The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-05-04

FIRST EDITION
s q u Il II "A M Il r. I g a.
The Great storm.
Bu enos Ayres Aflo a t.
ssBlack Crook Smythe.
His "Gin ana Milk" on Trial.
Etc, Etc., ETC.. ETC.. Etc.
B u enos Ayres Aflo a
GIN AND MILK.

The Presbyterian Presbytery of this city and
vicinity convened yesterday in the Eleventh
Street Church, to try the Rev. Charles B.
Smythe, its pastor, upon charges offered by
John Rosenborough and Harmon G. Henderson.
The court organized with the Rev. DIR. Findlay
as Moderator, and the Rev. DR.. Armstrong as
Secretary.
After the Moderator had offered I'D a PRAYER.
and the court had been made ready for the trial,
petition of the members of the congregation
praying for the dissolution of the pastorage
was offered, which, after some discussion, was
laid on the table for future action.
h The Secretary read the charges as follows
The undersigned hereby complain to the First
United Presbyterian Presbytery of New York. and
New York Sun Of date Monday April IL, 1870
Charles B. smythe minister and pastor Of Eleventh
Street United Presbyterian Church, was, Sabbath
day, April 10, 1sIo guilty OF the following misde-
meanors, to wit:
called together the six reporters who present,
and asked them to take some refreshments.
Second. That "then he led them to well-known
liquor and refreshment saloon in the avenue near byn
Third. That they passed in by the private door,"
IFourth. That beefsteaks and oysters having been
ordered he turned to the reporters, and asked them
what they would drink.
Fifth. That their orders having been given, he
himself requested the barkeeper to bring him some
of the same"
sixth. That "this turned out to be gin and milk, of
the former Of which his reverence took five fingers,
swallowing the dose with evident relish"
Seventh. That ''the viands having been disposed
of, all arose to leave, and Mr. Smythe, turning to
the barkeeper, carelessly requested him to hang
Eighth. That "the barkeeper who seemed to know
hin, said all right, and the party passed out and
Your complanants hereby think that the facts
mentioned in the foregoing allegations involve
breach OF the fourth commandment, as contained
in Exodus, chapter Xxx, 7th to 18th verse; and they
respectfully submit that II these facts should prove
to be true the said Rev. Charles b. Smyhe ought to
be censured
Mr.. Smythe in his accustomed ultra theatrical
style then read the following answer, which, as
will be seen, acknowledges the truth of the en-
tire article as published in the Sun, with the
three immaterial exceptions that the bar-room
was not on Third avenue, that there were only
two reporters present instead of six; and that
he did not use the expression 'hang that up"
when he told the barkeeper to charge it to his
account, or words to that effect AS for his
denial that he took five fingers" of gin, we be-.
lieve that is the usual expression for Quarter
OF tumbler," the quantity testified to by the re-
porter of the HerGld:-
For answer in this cause to the complaint the
above-named defendant says that the complaint, in
the language in which it is framed is untrue in
every particular and respectfully requests the Pres
them as they appear in the daily newspaper on
which the complaint is based, and to acquit him OF
says that after church on Sabbath the tenth day
OF April last, he went to respectable hotel on
milk from the former Of which liquids he had
about six teaspoonfuls according to the best of his
recollection, and pot OF black tea for lunch; that
tlemen with him-members OF the press-who took
plate OF oysters raw each, and one OF them
glass OF ale, the other some gin and milk the same
in quantity the defendant took that it being the
Sabbath day defendant did not pay the BILL but re
quested the cashier to make a note OF the amount
and defendant called and paid the bill the next day
Defendant further says that he resides four miles
from the church; that forasmuch he teaches q
Bible class there at O'clock it not possible for
him TO go home to his lunch and come back in time
and that, being much exhausted after preaching
need, physically, OF such lunch as he took And
as TO his having company with him on the OCCASION
q m n az
shall be SHOWN by the evidence, the Presbytery will
consider them sGficie1tly extenuating to render
quests that accordingly no censure shall be passed
upon him therefor. CHARLES b. SMYTHE.
The Moderator read from the Book of Disci
pline that 'if any portion of facts are proved in
the charges, he shall be guilty and punished for
that portion"
The Rev. Mr.. Armstrong said that if the fact:
were true, the charge of Sabbath drinking
should be added.
Mr.. John Stevens Herald reporter, having
been called as witness, testified Substantially
l was present at the church on the 10th of April
to report the sermon OF Mr.. Smythe on "Adul
terry, and its proper punishment" after the SER
vices asked Mr.. Smythe 10 let me look at his
|. notes, as wished 10 read Blackstone on the law
concerning adultery, which had been alluded tC
by Mr.. Smythe; he asked me to go to luuef
with him, and said that / could have his notes
i did not hear Linn call together any number o.
reporters; we went out and proceeded dowr
I1lrQ avenue, where Mr.. L. L. EATON, Sun re
porter, overlook us and asked Mr.. Smythe fo
permission to refer TO his notes for historical
data; Mr.. Smythe said there would b.
some difficulty in taking them in the street, and
asked him to go with us to lunch; we then wen
on to Broadway on or near Eighth street; he di,
not inform us where he was going to take us
on reaching Eighth street we went into hote
on the Eighth street side; no attempt was mad
to enter surrepttiously; we went into privat
room the waiter followed us, and Mr.. Smyth
waved his hand, and said:-"Order what yo
please" Mr.. Eaton then ordered glass of ale
j some oysters, and Mr.. Smythe beefsteab
Afterwards he ordered some gin and milk, and
when it came, ordered some too because
was new drink to me. We had some CONVEX
sation about nationalities, etc. There is trut
underlying the article in the Sun. M
Smythe had a fatigued look; could not sa
whether 1t was natural to him or not; Mr.. Smytt
y took quarter of tumbler OF gin.
Mr.. z. 7. Eatons testimony was purely corr
boratiyc of the foregoing; bat Mr. Eaton adde
Mr.. Smythe and came out together; he spoke
the keeper In reference 20 the bill, though
not hear what he said; he did not pay for the ]
freshmeDts-
Cross-examined by Mr.. Smythe-At the Sun ON
casually mentioned to the city editor in the pr
sence OF Mr.. Stevens, who had called to get the o.
ginal manuscript, the circumstance OF our bell
treated TO oysters, gin and milk, and ale; and th
left for home; the next mordng, instead OF my
port the article upon which these charges are bas
appeared; thought Mr.. Smythe looked fatigue