The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1844-08-02
Examination OF Rev. JOY III. Fairchlld for
the Seduction Of Miss Rhoda Davidson.


| he knew Rhoda Davidson before she went to live
with Mr. Fairchild, and stated his first acquaint-
ance with her, and his confessions Of her character
| found her to be intelligent in regard TO her re-
llgiOus views, mere so than in regard to other
| things; she said she'd lived In Mr. Lovejoys family
and there was time when she had deep religious
| Impressions In Sept 1888, she came TO live 10
my family; in July previous she had united with
! the church; she continued in my family one year;
at the close of the year in 1885, she went reside
| in Mr.. Twombly stamlly, III Boston; her sister was
then residing in that family, and she thought
| II would be so pleasant to be with her sister
that size had better CO. IN the Spring OF lS4O
/ understood she had gone to live in Mr.
Fairchilds family at South Boston; we were
child's family. believing it to be an excellent
place have no recollection of seeing her till the
Spring Of 1911; in May 1871 she was at my house,
said had had i Issa hsP s s idea Of ss 5
thought il would have been better for her TO have
remained with Mr.. f., and at the time expressed
my regret at her leaving him, she made no reply i'm
plicatIng that family; she went 10 Mr.. Dyer's, re-
manned there or 10 days, and stated at my house
that she had left Mrs Dyers as they did not agrees
talked TO her very plainly, and her whole spirit APP
peared TO be different; she manifested spirit that
didn't appear to be as amable as usual Mrs. Locker
| being in want OF girl, recommended Rhoda to
go and see her; that was IN May lS4l; did not
see her again till last January, l5l4 heard in the
and that she had returned TO his house, and was
much pleased then to hear IT, In the snring of lS4l
Mr.. Faircchd called to see me at my house; | in
quired Of him in regard to Rhoda and her religious
character; Mr.. FalTchild said he regarded her as
good girl; heard sometime in the fall of lS4l or
winter of 1912, that Rhoda had left Mr. Fair
child; ] heard nothing Of her during the win
ter of 1912; in April 1912, there was a young
lady of Boston, a member of the Church who met
Rh0da and she told her that she was going 10
Maine heard nothing Of her till the TALL OF 1872
| or beginning OF 1913, whea report came to me
that Rhoda had become the mother of child at
| the house OF the minister with whom she lived al
South Boston replied that that could not be true
because ! thought should have heard the particu-
| few days after | heard the report again wen,
| and saw the person whom was told had given the
| information; the person who told me was William
Dearborn, he had heard 1t from Mr.. Sanderson,
| and went 10 zee Mrs. Lopez who had told Mr. San
derson; she had definite Information on the sub
jec In the spring of l843 again heard of it, but
supposng it t. be the old report, and that there was
nothing in it, let it drop; in the fall Of 1913,
and see Mr.. Lovejoy, in Nov. 1913 Mr.. Lovejoy
was not at home his son was there, and made
an inquiry Of him about Rhoda as to what he had
heard He said he had heard nothing very good
stated to him that was her pastor and wished to
investigate the matter; he then stated that he had
heard from kdgecombe that she had child; at a
church meeting | placed all the facts before the
members, except as related to her having the child
at South Boston The Church after hearing the
case, on the Sd Friday OF Nov 1913 passed vote
to excommunicate her The first week in Jan
u
Office, mailed at Boston.
This letter was from Rhoda Davidson after her
return 10 Edgecombe; she had not then heard that
she had been accommodated The purport Of the
letter was very good, lnquirng afectionaIely after
the welfare of the church, spoke OF the happy times
she had enjoyed at Brookne, how often she thought
Of the times past while. she lived in Mr.. Shaers
family, but II did not refer 10 the fact of her having
a child ] spoke to Mrs. Shaler npon the subjecl
of the letter. and thought that either we had acted
hastily in excluding her from the Church, or else
ing in pious family, and thought il nv duty 10
call and see her, at Mrs. Ellis, on Oliver st. ibid
so, and went into the house and found her I con-
versed with her tor some time upon the subject OF
had no opportunity OF introducing the subject ex
cept before Mrs Ellis, and thought it at that time
important SO to do !. when | went away l invited
her 10 come out and US, and at the door spoil
in low voice, and told her had heard some IN
favorable reports OF her. She said yes and led mt
to believe that they were true. did not then learn
any Of the circumstances Mrs. Shaler subsequent,
went in to see Rhoda, told her she was excluded
from the church, lthe church clerk not knowing
where she resided, had not informed her,) and
Rhoda told her the circumstances of her having
| a child. Rhoda told Mrs. Shaler that the father
of the child stood high, and was an orthodox man.
| and member of the church Mrs S. reported
her conversation to me, and expressed her suspi-
cions that it must be Mr.. Fairchild. ] told hen
MIR. (. was plous man, and she ought not to en-.
| tertaln any suspicious OF that kind. Rhoda init
mated TO Mrs. Shaler that the father had agreed
TO do SO much year for the support Of the child
| was at loss what to DO IN relation to the mat
ter, and one day in February ! received commu
! nicaon which was addressed to Mrs Shaler, and
post dated, Boston, February 9th, 1874.
TINS letter appeared to be written In penitenl
spirit, it stated how much she missed the good
council she often received in Mrs. Shaler's ia
mily, and how much she then needed its influence,
&c, and inquired afectonately as to Mrs. 81
family
We expected her out to our house as soon as she
could get away. The subject was frequently talked
over with oneiof the deacons OF the church and nv
self, hut we decided upon mode of action 81
the 22d OF May found agentleman at my house by
the name Of Drake; he enquired if knew girl BY
the name of Rhoda Davidson; he made some IN.
qulres, and gave him brief history OF her, and
her accommodation from the church; he asked
me il suspected any one, and told him had nv
suspicious; he told me he was the deacon OF Phil
lips church in South Boston; he was engaged as.
certained to Investigate the affair, and he showed
me circular OF an informal proceeding TO nquir,
into the matter; conversation was had with me and
MIR. Drake, in which the latter disclosed TO me
some suspicious that it might be Mr. Fdirchild, bu,
never entertained any such suspicious; told him
OF Mrs Shalers interview with Rhoda, and what
she had told her; Mrs ). being out of town, told
him on her return would inquire OF her the par.
nculars and let him know at some other time. and
whether she thought Rhoda would tell the name
On the evening OF the 18th Of May, a gentleman
came to me, who was Deacon Drake, and he asked
me if Mrs. Shaler had returned; told him she had
but had not talked with her about the matter
but ! would ask ntr II she thought Rhoda
would disclose. Deacon Drake called on
me on Thursday, July 4'h, again to see nae, for
the purpose of learning the facts of the case and
he wanted me TO go to Taunton, where she tried
to if she would disclose the facts; upon ino,i,y
OF the deacons Of my Church, I came to the con
clusion that ought to ascertain who her DESTROYER
was, it possible and as Deacon Drake had told
me that he had heard the father of the child was
minister, and as Rhoda had lived IN my family,
and Mr. Watersons family, and with Mr. Fair,
child, bad rumor had involved me in the matter
thought it due to myself and society, to endea,
vor to ascertain the whole truth of the matter.
On the 9th June, went to Taunton, and found
Rhoda, but dldno tell her what my object was
| asked her il she had ever communicated the facts
TO any one to the father; she said she had done
all she expected to do ! told her from my views
OF the case the facts ought to come out, and that
they would be lnvestigaled that the cause OF reli
gIon demanded reveament Of the fathers name