The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1842-01-05
= Prom the Rochester Papers;J
REPORT OF THE TRIAL
TIE
REV. w. VAN ZANDT,
FOR SEDUCTION.

4 ~ v. W. IAAN
FOR SEDUCTION.
CIRCUIT CouRr-DEcEMBER TERM}
FRIDAY, Dec. 80, y +. M.
.vopx THE How. NATHAN DAYTON, JUDoE sth
CIRCUIT.
iol of the Req. Washington Fan Zdndt, Heceo , o.
Grace Church. Rochester, for the Seduction o. MSS
Sophia Murdoch. -, c.,, Id,
.mpson, Henry R. Sslden, Graham Il. Chapin,
For ths defence. Mark H. sibley of Ontario, Ad
son Gardiner, Fletcher M. Haight, and T. b.
heller.
.ndt, came of yesterday afternoon before ont OF
. most crowded courts we have ever seen :"
,chester. There was far less anxiety and exJhne
snt in the case Of Mcleod in Utica last tS.oD
I. Van Zandt satIbeside Judge Gard' exh;h,sd
s counsel, during toe evening, 20 MmrdacS
eat frmness and composure. MSS Hiu '.."n
Is the only witness examined ana tne co1,' su'
trned to this morning at haH,Pa ,;a..o. ~
Tt the remarks Of cou'sel anu Sova
18th, would fill sever'i newsPaPcs' w.
,saS,,rn condensed the proceedings so as to omit
49, y,star;,i re- a right understanding OF the
jrpor Sy.pEN opened the ease for the prosecu-
e-stated that this was an action Tor the seduc'
( Of Dr.. Murdoch the plaintiff eldest daughter,
phia, a Young lady Of sixteen years oil age, by
defendant, Mr.. Van Zandt. He warned the
ors to avoid the errors of that extreme cliss,
q, believing religion TO be fable ana It's proiesr
hypocrites are pre- pared to credit report OF
guilt Of clerical person, on very weak evi'
Ese-ss also the errors of that other class whose
4 for religion impairs their impartiallty, rem
n them fearful of danger to the church and ahx-
/ indsce a belief that such charges as the pre-,
I against a minister Of the gospel are false and
Enable. Neither class weigh discreely nor
&c impartally. On looking into the annals OF
courts Of law for the present year, It would
found that religious teachers are as liable
lho rrosser passions of our nature as others-it
aid be zen that EpiscopalIan, Presbyterian, and
tholic Clergymsn have been brought forward
krped with this oifsnce-and If he remembered
rectly the results, they were in every ease touna
lty on the fullest evidence. Clergymcn have
re frequent and favorable opportunities for this
,d of indulgence--the avoc ations bring them
.ener in contact with the females Of their con-
egations, it being an important part oil the pas
Z, ri duty to visit the members OF their charches
their own dwellings,, and hold religious CONVEX
tioa with them. These visits arc chishy to the
Elsa ~, clergy find them alone-the male part
fAt a w is generally out of doors at their va
=. dvos ,tious-oar pastors have abundance OF
issr IA heir hands, and it would be remar kable
e we're not brought into the company OF fe-
&kiosl table TO withstand the addresses of men
b u e isndant, than ohers-less practised IN
Z v.gs IL the world. In the case before the
ag4 Il .,uId be found that the reverend defend
4 ssga9 AIRED pastoral visits to his flock an in
49, duty, aud that he paid these visits ehieny
niger female members, whom ne al
ves b peculiar zeal, frequency and tervor
Ia al plaintiff in this action is Doctor
~ Il. y At tho rial head Of the family is Mrs
$50 ,e young lazy. mother. Miss NJ. re-
.sssr ~ rHuiient education at sons Of our best
tsis,s y her father was formerly considered a
M 81 II " aud skill in his profession-but he
E.ilty y habit of drinking intoxicating liquors,
rssss. vsich so many able and good men have
s,], los. q Observation-Disclosures occurred in the
rte Hered personal violence to hiS wife,
" ssaree srison short time-cams nacK Sex
* z,,,asn down man-swas nursed BY has aztec.
mate wife, aud for the last year has been reeu-
I and abutcmious man bat his mental powers had
,eayed-and his wife has bad to support herself
I'd family by her needle, and educne her children
: lib the help Of some friends. Mss Murdock Is
& spnected with and descended from some OF the
rrtfanilies, in point of responsibility and stand
z, In this State. A few weeks PRIOR to the dis
svey Of her situation, her mother remarked to
iena Of the smily that she now Hoped to see bet
~ digs, as her eldest daughter vas now capable
II AGING as An assistant in a school, having com
!etcd her education. At that time the young lady
Id auerfeetlv fair and unsullied reputation-the
greathof SANDER had not injured her, not whis-
tr against her character was heard IN this COM
isnityNshe was q supplemented, happy, art
.s gill. Bot Mr.. Van Zandt came to this city
ad hs, continued some years nnce rs pastor Of
4 re Pro&s slant Episcopal thurehin st Paul street
Mrs Murdock aad her family were members OF
Is aggregation, and the youig lady was ire
gently IL his house He aifeded great degree
piety md bene violence profe,sed wish to be
ind 10 The Tablespoonful SOPHIA car. ssed
I'D kisseH her--apd when, sixmonths alter NJ re-
loved mia wife and family to Clinton street, only
pme fifteea feet distant from her mothers door,
% made her and her relatives presents OF dresses
aey visited almost daily-he continued to profess
hat be felt q deep interest il the welfare Of the
& .mily, bat continued TO takemore indecent hber-
ses with her. Oae day, ia summers afternoon
1870, defendant, said nc vas alone in n: house,
nd invitsd Miss Sophia and ter sister to his study
they wcnt-and while her lister sat reading the
1mror ia an arm chair with her back to them, he
,rew her <fsophia) on the bid, lay down, exposed
IL persan, bat she got awy from him. and with
er sister returned Rome. Mr.. Van Zandt then
BE- article Of dress we'll fnown as Seduction
anillnons," there he descibed theml said to be
xtre.ic!y convenient to perhns of certain class
caste Of character Sometime after this viz ::
lst after dinner, Miss Sophia prepared herself to
stead young ladies' Saving society meeting, and
Ter mother requested her tobo over and get u GER
ain book from the reverefd gertleman's study,
salc &c TThe facts statedbere by Judge Selden
vysil De found in Miss Murd,sk's testimony. which
SbIlovs. Hh~ states that ste was then and there
xedussa.l Her child was hrn the 4th Of Aurust
<kt or forty weeks an s,wo or three DAYS from
sIe time shc stated. [fae he learned counsei
Ltcred into statement which W. omit l Shorfiv
f6sviorS 10 her delivery, 1lst Julys she was calf
"a 70 state her case 20 religious conmt.ee of the
Society, and though DR.. Hwood thought Il would
" six or eight weeks odore she would be 'eli-
Fesed; che pers,stcd the, as now in naming IT,.
ID Of Oe,sber, aud that tiAe only, and that neyc
eAer that day hat she BEN with Mr.. Van Zandt
q will be lshown in evidnce, that the reverend
1tatleman did not take iihrties with Sophia OIL,
Ihstook very indecent lserties with her sister,
81 trl Of twelve years Of AZ, and with young ant
f,tercsting female membfs Of his congregation
4Ni.s af the highest res'cctability-took all III,
tredoms A4hey woull permit. Within few
tysof the time when tbs offence was laid TO MIR
IN zAndt's charge, he called a meeting Of th,
tss'ry OF his church, to sAke defence before il
nc vsstry met, and the 0fendant then there mad
~se ioi'ow'nk renarkahleand truly characteristic,
.imi','oas Affer declsrag the accusation TO b,
lsc, ne aeosd, that hesould not be the guilty
erson IN TINS ease, for thakn, wing his propensiic
~,that way was A. strosg, be avoided being aIon,
attn Isma'ss o an.1ngrrafion even for religious
hiIdren arc apt to res.mbS their psrents' and :,
That t. evidence, it}nk we shall show IL,
bsomblauce in this case ,Abc verv str;king a,,
Aisfactory. II is no cstmon th;ur for rsr,a;,
lnilics to have particular Sarks which cb. actcr
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