Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1872-09-21
A CLERICAL SCANDAL.
A Colored Girl Attempts to Abandon Her
Infanl-She is Arrested and Contesses


Our town was thrown into a state Of i'll
tense excitement on Tuesday morning last
by the report Of an intrigue between a for
nitr CLERICAL gentleman of Ell,tOn, Who
stood very high III TIE estimation Of his
congregation, and moved in tho tir,' cir
cles of Elkton society, and bright mu-
latto servant girl, who had lived for suy-
eral years in his family. The girl Was a
naive Of this town, but left with the min
list IL few months ago, aud continued as
servant In his family NJ to about three or
-four wccki since.
On Monday afternoon last, Constable
DAVIS, of North East, brought the girl
with her .child, ten days old, from North
i st, sud placed her in the custody Of
Sheriff Thomas, who puvided her with
place In H.. The gill had been seen by
two men who were working IL Il field near
the Norih East DEPOT, about one O'Clock,
ON Mon hay, enter The tic Il rot far from
WhUr' they were at work carry ng small
bundle After she had passed along q
Path that led th'uugn 'atrh Of high
weeds. thfv noticed th she had rot the
bu.dle With her, aud IL htr movements
were rithrr riuGulaf, they went 10 the
place whrIc she had hit the bundle and
iOlud il cun'ainod an ihit 3. The girl,
aft T. ie wing the child made % drlour to
re rh the DcpUt, and lhc mcn who had
been watching her stated Il rect iOr the
Station, where thy arrived hc'urc the
mother. They reported the fact 10 Mr..
Alex mdcr, the Agent. Who srnl for Es-
quire Bcnj 8nin AMI Constable Davis
The Offices hearing the story If the men,
took charge OF the girl, ana accused irr Of
dcseiting her infant. She confessed at
once and accO upauitd the officers TO the
spot where the Child was found, and it and
the mother were taken b ,ck To the Station.
She was then .rrquired by the Magistrate
to disclose the name Of the father, ON oath,
which she did without hesitation, charging
the aforesaid clerical gentleman with the
paternity Of the child.
The girl was visited in jail by number
of persons on Tuesday, among the number
were several the mos tlrespuctahlc ladies,
members some Of them at lcast-oi the
accused minister's congregation, while he
was In the ministry here. Her story was
substantially as follows The child was
born ON the 3Oth of August, at the house
of a colOred family in Baltimore. Two
weeks previous TO that time she had LETT
the minister's house Osttnsbly for the
purpose Of returning to Elkton where her
mother lives. The clerical gentleman ac-
NOulllllitu ukl " AllN AAAN anu NNllAhA AAAA .
her TO the door of a house where Il color
ed family lived, gave her twenty-five dol
lars and left her. She went into the house
aud after stating her case to the woman,
the latter told her she was unable to ac-
commodate her, but would hunt Il plac-
for her To stay. This woman made are
rangements with some Of her rclatives-a
brother-in law we helieNe-where the girl
went aud remained till ten days after her
confinement. Her reverend seducer had
adVi.ed her to leave the child on some
door step This she intended to do, but
| being weak she was unable to iind IA
vorablr opportunity to thus lid herself OF
| the infant, aud being young aud mcXpc
ricuced in crime, the infant, in place oi
| becoming iuuudling, or perishng, re-
mains with It's mother as "A witness against
the man who could enter the pulpit ant
| preach the gospel, while in secret he was
holding criminal Intercourse with IL Yonn.
and inexperienced colotcd agrvant Girl.
On Monday morning last the girl, viii
her infant, procured u ticket for Elkton
When the ears reached Moth East The
dread and shame OF facing her mo her an'
other acquainteuces al home induced he
to get out of the cars there, where she re-
manned in pcrplcxity and agony Of NINA
| Whlch are perhaps more ttHll lilHAiHt'
than described. Growing desperate owe
her situation, she finally resolved TO fine
some place to leave the child where
would lie found. Seeing two men p'owin!
in field rot far from the depot sue con
ceiycd the plan of going through the iiei'
and leaving the infant in the pain, II
hopes they would discover il. Inls poo
plan she executed with the result ahoV
narrated. We understand that the rrv'
rend gentleman is To be cited before tn
Presbytery which will meet shortly q
Newark, Del, where his case Will be il
ycstigated by the Church.
The girl was well raised ard was ON
of the most gentcel and comely looNiu
colortd girls about Eikton. Alas, 10
much SO, it would seem for The clcrica
gentleman's weakness. Like the patr
arch Of old, he had an amiable wife, bu
no heirs. and the hand maid,young llage
has fallen victim to that misfortune.
) The girl evinccs extreme mOrtllicatio
when visited in her cell, always hnrstln
into tears and the child being white, seen
, to make the pang all the more acute.
} ii was OF colorcd paternity she says 81
/ could endure the shame with more resi-
= nation, which is not very cOnplimental
| tn tho hlue veinpd Cane 4siau race.