAINTED

When Forced to Tell of Affronts by Rev. Dr. Price.

NEW YORK, April 4,—The fainting of two women witnesses and calling out of the police reserves to suppress Miss Jane Est, an I. W. W. orator, who grasped the occasion to denounce church trials this afternoon, threw the trial of Rev. Dr. Jacob B. Price, charged with kissing and embracing women of his congregation, into a wild uproar.

Mrs. Lillian Miller, formerly a member of Dr. Price's Washington Heights church, but who now lives in Baltimore, fainted as she left the stand. She had been subjected to a grilling examination in a vain effort to get her to tell details of an alleged affront by Dr. Price.

Mrs. Hilma Dohl also fainted as she declared Dr. Price, while she was visiting him in his parsonage, hugged her and pushed her onto a lounge in his studio.

Pages

1914.04.07: "LET ME IN" SAYS WOMAN

April 7, 1914

"LET ME IN" SAYS WOMAN

JANE EST, I. W. W. LEADER, CREATES CONSTERNATION AT PREACHER'S HEARING

CASE MUST BE AIRED

Two Women Witnesses Testifying Against Pastor Faint While on Stand

1914.04.06: I.W.W. WOMAN RAISES RUMPUS

April 6, 1914

I.W.W. WOMAN RAISES RUMPUS

Forces Way Into Trial of Pastor Who Is Charged With Misconduct

1914.04.06: CHURCH GUARDED TO FOIL JANE EST

April 6, 1914

CHURCH GUARDED TO FOIL JANE EST

Washington Heights M. E. Members Feared New Row at Service.

DR. PRICE VICTIM OF PLOT, FRIENDS SAY

Lay Trouble to Women Spurned by Pastor Recall Friction Over Choir Head.

1914.04.05: DR. PRICE IS CALLED TEMPTER BY WIDOW

April 5, 1914

DR. PRICE IS CALLED TEMPTER BY WIDOW

Mrs. Dohl Tells at Trial of Stolen Kisses and Overtures by Pastor.

MISS EST CREATES SCENE

Girl I.W.W. Agitator Tries to Break Into Trial Room--Talks of Violence.

1914.04.04: WOMEN FAINTED

April 4, 1914

WOMEN FAINTED

When Forced to Tell of Affronts by Rev. Dr. Price.