Jonesboro Baptists

In Jonesboro, Ark. (pop.: 10,326), home of Senator Hattie Caraway, two years ago it took National Guardsmen, armed with machine guns and tear bombs, to avert a pitched battle between two factions of Baptists (TIME, Sept. 21, 1931). Later two resolute evangelists each sought to become fulltime pastor of Jonesboro's Baptist Tabernacle. Last September Rev. Joe Jeffers and Rev. Dale S. Crowley were arrested for fistfighting. When Evangelist Jeffers installed a follower of his as Tabernacle janitor, Evangelist Crowley countered by obtaining a court order conceding the Tabernacle's pastorate to himself. Flourishing the order he entered the Tabernacle, told the janitor to get out. When the janitor refused, Evangelist

Crowley departed, returned with a gun, shot him dead. Arrested for murder, Evangelist Crowley was hustled away lest Jonesboro's excitable Baptists cause more trouble. Last week he went on trial at Piggott (pop.: 1,885) before a jury of four Methodists, two Baptists, six nonchurchgoers. Defendant Crowley, pleading self-defense, said that the janitor pointed a gun at him. "My only impulse was to save my life and there came before me in a flash--my wife and babies. I believed my gun was my only hope." The Piggott jury deliberated three minutes, acquitted Evangelist Crowley.

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