New-York tribune., 1870-01-12
TIE CLERICAL ELOPEMENT-AN0THRR PHASE
or THE rAaE

The sad case of church scandal, which was
recorded in our columns yesterday has developed new
facts which materially alter the aspect OF affairs. Seve
reports which appeared in the journals yesterday are
entirely incorrect and iucontestabe evidence OF their
falsity at hand. Our reporter called yesterday on Mrs
Cook and found her stricken sorely with the painful
calamity which had befalen her. Friends have afforded
sympathy and reporters furnished annoyance although
Of tho latter except the representative OF TIE
TRIBUNE. were granted interview. Dr. Stevens Dr.
Woodruff, and others Of the clergy called on her, and
they said 1t their opinion that Mr. Cook was insane
The insinuations which have been made impeaehng
her husbands hitherto correct life steadfasty re-
futed HIS former parishoners in Mamaroneck amply
testify to his preGmnent proprety during his pastOrate
there His companion du voyage his recent trip to Eu'
rope witnesses to the clean record OF his life while abroad
And 40 one can point to bemsh in his life until this un'
accountable derellcon That he was not the heartess
seduce which he is made appear s also shown In the
letters which Miss johnson wrote 70 him, and which
were in the possession OF Mrs Cook until tho other even
ing and which Mr. Johnson holds In these letters
the young lady expresses her longing eagerne5 for the
day on which she will become 49, and boasts that when
she arrives at wOmanhoOd she Will hazard her lie ana
everything the she loves The letters are fn OF
that she lacks only lttlo OF being Is years OF age ana
until that time she must pay parental allegiance ou' al
Miss Devoe, seems, has been pTlyy 10 lhls nPIUPeo
intimacy and the custodian OF letters which were
without signatures and dates and only identified Dy
The nenmanship II was Miss Devoe who first coumun
Gated the intelligence Of Miss Johnsons flight 70 her
family ON Friday afternoon at about ~ O'CLOCK sue
went 10 Miss Johnsons hOme and told the family that
Mattie had left with Mr. Cook That Miss johnson was
NOT merely passive IN the hands OF her Clergyman but
that on the contrary she did her part to allure ana en-
tce is conyincngy proven one time she addressed
note pastor expressing her disappointment at ms
failure to fulfill an engagement which ho had made win
her and said that IL no would send his Baldwin TO
| play chess with her she would be satisfied. .
Mr. Cook told his wife that he was about TO elopo WIN
Young lady and that when they had made their escape
She would be surprised at the choice he had made lie
left With but 500 and left his family without cent The
strange willingness he showed TO have his wife know All
that vas connected with the matter and the reckless m
providence in which left the disregard which he cx-
| hbited for a wife and family which he mas always
cherished is evidence OF mental alteration Nheh Iast
seen he was at the Jersey City Ferry at 52Op m Friday
lie was seen by man who knows him by sight only and
who remembers the hour distinctly as he had just ar
rived FROM Philadelphia by the train due at that me
Detectives are the track Of the party and the prolIeIs
have constituted themselves the avengers OF tEolr pc
trayed sister Mrs. Cook thinks that because ol ms
slendeyly stocked wallet, he could not nave gOuo, ~
tope But his whereaDopts u merely mater OF ConJec
tVPe The above facts ar6 The REPRODUCTION OF the con
tents of letters which passed between the paes A0 'e
| not the words OF gossip