Bradley County, Tennessee

FBI Files

transcribed by Pam Rathbone

Case #327986

Report Made By: Agent Hawkins
Place: Rome, GA.
Date When Made: 11/25/18
Period For Which Made: 11/7/18

Title of Case and Offense or Nature of Matter Under Investigation: In re: John F. Disney, Bradley Co., Tenn. Alleged Violation Espionage Law

Statement of Operations, Evidence Collected, Names and Addresses of Person Interviewed, Places Visited, etc.

The above noted matter was referred for investigation by Division Superintendent Baley, of the Atlanta office. R. G. Shields, of Cohutta, GA., was seen at his home in the interior of Whitfield CO, and made the following statement;

"I am acquainted with John F. Disney who lives in the edge of Bradley Co., Tennessee, and only a short distance from me. He is a member of the Missionary Baptist Church and a minister. He is an erratic sort of man. His father has been in the East Tennessee Insane asylum for about eighteen or twenty years. Reverent Disney has charge of two churches in this county and preaches at Concord Church, one of his charges, twice each month. I was at Cedar Ridge Church, his other charge,  some time in the latter part of March last and heard his talk about the war, the President of the United States, the Kaiser of Germany and the Pope of Rome. I heard him say that the Pope of Rome and President Wilson were partners in the war and that it was being conducted for the purpose of bringing us under the power or the Roman Catholic Church; that the Kaiser of Germany and the Pope of Rome were partners in the war and their object was to bring us under the powers of Roman Catholicism, and that the Kaiser and the President were partners in this war and their purpose was to bring the United States under the power of Roam  Catholicism and that the President was a traitor to his country. He pointed at me and declared I had voted to make Wilson President without knowing what I was doing. He then said something to the effect that he would suffer death before he would take up arms against Germany. On a later occasion he declared he would rather give the Germans a biscuit than "a bullet."

A. McCrosky, R.F.D. from Cleveland, Tennessee, was present when Mr. Shields was testifying and substantially corroborated all the former said. He stated his recollection of what Disney said relative to not taking up arms against Germany was that he " would suffer his throat cut from ear to ear before he would take up arms against Germany."

R. G. Shields stated that in addition to saying the things set out in his  foregoing statement, that Disney said, on the occasion at Cedar Ridge Church, that every man who joined The Methodist Church signed a pledge to support the Pope of Rome. He also stated that Disney's remarks were in the presence of a mixed congregation  including men who were of military and draft age.

A. M. Bennett, Route 8 from Cleveland, Tennessee, was seen at his home and made the following statement:
"I know Parson John Disney and on one occasion in the early part of this year was at Cedar Ridge Church and heard him preach. I heard him say that President Wilson and the Kaiser could possibly be butting or putting heads together. I didn't know what he meant. He further said that within twelve months we would all be under the Roman Catholic Church. I thought he was hitting at Wilson because he was bringing us into the war under that church. He claimed he could prove the truth of what he was saying. He said the President was a traitor to his country. There were men and women of all ages present and heard what Disney was saying."

E. M. Clayton, Route 8 from Cleveland, Tennessee, was seen at his home and made the following statement:
"I know John F. Disney. He is a preacher and lives on my farm, but is now in the government services at Fort Oglethorpe. He is not an educated man, though not absolute ignorant, and when preaching or discussing religious topics becomes excited and sometimes says things he should not say. I consider him absolutely loyal to the United States and a good man. I  have no recollection or being present at Cedar Ridge Church when it is charged he used indiscreet and disloyal talk about President Wilson. Mr. Disney has his enemies because he very boldly reproves men for their misdeeds and my belief is that some of his enemies have reported him to he federal authorities. He is not crazy but his father has been in an asylum in Tennessee for a long time. Parson Disney is at present engaged away from home but has two churches in this locality where he holds services twice each month. It has not been a great while since he took occasion at one of his appointments to reprove from the pulpit some young men of this community for something they had done."

Other citizens living in the neighborhood were seen by agent but none of them could, or would, admit that they were present at Cedar Ridge Church on the occasion when Mr. Disney used the language of which complaint has been made. It was learned that he had reprimanded some young men, or rather one young man in particular for something he had done and took occasion to point him out from the pulpit during services. This young man is the son of R. G. Shields whose statement is with this report.

From the best information that could be obtained it seems that the matters complained of occurred in the latter part of March of the present year and prior to the passage by congress of the Espionage Act.

The matter is respectfully submitted.