The New York herald., 1845-03-28
Trial Of Rev. Joy II. Fairchild,
On the Charge Of Adultery with Miss Rhoda
Davidson.
TFrom the Boston Times.1

MARCH A-AFrEsNoN SESSION.
In the afternoon, at half past three O'Clock, the
examination of Rhoda Davidson was resumed.
Her countenance rather indicates modesty. but her
manner Of testliyng nentrai.es this Impression
RHoDA DAVIDSON, (examinatlon resumed.) ar
rived at home Saturday afternoon, and received
letter the next day from the Post Office. It was
destroyed second was received and not pre-
served. A third was received This is the one, "a
letter shown in court.) This letter had the Boston
post-rpaIk Mr.. Parker then read the letter. which
was admitted to be Mr.. FairchiId's, although ano-
nymous 1t was addressed to Miss Rhoda David
son, Edgecomb, Me.
Inow write yon another letter. not for the purpose
denying what you say have done tor that denial have
made from the beginning. ! wish to say nothing more
upon ths subsc what mas been done bs undsne
havs not hsar word said about the matter by any
body but it is possible that may have enemies
who would be glad to njurs by exciting suspicious
against nae they should hear what has happened to
The possibility OF this gives pain. On this
now write You and your father under strong
possible obligation to protect from all harm you
never to mention my name in such way to lead any
one suspect mo. Your father must never let it BE-
known that he has spoken to me on the
should ever asked respecting the matter, shall be
ignorant Of tho whole subject, and 30 must you be-
it, and shall expect you to do the same 1. was solely
on this condition that agreed to what did should
have done any such thing you and your father had not
see me harmless that you would save me from being
pected In order to do this you are never to let il be
the subject Your father told me that he considered hin
duty save from harn much was to seek the
Tell your father not talk about the matter to your
neghosrs Or to any body for he may lot drop some
h wise head keeps close mouth. II you write any
letters to your friends never aude to me in any way
You mnst write to at all If people should ever
tires Say nothing to them but If they should hap
pan tsHsss me- then your oath bnds you to clear
been of God but il you violate your oatR to me-
you must expect the curse OF God upon you Think Of
the consequence of doing twsud NOT only ruin me,
but would greatly njure you. should then be
able u do any thing more for you have always treated
ron kindly and csn you hsve q heart ruin mo LIDO
never give me any more p.n and distress. have suf.
f&red beyond expression srsady. Don't add any thing
Ia let any mortal that he has or spoken
cue word 70 ths suhjSot orf shall let be-
knows that hhve sesn him. If any person should
ak him whether he did not suspect his oath binds
him to atear He must never tell what my bn.
sinsss s where live tell him 10 say nothing about
may be sure that will fulfil mine Lot mo charge you
before God TO violate your oath and promise After
you have read this letter to your father must burn 1t
Immediately. N8
These three letterswere all received between the
middle Of summer and September or October. My
father was absent when returned home. He re-
turned. and then went away again, fishing. ! did
not communicate my situation to him before he
went. He returned again on the lat of September
went 10 Boston, and came back after the birth Of
the child. have had no conversation with Mr.
Fsirchild since. The witness being desirous to
make an explanation about her evidence, was al
lowed 10 40 so. l have made different statement
now, IN some respects, from what did tefore.-
Now have placed the scene beletO, cad of in
the attic, as testked before. state il now as it
was. My reason is, that yos mey have the whole
truih. and simply the truth. placed il before in
the stic and blended both scenes together for the
purpose OF making the story shorter (She described
the scene at Exeter as having occurred inthe attc)
(Grsat sensation in Court.)
Gross eramimed II ststed before that Mr. F.'s
connection with ME was in the attic. was under
oafh also statedthen, that hisconnection with me
firs, was when he came to shut the attic window
/ slept there about fortnight. It was fronting the
garden. All the other statements that made are
tue. think there was bolt on the door, and not
on the door post, and there was no CATCH 1 take
my oath Of this; There was lock on the door Of
the chamber below. Mrs F. was gone that sum-
mer about six weeks. As to favors received, Mr..
F. said he was willing to advance me money, and
ne often gave me omnibus tickets and rides. He
made the work easy for me. did not state this at
Exeter, because thought it was not necessary. l
was told to tell the whole truth, and did all
thought bore on the subject Ibid not think of this
Iton't recollect whether said any thing Ct Exeter
about money. did about omnibus tickets
think have stated many things here that did not
state ut Exeter. remember now many additional
facts that did not remember then, or before the
Grand Jury. | don't know that stated many
At Exeter l remembered the scene as having
occurred above, but did not mention il for the
reason stated. said at Exeter that the first
communication was in the attic. also stated il so
before the Grand Jury. being some agitated. On
reflection, thought IT best to tell the truth, as ii
was so ss NOT TO have il give the lie 10 what was
actually done. Now / rec0llect il as have stated
1t las, and state it as recollect (al this was pref
ty pointed) | suited at Exeter, that when he
came isto the attic, II was so dark could not see
whether he was In his night clothes or not did
not tell Then about covering up my head, because
then placed the two scenes together, and because
did not think it was necessary as told the story
at kxeter. could not find place to have this
come Ia. Now II comes in right. | thought il did
no hart 70 place the scene in the attic, although it
occurred below, because thought morally, il was
immlierial When he came into the attic, it was
dark, and heard voice, but saw no man. did
not etaie al Exeter about covering up my head, on
account OF having left il out in order TO make il
blend right did not lock my nursery chamber
below. When Mr.. F. came to the attic. did not
think he meant any thing improper, even when he
went away; said at Exeter, as remember, that
question, being twice put and answered, about the
connection in the attic in connection with that in
the study. After he had connection with me in
the room, lett the door unlocked. don't know
that ever thought of securing my door by locking
IT. | can't tell any thing about 1t. was awoke
by Mr. F, saying-".Chick, are you asleepY' He
often called me by that name, though don't
know that ne did before he laid down on the
He said he wanted to be where ] was. He also
said he regarded me. very much. He then got
into my bed, seized my wrist and ravished
me by force. thought my last resort was
70 scream, put ] did not ! resisted all /
could, and could do nothing but scream. This
was not done. was afraid to scream, because
tnousht u would wake the neishbors, and his cha.
Tac'er wsuld be injured. II might have been half
an b9ur before he fully accomplished his purpose.
drut Know ns II Was more than quarter oil an
hour can't state y more definitely. 1t was pro-
bab'y, ho~ever, In about ten minutes This was
niy nfss ssnoection With any man. He remained
with me about an hour, think, after having con.
nection wiih me. He did not repeat the sct. /
cid not cover up NY head below. l did il M the
attic, because teit ashamed. / did not suspect
any thing wrong OF Mr.. +. when he first came In:
and, yet, said 10 him, according to my evdenc,
this morning, that was afraid he had come there
for no good purpose. II said this, il was only to
deceive him. | was not confounded when he
came into my room in his night clothes, although
l was confounded when he told me about my re-
semblng that young lady. then thought he was