New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-05-10
TIE COMPLAINT.

al article published ia tue New York Sun {
date Monday, April IL, 1870 Charles L
Smythe, minister and pastor OF Eleven.
Street United Preebyi erian Church was o
Sabbath day, April 10, 1870, guilty OF the fol
lowing msdemeanors, 10 wit:
First--That after he had finished the ser
mon he called together the six reporter
who were present, and asked them to tax
some refreshments.
Sec0nd-That then be led them to
we'll known liquor and refresAment salool
in the avenue near by"
Third-Tnat they passed in by tie pr
vate door,"
Fourth-That beefsteskes and oyster
having been ordered, he turned to the re-
porters and askeu them what they WOult
drink.
Fifth-That their orders having beef
given, he himself requested the barkcepe
TO give him 's0me Of the same"
Slxth--That this turned out to be gil
and milk. OF the former t which his rever-
ence took five fingers, swallowing the dost
with evident relisn.n
Seyenth-That "1he viands having beer
disposed OF, all arose to leave, ana Mr.
Hmythe, turning to the barkeeper. Careless
~ requested him to hang thai up"
Eignth-lhat the barkeeper, who seem
ed to know him, said ali right, and the
party passed out and separated"
Your complalnants hereby think that the
facts mentioned in tie foregoing allegations
involve a breach OF the fourth command
ment, as contained in Exodus, twentieth
chapter, seventh and eleventh verses; and
they respectfully submit that if these facts
should prove true, the said Rev. Charles g.
Smythe ought 10 be censured.
The case Came on for trial yesterday at the
Rev. Mr.. Smythe'- church, before Moderat I
Finiay ard the Presbytery. The proceed.
1ngs were opened with prayer, after which
there was some unimportant discussion HIS
to the manner of holding the trial and in re-
lati0n TO paper purporting to come from
Mr.. Smythe's COZ gregation, asking for Il
dis solution Of his Passionate. Smythe OF
jects to The paper on the ground that IT came
from a few persons and Lot from the con-
gregation. The paper was laid on the aole
Mr.. Smyihe then real his answer to the
complaint, which was almost as fine piece
OF writing and quite as remarkable as the
complaint itself.
sMYTHE's ANSWER.
John Peterborough and Hartman c. Hen
derson VS.. Charles omyt he.-For answer in
this cause to the complaint the above
named defendant says that the complaint,
in the language III which it is framed, is
untrue in every particular, and respectfully
requests that the Presbytery pronounce
ccS'LNluA hD II tHtul rs tHty
appear in the daily newspaper GU which the
complaint is based, and to acquit him CT all
the charges in full. BuE the defendant fur
ther says that after church on Sabbath, the
tenth day of April last, he went to a re-
spectacle hotel, on Broadway, ate break
fast, slipped some gin and milk, from the
former Of which iiQnids he lad about six
teaspoonfuls, according to the beat Of his
recollection, aud u pot Of black tea for
lunch; but on the same occasion there were
two gentlemen with Asm-membeTs Of the
press-whO took d plate OF oysters raw each.
and one OF them glass of ale, the other
some gin and milk, the same in quantity as
the defendant took; that IL being the Sab
bath day, defendant did not pay the bill, but
requested The cashier 10 make note of the
amount, and defeu dant called and paid the
bill the next day.
Defendant further says that he resides
four miles from the church, that fJrasmuch
as he teaches u bible class there at two
o'clock, il was not possible for him to go
home to his lunch aud come back in time,
and that being much exhausted after preach.
lug, and after very busy week, he felt very
much in need, physically. of such a lunch
Rs he took. And as to his having company
With him on the occasion, he believes that
when the attendant circumstances shall be
shown by the evidence, the Presbytery will
consider them sufficiently. extenualing to
render that fact eXcusable. and hopes and
requests that accordingly no
shall be passed upon him therefor.
CHARLES 3. SMYTHE.
May 8 A. D. 1870.
TESTIMONY OF A HERALD REPORTER.
The first witness examined Was John Ste
phen. He testified that on Sunday, the
tenth Of April 1870 he was present in the
Eleventh Street Presbyterian Church Tor the |
New York Herald; renamed in the church |
until the clJse of The sermon when Mr..
Symthe came from the pulpit he went up to |
bimsand requested that he might supply him |
With some historical facts; asked to see the |
sermon, aud wished to have the opinion OF |
Judge Blackstone on the law o. adultery: |
MIR. Symthe said he was going to lunch aud |
invited him to go along and he would give |
him the notes; went down the aisle and |
Waited until he got through; did not hear /
Mr.. Smythe Call together any number of re- |
)ortefs; the gentlemen he saw the reverend |
gentleman talking TO were members of |
ne congreg alton; knows the members of |
he press very well; went up Eleventh |
street to Third avenue, and was joined by |
Nr. 2. F. Eaton, u gentleman, VINO asked |
% be allowed to make some notes for the |
San he felt some ditfifence about giving |
him notes Of the sermon rs he had promised |
{ to the Herald but subsequently, asked |
him to JOIN them, rs they were going TO |
unch, aud it would be awkward to stop in |
he street; then went to Broadway; Oh |
eaching Eighth street they went into the |
lOtel on the Eighth street entrance there |
vas 10 attempt whatever to enter surrepti- |
iOusly went into private room; Mr.. |
|mythe did not ask him 10 partake of intoxi. |
;ating drinks; he waved his hand and said, |
order what you please" Mr., |
Iaton ordered glass OF ale; he ordered some |
oysters; Mr.. Smythe ordered beefsteak,
md he (Mr. Smylhe) afterwards ordered
nm AID milk; he (witness) thought that he
would like 10 take some OF it too; because ii
Was anew drink; a desuitory cOnvers alton
ollowed on nationality; read the paragraph
n the San; there might be Il shadow of
ruth about wnat ii contained, but it was !
Untrue IN all the particulars; the facts are
lIstorted; a correct statement would read |
cry diff rently.
CROSS EXAMINED.
There WAS nothing unclerica, whatever in |
be conduct OF Mr.. Smythe; he now believes
be paragraph TO be untrue in every par-
ocular; no grace had been asked on The &c |
aston that he could hear.
The Rev. Mr.. Smythe addressed the
curt, and said that he had been re buked ut |
q own-town restaurant when he first came |
the couDryator saving grace.
de had been having dinner with brother
lergyman, and on asking blessing the
rother -uggested that it would be better to
volh 1t. III such places, il. order not 20 give
se to The opinion that they might possibly
G hypoc,ites. The Moderator SAID that the |
rother should reserve all such statements
" his defense.
Inc next witness WAS Mr. James Young. |
porter or The Star. who tes if d that he
al been present curing service Mt the |
'evepth street Church on the tenth of
pril- bu, wa not invited TO % TO lunch by ,
re Rev M. Smythc.
'--. 80 60 ,sik.