BITTER FEUD IN AMERICA

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 27, 2 February 1937, Page 9

BITTER FEUD IN AMERICA

EVANGELISTS FALL OUT. A bitter feud between Mrs Almee Eemple MoPherson, the “hot gospeller,” and her associate pastor of the 4ngelus Temple, Mrs Rheba Spilvalo, has culminated In a tawault by the former “angel of Broadway.” Seeking £200,000 d mages, Mrs Spilvalo alleges that the evangelist Bald of her in the presenoe of others; “I am going to do something about that Jezebel. She may have been ft Governor’s mistress, but no woman of her kind Is going to use my platform and use my money to wreck my Temple and get away with it. “I am working day and night to pay her salary.. She Is trying to take my Temple. She has taken money from me Just the way as she did from the Salvation Army. “Get the Goods.” “I don’t -care how many detectives you hire, but get the goods on Rheba.” Before the feud began a year ago the two pastors said they were the olosest friends and that their cooperation was making the Temple into a powerful national organisation. A few days ago Mrs McPherson told Mrs Spilvalo she was “fired.” “Almee Said Some Terrible Things.” Mrs Minnie Kennedy, mother of Mrs MoPherson, has Joined forces against her daughter in the slander suit. “If called as a witness I will tell the truth and shame trie devil,” Mrs Kennedy said. “For nine years I managed to keep off the witness stand, but if I am called In this pending aci.lon I will have to testify that Almee said some pretty terrible things about Rheba tq me." A publicity agent recently sued Mrs McPherson for £BO,OOO for slander, and the case was settled out of court. Mrs McPherson’s daughter, Roberta Semple, who is estranged from her mother, has filed a £30,000 slander suit against Mr w. Andrews, the evangelist’s lawyer.