Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1845-01-18
Shc Charge. aga,ns, B,.hop onderdonA.


opportunity of judging of the Justice Of the dcci.
sion which the court has come to. During the
investigation, the newspapers were filled with
various rumors of the nature Of the charges and
the character Of the evidence presented The
only distinct charges which have yet transpired
we find in one Of the New York Sunday pupers
The whole subject is one which has excited
much interest in the community, ami we CO.
py the statement of the paper alluded to, as
follows:
The trial of Bishop Onderdonk appears to
have been the great feature of the week, and
the extraordinary result has occupied the a,ien-
tion Of both the moral and religious world, to
the exclusion of almost every topic. The course
Of proceeding was thus: Bishop Onderionk
was presented by three of his brethren Of the
Episcopal Church, under the canon of the
Church which authorizes a presentment by a
portion of the bishops, or by general convcn-
tlon Of the docess. The charges were nine
in number, and charged generally that the
Bishop was guilty Of immortality and the impu.
eiiy in the manner aud form set forth in the spe-
ciEcaions annexed. The ninth charge, with
its specification, was thrown out by the Court,
being too vague in not setting forth, with suf.
6cient minuteness, time, place and crcum.
etance.
The first charge and specification sets forth
that in June, 1887, when travelling towards
Syracuse, in a carriage with the Rev. Clement
NJ. Butler and his wife, he thrust his hand indie.
c~atly under her clothes, &c.
The second charge specified the same thing,
with the same lady, her husband being pre-
seat, &c.
The third alleges that in the summer Of 1888,
the Bishop was guilty of indccency towards
Miss Jane A. Bowels, whilst travelling in
public stage towards the city of Utica, and that
Miss B. was so outraged by his conduct, that
che had to leave the coach before getting to the
end of her journey. OF this, however, the
Bishop was acquitted, there being no proof Of:
fered to support the allegation.
The fourth charge, that in July, 1899, he
insulted Miss Anne Wilson, by thrusting his
hand into her bosom. The charge was sban.
doned. the specification not being supported
by the attendance Of the witness named.
The fifth set forth that in the summer of
lS4l, he nsulted Ellen NJ. Rudderow, whilst
accompanying her home from church to the
house of her mother, where lie wns engaged to
dinner.
The sixth charge was, that Immediately aoer
the Bishop and Miss Ellen had got inside the
House, he outraged the feelings ofjane o. Rud-
derow, the sister of the aforenamed lady, by
thrustng his hand into her bosom. On these
two charges the Bishop was found guilty.
The seventh and eighth charges and spccifi-
cations accused the Bishop of similar miscon-
duct towards the wife Of the Rev. Henry NJ.
Bcare during a visit 10 the house of that gentle
man, st Littleneck, l.. |. First, while on the
way home from church, in the middle of the
day, and subsequently, after they arrived at
home. OF this, the Bishop was found guilty.
The testimony adduced in support of these
grave charges, is said to have been Of very
unique character, presenting this singular state
OF things; that the misconduct is said to have
been submitted to by ladies', when number of
other persons were present. as in the case of
the married ladies', under the immediate eye
and protection of their husbands, and that since
the period when these things were done, sevc-
raj years had elapsed, and the parties had been
on the most friendly and affectonate footing
with the bishop; the ladies' had not objected to
his society, with the exception of Mrs. Butler.
and th,t nothing had been sald nor any whis-
per circulated respecting the chastity Of the
bishop, at the time when the other witnesses to
the transactions could have been called in sup.
port OF the accusation 1t was also alleged, ac-
cording to our information, that both the Misses
Rudderow admitted IN their cross.examina,ion,
that they wore exceeding high dresses, quite up
10 their throats and that despite that obstacle,
and in the presence of other persons, the bish-
op did get his hand into their bosoms. These,
and variety OF other Inconsistencies and impro-
liabilities, We are told will appear in the testi.
mony when the trial is published.
The Rev. Lewis rrapier of S. c., it is said,
Is about to put to press pamphlet, as to the
real origin oi the proceeding against Bishop
Onderdonk.
INTERESTING FACTs IN BRIEF.-Out Of every
thousand men, twenty die annually. The num-
Der Of inhabitants OF city or county is renewed
every thirty years. The number of old men
who die in cold wpathpr is to those who die in