Wilmington daily gazette., 1872-10-17
Tho Clerical Scandal.

Tho Clerical Scandal.
INVESTIGATION ny THE rREsnYrERy THE
CHARGES DECLARED FhI.sti--MR MATTHEWS
FUI LY EXoNERATED.
The Committee appointed by the New Castle
f'resbytery, ON the 2oth OF September, 10 invca-
tigate the charges Of adultery against Rev.
Henry Matthews, reported in full to the meeting
held in the West Presbyterian Church, yestcr
day. The report is very lengthy and vo' mi
nous, aud we have prepared the following co,-
densation
The statmcnt olthc girl, to the effect that Mr..
Matthews is the father of her cl,id, which was
sworn TO betole the Committee, in Elkton, on
Sept. Both, and the circul stances connected |
with the discovery OF the affair have alreauy
been published.
The charge was denied by MIR, Matthew.
under oath before a Justice of the Peace. in
Elkton, on the Both Of September in the follow
ing affidavit: ~
10 all soh0m it may concern
| FOst, be it known that the charge brought by
| one Maria Salisbury, mulatto, of Ekton, Mary
land, accusing the undersigned Henry Matthews
Of being the father of the iIlegtimate child to
which she gave birth on or about the Goth of las.
August, is a most infamous slander and malicious
| calumny OFF my character. Second1y. and he it
known that l. the accused Henry Matthews, call
ing to witness that God who knOwe tn the secrets
| OF every life and heart. and before whose bar Of
Justice shall one day stand to be judged, DO most
sincerely and solemnly, without the least mental
| reservation or prevarication, swear and declare
that the aforesaid charge is utterly FALSE and of It
stand absolutely innocent. 1hrdly. Aud /,
the said Henry Matthews. do further make oath
in the same manner that have never had sexual
intercourse with the said Maria salisbury
HENRY MATTHEWS.
The evidence produced before the Investi-
eating Committee was exhaustive and concl,l
sive, and tended to prove the falsity of the
charges, and eXhonorate Mr.. Matthews. In
the statement of Maria salisbury, the colored
girl who preferred the charge, no less than thir-
ty distinct contradictory assertions are made
in relation to the time and nature of tie erin
inal intercourse, and of the time of Matthews
! taking her to Baltimore. Witnesses were
produced who proved that at the time stated
by the girl Us the time of her arrival in Balti-
more with Mr.. Matthews, he was already, in
:he city, visiting Il friend. Five witnesses
> were also produced who testified to the arri-
:al OF the girl in the city alone and to the fact
of f>N' proceeding to a boarding house unac-
compNniea by Mr.. Matthews.
:. IL was also concllSively proven that the girl
was exceedingly loose in her habits, and great
: ly addicted to slandrring the neishDors, and
the members of the families in which she had
previously been ut service. There was also
Testimony produced, which, though not dI
rectly proving the matter, pointed very strong
i ly to the existence OF 4 criminal intimacy be-
: tween the & grl and Rev. Mr. Williams former
a pastor of the African NIP. church. Of Elkton
: and also colored man named Clayton Manly
v of the same town.
a Summing up the evidence in the cast H.,
d committe reported as follows:
!. |. That the charge against the Rev. H. Mat
u thews rests only on The declaration and oath y
: the woman who accused him, unsupported h,
any corroboratng testimony or circumstances
whatever.
II. Tha, her testimony i, utterly unwo,,h
}, Of credence regard for the follow ing amon
u other reasons: : l Because Der previous cIiarac
:, ter is proved by her asl!nissio, and bv Tia
~ testimony Of respectable witnesses, 10 have bee
n loose As to her own conduct! and false ard 4lai
d derons concerning Others. > Because ht
ID testimony against Mr.. Matthews, DESTROYS tse
by being positively and materially contralitor
in its sworn statement concerning the time an
circumstance of criminal acts which She eharc,
upon him.
n On tile one hand she swears that these ac
were limited to three occasions, all within
=. period of six weeks. On the other hand, Wit
equal delibcratiOn she swears that they g.
tended to many occasions, during II period
es two years. 3. Because her sworn decaratio
'y in which she charges MIR. Matthews with ha'
ing place, have been proved by many wi
nesses to be absolutely false and without foul
- ,laton. -Four or five witnesses testify tn;
~ she was brought to the boarding place by
~ hack driver from the Railroad Depot, IN
~, that no other person accompanied her or can
y to the house to see her during the stay.
Ill In all their investigations the Commits
II have not met with any circumstance, act or wu
b. proceeding from Mr.. Matthews, which involves
IT, even seems to involve him III any approach, ov,
'rt to criminal improper doubtful conduct towar
ne the person who accuses him, or any other pers,
y, whatever. nor does any person whatever come TO
to ward to offer any substantial proof or semblan
X OF proof to the woman's charge.
On the contrary, abundant and unbrok,
mass OF testimony to the unblemished and pu
:, conduct of Mr. Matthews, is afforded us by y
:" long continued intercourse and personal intima
~ with him; by his character and work as mnist
n OF the Gospel for twenty y-four years, twelve
ed which were spent in Elkton, and during his who
Of life, from his boyhood up to the present hour
he Influenced by these considerations. aft
ed mature deliberation, the Presbytery passed Il
ce following paper =
Is In view of all the testimony, concerning Il
y: accusation me de against Rev. Henry Nj
"e thews this Presbytery finds no gro unds whs
ever for preferring charges or entertainii
ole suspicion against him and do declare our co
. a tinued and abiding confidence in him III
most cordially recommend him to the cnti
ere confidence OF his congregation, to the chur
nto and the public at largees a most faithful mi
ex. ister of the Gospel.
so This paper was passed unanimously by
20. rising vote, after full expression of opinion
IN twenty seven ministers and nineteen luli
~. elders presiding,
n a nAao,cfvataa Caeac