The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1872-03-14
THE CASE OF DIR. HUSTON.

uau IuuuIuauIty W uIdu mohoo Couhe-
less millions mourn" is sentiment which
finds illustration every day. Let an unfavor-
able or injurious rumor be set afoat about a
fellow man, and it is seized upon, voracious-
ly, by community and sent to the four winds,
regardless Of consequences. The case Of
Rev. DR.. Huston, of the NJ. E. Church, re.
Gently charged with the seduction Of Sun
day School scholar, belonging to his congre-
cation, is case in point. The purity and
blameneasless Of his life, to all appearances
up to the Moment Of the allegation, were for
gotten in the greed Of the public to seize up.
on suspicion, which, if we'll founded, would
prove him to be one of the most heartless
ingrates that ever darkened the pages Of
crime, and went unwhipt of justice. When,
however, brother minister went to him and
detailed the charge that had been made
against him, he fell upon his knees, and with
the Holy Bible on his heart, ayowed in the
sight of Heaven that he was innocent of the
charge, and that there was no foundation in
truth for it. Al the advise Of brother, and
to save his wife ard daughter the shame and
modification of meeting the prurient gaze of
gossipping community, he left Baltimore,
with those two tender and helpless females,
unsheltered as they were from the fierce sus-
picions as to him, their protector, for the
West, where their immediate friends resided
He also, to save the Church from the stain
of the suspicion that had been cast upon him,
withdrew from it. It was forthwith blazon-
ed to the world that he had fed the city to
escape the vengeance his crime foreshadowed,
and that his parchment, the authority of his
holy calling, had been demanded of him.
He is now on trial, before the Conference
to which he belonged, sitting at Warren ton,
to which he promptly repaired to face the
terrible charge that had been preferred against
him. 1t appears, from the statement of DR..
Munsey, that he did not demand the parch-
ment of DR.. Huston. 1t also appears that he
left Baltimore at the friendly suggestion of a
brother minister. It seems that there is no
evidence against him-merely rumor. Yet
he demands the fullest investigation before
tho Church tribunal, and has instituted civil
action against the newspapers and the parties
which first propagated the awful imputation
As so sitting an Investigation cannot be had
before the Church tribun al as in the forum of
she civil law, the proceedings of the Confer
ence will only be superficial, until the whole
truth ofthe case is developed in the Courts.
We remember to have read, some years
ago, Of case where young lady, Of high
responsibility, had accused prominent den
list Of Philadelphia of taking criminal advan-
tage of her while under the influence of chic
reform. Popular sentiment was so intensely
indignant against the dentist that his business
was almost ruined, aud the man almost driv-
en- to distraction. An investigation, howev
Ter, took place, aud it was found that the
young lady was as pure as the snow, and that
the dentist was entirely innocent. The lady
was found to be unhinged in her mind, and
had imagined that the crime had been COM
mitted. This may be the case in this in
! stance, and that thorough sitting of all the
young lady has asserted, may be out the
dreamy fittings of diseased mind. At
least, until the investigation has been closed,
let US throw the mantle of charity over one
whose life aud calling have been in conso-
nance with the most exalted ideas Of virtue
and purity.