William Mahan proved at trial in 1885 that he had been to libraries in Rome and Constantinople and that he had found there the ancient manuscripts contained in his book—also, Affidavits and letters.

In his book ‘The Archko Volume’, Rev. Mahan deals with seven different manuscripts which claim to contain the recorded statements of Pontius Pilate, Caiaphas, Herod the Great, as well as his son and other contemporaries of Jesus.

This book REVEALS years of research done on the Archko Volume.

The Antiquarian Society of Genoa, Italy, of which Dr. McIntosh and Twyman were members, was of vital importance in helping Rev. William Mahan (1824 – 1906), to find, gain access to, and translate these manuscripts back in 1883, the year when he and they had originally found them.

Rev. Mahan had published a rough preliminary edition in 1884, of which only 2,000 copies were printed. He gave it the title: ‘Archaeological Writings of the Sanhedrin and Talmuds’. The church trial was in 1885. He then decided to revise that 1st edition by adding more background information, and in 1887 he published ‘The Archko Volume’ which was his final edition.

The public controversy being created and driven by a Rev. Quarles against Rev. William Mahan in the newspapers of 1884 and 1885, both being Presbyterians but of different synods, was of such a nature as to seriously reflect upon the Presbyterian church as a whole. Therefore, the presbytery decided upon resolving it with a hearing –

A commission, consisting of James Martin, James Logan, H. D. Kennedy, J. E. Sharp, and W. H. Holliday, was appointed to investigate the charges made against Rev. W. D. Mahan, as published in the Boonville papers. This commission will enter upon its work forthwith and make a thorough investigation of the whole matter” – The Boonville Advertiser, April 17, 1885 – page 1, column 2.

Rev. Mahan appeared five months later, at the regular session of the Lebanon Presbytery of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, in Slater, Missouri, on Monday evening September 26, 1885. When the charges were read to him, Rev. Mahan pleaded, “Not guilty”. The hearing was then taken up on Tuesday morning; and consumed all of the day –

“Rev. T. J. Clagett, of Pilot Grove, was moderator, and Wm. F. Johnson, clerk” –

The Boonville Advertiser, October 02, 1885, page 1, column 4.

This article then continues on –

“CHARGE.

“Common fame charges the Rev. W. D. Mahan, a member of this Presbytery, with unchristian and unministerial conduct, as the same is set forth in the following specification, namely:

“Specification First – Falsehood

“Item First – Asserting in the ‘Archaeological Writings of the Sanhedrin and Talmuds’ that he had visited Constantinople and the Mosque of St. Sophia, and had found there the Constantine Bible (page 32) and five of the MSS. published in the said book” – The Boonville Advertiser, October 02, 1885, page 1, column 4.

“Revs. James Martin and J. E. Schack were appointed to prosecute him, and H. D. Kennedy, of Prairie Home, to defend. Each count was taken up separately, and discussed, and voted upon.