Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1869-04-21
ACASE OF SCANDAL.
Libel Sult and the Result.

Some time in January last the Gin
einnati daily papers contained ac-
counts of a case of scandal aid I'M
fa~ithfulness to the marital vows,
which happened in Nj. Washington,
a thriving village near the city, and
duplicating a clergyman and the wife
of one of the members of his congre-
CATION. 1t was a choice 6on-6OR for
the reporter of a daily paper to pro-
cure and the plant writers worked it
up in flaming colors into n of the
most disgusting cases eve published.
The enormity of the offense was pic
tured in glowing %colors, the high So
cial position of the parties concerned
SET forth at length, the excited feel
ings of the exasperated citizens were
duly depicted, and the advice given
the offender that if he valued life and
limb he would remain away. But we
have no desire to go into particulars
in regard to the affair further than a
truthful narrative of the s requires.
The disgusting details of a prize fight
or the foul scandal n~ecessarially at
taehed to such q case as this. although
apparently the highest ambition of
some daily papers to lay such matters
before the scandal loving public, We
feel assured would not be interesting
to the readers of this paper.
1t was said that the wife of a prom
inent and influential citizen of Mt.
Washington had been seduced by a
minister of the church to which she
belonged, under circumstances of
such atrociousness as to leave no eX-
cuse for the act. The minister refer
red to was trusted, revered and below
ed by his Pensioners, was a constant
visitor at the house of his victim, and
all the parties concerned in the scan
dial had hitherto borne only the best
of regulations. The exasperated citi-
zens of the place were said to have
threatened the life of the preacher,
and he left for more congenial scenes.
Rev. s. S. bartlett, the clergyman
referred to, came to Trumbull county
January last. JOHN c. MARTIN, the
husband of the preachers victim, be-
as he says, that the people of
our county should be warned against
BARTLETT, as a dangerous man, wrote
the Postmaster at this place, and
llso at Mecca, setting forth the
,rimes of which BARTLETT was said
be guilty, and inviting an investiga-
ion into the facts, offering to furnish
proof that would satisfy the most in
Mr.. JOHN RATLIFF, of
his place, wrote to Mr.. MARTIN, ask
ng for information in regard to BART
EFT, and a letter was received on the
contents of which was based an aft
alleging Mr.. MARTIN in his let
er to JOHN RATLIFF made the fol-
charges that 5. S. BARTLETT
5 guilty of Lying, hypocrisy, per-
ury, adultery and attempt to commit
ape on a married woman"
In consequence of this last letter a
ibel suit was commenced by BART
EFT against MARTIN, before Justice
DAWSON, in this place, a warrant was
ssued for the arrest of MARTIN, and
Thursday last the latter, accom-
an;ed by his witnesses, appeared and
enied the charge. The case was ad-
burned until Friday morning at 8, /;
|. NJ. {
At the appointed time the case was ]
pened and witnesses for both sides
.amined, the trial occupying the en-
re day and collecting quite a num-
of spectators. L. c.. JONES for
and F. L. HUTCHINs for de-
conducted the trial with :
leir usual ability. At the close, Mr..
[ARTIN was bound over to appear at
lenext termof Court, under S5OObail, ,
.hich he readily obtained. The tes-
mOny was quite positive in the
large of adultery against Mr.. BART '
EFT. The sympathies of the public
EN- to be almost entirely with Mr..
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