The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1870-05-19
ANOTHER RELIGIOUS TRIAL
SuE RET H. II. CLIRK's BRE1CH
or PROMISE.

IN Trial statement OF the Rev. DIR. |
CIark-Hc would have Married her only |
he Thought her Insane-Eirst Days Pro- |
cccdings.
Tn, Rev. DIR. J. b. Clark was on Monday ar
r,i.ucd before the PresbYlery Of Allegheny Of the
tinted Presbyterian Church. He is charged with
brcacu of promise in refusing to marry Miss Lille
Hawke. member Of his Church This case, in
Consequence Of the high standing Of DIR. CLARK, Is
attracting considerable attention. and good deal Of
snAicty is manifested as to its result.
rHE PLEADING.
The Prcsbytery was called to order ct II A. VI. by
the Moderator, the Rev. A. q. Wallace. The Rev.
j. II. Timmons aud the Rev. Hugh Sturgeon ap-
peared counsel Tor the prosecution DR.. Mclean
ana the Rev. ID. W. Collins conduct the defence.
Tue clerk read the resolution ordering the trial, as
follows:
H,,o,red That the Rev J. y. Clark, n D., be PLACED
on trial for breach Of promise to marry Miss Lille
Hawkes. OF Allegheny City.
Moderator-Does tue defence plead guilty or not
The Rev u. W. Collins said: As there Is no libel,
that the Presbytcty should Waiye the formal ques-
lion guilty or not guilty" Ibs question is a)-
fence are ready to proceed and to make their state
mcnt; hut they do not wish tn admit or TO proceed
spccGc libel in the The Presbytcry should
waive the question guilty or not guilty" and call
That Is what tie Presbytery agreed to ask, and that
Is what the defence are ready TO do.
soUABBLE BErwEES COUNSEL.
MISUNDERSTANDING have heard the statement.
Tie Rev. Mr. sturGeon-It would be well cuough
to make statement here. Tuat resolution hus been
read In your hearing you know its contents, and We
are here for the purpose OF prosecuting us matter.
will just say here that we must either have
qualified admission or denial of the charge. else
we claim the privilege Of going forward al once. II
he admits the charge, tat, o course will relieve
II, claim that are here for the purpose of in.
Producing testimony to show that the facts charged
are true.
lie Rev. d. W. Col,ins-Iet me make a remark
that there will be no d.culty between the Vrosccu.
ton and the defence. There is charge, but not "A
ever, question proposed by the Moderator as II
required by the Book OF discipline when there il
SPECIFIC charge, but there ~ no libel here. la answer
TO the prosecution. We may say that We admit the
iaet Of the breach OF promise.
TUE REV. DR. CLARK's STATEMENT.
After = long war Of words tie Rev. Dr.. Clark rose,
and in clear voice, aud with great deIibe,ation,
rod tue following:
=. Chmch, INcgiety tdg Hdy IS, 1870.
In reference to the matter ALLEGED against IN, upor
your table. respectfully present The lOloWiH. state
: j. / admit that there existed between Miss Lille
Hawkes. aud my, elf an understanding involving puI.
qSi s ssi much GsbsSop aud mental agony
ceiling Hc n ne 70 dscae tue
IPfssen ofmy refusal TO proceed fur
h,t the matter tear wtlreg TO her comp etc
/ could remove i. struggled a9snst the power
OF th. IMPRESSION un,h e,hsTs wno. jnigemeht re-
saeonseon; Of The relation eA..t,ag between Mss
on "a my hearing, lbeeane uorouEbly convinced
he marriage restion with her and that IN n S1iti
SSm as STSe eS S9S NrOn
- WIN as, Pesi regret. and Thogt any spirit Of
.lle'on 70 Mss Hawkes. in my owl yindicaton. / am
%, one on o. eyer having tad anything derogAto.y
: hereby aekn9welFe my lmprudence and want OF
Ha"Ars 10 regard 70 matrase IN her and can on y
te tune tiat mind had been perfectly festofed
ne aoo,t statement Is hq.nb.y submitted; IN eonn
TENT erci mercy iicnicated by the spirt ii ue
p'4Ae Master Respectfully submitted,
AtLroasSr May 49, 1870 '-' - ''-''''A
Tur PROSECUTION ~ A ouASDART.
Acknowledgement have now heard the state.
melt Cd Dr Clark What is the viii VI the lresby-
toryf The matter Is now before you
Alter considerable DELAY, DR.. Mclean said, n the
prosecution have Lu NitHesscs to onor, 1 nope you
VIII give Us the privilege OF carrying on this state
utnt
Mr.. sursclu-we object 20 that paper because II
does not cover tile matter contained In the charge
aud II eoaes to Us u such shape that We are On
ward ~ ~ tanning what Ii set toItl, in that state
rent There Is nothing in that paper liking lLt
tame When tle DOCTOR determined or decided IN his
oNn mild 20 LreiL the enga cement aud Ne Object
To rt-,ins o. the gas, IN 'aat way.
~ AeLe4n-lou know that the committee ap-
pointed t. inv,-t.1'u thc matter anu report, h5i
no datos contained In tier report. As there were
no dates ia the report 10 would not be expected
that DR.. Clark would volunteer " give any par,lc.
tlr laies, nor 10 Pee that there any ecess
& giving d-,c-. Tic clWuI.tce appointed TO uro.
me case will be ju.l in the slAe dinculty-
precisely the same. | don't think we have ans
objections 10 -.Ins dates IL 1t should be required.
IN Hgy. DR.. TGMHONs ASKS WHAT HI ~ THERE FoR
Modera,or-Mhat has the prosecution further I,
U.rrf
Mr.. Timmons-I simply riso to say tina, we ar
tIyI-,J In TIE Gihicuty that have expected. A
tue charge Mas lett IL was not Charge at oil,
Tue Consequence Is, to day, Just what told you i
Won hr. As ;he case stands, do not know as ",
lave ans thing TO sLy On the SUBJECT Ii tie Doe
tors statement Is To ne taken, which staenen
merely refers to the matter rs I" involving con
tsct Of marriage" 1t IS very hard prosecute that
IL 10 deuied contract, then the p oseeulion Ou
Lave testimony TO ODER Ia rciation to the dates o
tlat contract, tnete IL an important point involved
SAD viii tell you what II Is We eOuld not ehci
the facts unless We knew the dates. For example
IN relation 10 the idea that has been advanced, tai
mental alteration, this mental weakness OF IN
Lla t.cts. which could not be eicted 10 any otle
NH; 1t IS on Til, account that we wish to know al
re- dates IL We are here to-day 10 prosecute some
tang ,l.t simply Involves u contract oil marriage,
tp'o' khO" anything ABOUT lhat But II We ar
Lvc to prosecute preach Of contract then d
hLOS .o,DttAing. Or course We prepared 4
meet That, oct II II is simply to prosecute something
Involving a contract, It Is another question ate
iBt REV Mr.. COLLINS DoN'r WANT TO GET ROuS
ASImISG
R'v. Mr.. Co.lins-It was not intended at all, b.
The expression, "invoNins contrac. or promise
manage, to get around any thiug II sas intende
to -ani; that there was contract OF maria we,
talt tat contract was broken. That was what wa
h'eLt ca IN that laper anu see NO necessity FL
| stumbling at these terms. Now, We are just whel
lac irosUyter placed Us. We have done all tha
Lie iIe-byiefy asked US TO do. and We cllin tina
having lulhlel tabconlract, as we were requcs c
10 o". and made sIteiuoat that Is what is u b
sv1s,a,rGL WY, Mr.. hoderator You baye passe
!nu WI h"l ,tln2 'oimal Charge against him, lha
Siu ~ ~ ,'lm"y n! nn, tuut everything IL eI
reasons Nhlch Induced Mf Clark TO breal. thS
isss, re,.ap. and hope hat you wiz adm
compliance With that action OF the Pes6ytory Mi