The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-03-30
The Home of the Babies.
Practical Aspect of the Woman @ uestiou
A Rival to Miss Dickinson.
A REVEREND BIGAMIST.

The Latest MinisterIai scandal-A Clergyman
with -Four Wiyes-His Trial Before II ChIrch
Council.
A short account of some startling facts which
have come TO light in regard to Rev. James De.
bois, pastor of the Baptist church Mt Schuylers-
vile, Saratoga county, New York, has been
published. The Troy Times gives the following
history OF the scandal:-The reverend gentleman
claims to have been a very wicked aud dissi-
paied man during the earlier part of his life.
The history of his first marriage is involved in
great obscurity In fact, all that is known about
il is from his own confession TO his third wife,
which is to the effect that he became weary OF
his first spouse and sent her off with tin ped
dler, who kindly took her off his hands. 1t has
not yet appeared as to whether he received any
exchange in tin or not.
Soon after he married his second wife, very
estimable lady, and the daughter of Judge in
the western part of New York. According to
his own confession he soon killed his second
wife by drunkenness, neglect, and hard usage
During this time he became converted and
entered upon the ministry in the Baptist
church. Henceforth his walk seems to have
been "slandicular." At Wellsville, Allegheny
county, he was accused of an intrigue with n
Mrs. Jones. This place became too torrid for
him, and he went from there to charge in
Canada. He was soon accused of lndiscreet
conduct and after getting his charge into q
perfect boil of discussion he left.
He then enlisted in the army. Soon after en-
listing thoughts of sweet Helen Weller led him
to seek a divorce from his abandoned wife, and
q divorce-broker lawyer In New ork was set at
work to secure it. During the pendency of the
proceedings Debois says he received letter
from his attorney stating that he had received a
letter from brother of the wife announcing her
death. This was great blow to him, of course,
but he found early consolation in u marriage
with Helen Weller.
Not long after he was settled over the Sixth
Street Baptist Church of New York city. Rumors
OF these peccadlloes followed him there, and he
was induced thereby to psaceably resign that
chargg. He then came to the present seat of
'-Schuylerville. His black record soon
leaked out here also, and affairs finally culmi-
mated in his trial by council of four Baptist
clergymen, which is now in progress. The
abandoned wife (who did not die after alp
and his Oldest son, now twenty-six years
old, are both present, ready to confront
him and swear TO the injuries which he
has done them. Full proof of most of
the facts here stated will be adduced on trial.
Mr.. Debos is bold and defiant and claims that
he can put to rout all his accusers. Eminent
counsel have been retained on each side, and a
most extraordinary church trial will probably
be had. The village is in perfect ferment over
il. The church is sadly divided over the mat
ter, although the friends of the accused are very
lew, Notwithstanding his great ability and the
ingenuity of his defense. A criminal prosecu-
tion for bgamy seems imminent, and great
events are at hand.