The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1872-10-05

paper: i'o' ~ 'n''
p,,.oL ms large attendance has been slim
" "t%Seu ny the expectancy that the case
d. s. III. Matthews, charged with the Sc
e .3 or his servant, would be inyestina-
f LILLE else is spoken of in Newark.
a,, 't. Matthews was well known there
~ -, .ne story OF his case affects the people
lima tna' town quite as much as those of
Neoi' where he resided for so many years.
oo.,,liaIy To public expectation, and be-
- .'ie people We're aware of it. Mr.. Mat
th;n case was quietly disposed of the first
- Yesterday morning. Few persons
Laa ~" 1he Presbytery knew that the case
n .,,u oeen' called, and many persons in the
hon;a S'V'oh were lmpatiently waiting it's
ming ahxlously looking forward to the
I"Nposition of each item of business in the
nope mat this case would come next.
y letter was read from Rev. Mr.. Mat
news, IN which it was stated that whereas
certain false accusations had been made
against his character by the colored girl,
Maria salisbury, he asked that an investi-
sa"oh might be had at once. A commit
zee was, therefore, appointed for that pur
pose, consisting of Revs John Patton, d.
". or Mlddletown. who is chairman; J. l..
cunningham, of Newark; J. Henry Johns,
VI Lion; and Elders John Y. Foulk, of
Milford and Hugh Steel. of Port Deposit.
inns committee is regarded as very able
one ana iully competent to make thorough
ana ehectual investigation into Mr. Mat
news case. The committee is invested
WIN plenary powers, and will begin it's
lao I,f at once. 1t will 60 first to the town
Oh Eikton and receive the testimony of the
coiored girl; thence to North East to obtain
the documentary evidence in the possession
OF the Justice of the Peace who committed
her to Jail; thence to Baltimore to inquire
INTO the circumstances connected with the
birth of the child, and finally to Randalls-
town, Baltimore Co., Nd. the present
nome OF MIR. Mathews, to receive whatever
testimony he may have to disprove the
guilt which the colored girl has attached
to him. The committee will then make
up its report preparatory to submittal to
the baltimore Synod, which meets in Will
mlngton on the 14th of October. Final
disposition of the case will then be made.
Public opinion is at variance with refer
ence to the guilt or innocence of the ac-
cussed. When the story of his crime first
became known, everyone was 10th to be-
lieve it true, for his life had, to all outward
appearances, been so pure that he was re-
garded as almost Immaculate. The posi-
live asseverations of the girl and the SEEM
ing studied persistence with which Mr..
Mathews evades opportunities to give EN-
phatic contradiction to her charges have,
however. had an effect upon public senti-
ment, and his most intimate friends shake
their heads in doubt as the story of their
interviews with him are related to each
other
A few days after the disclosure by the
poor girl, Parson McIntire, as he is famil-
arly called, Collector of Internal Revenue
for the First Maryland District, had an in
terview with Mr.. Mathews at his office in
Baltimore. Every opportunity was then
offered the accused to deny the charge,
but he only sealed his lips or gave evasive
answers to the Parsons questions. Mr..
McIntire told him that if he would only
give positives contradiction to the girls
statement that his sympathies and his eff
forts should be united in an attempt to
blot out the stain which was now resting
upon his character. The Parsons impor-
tunities We're unavailing, and no denial was
made, SO we are assured.
When Mr.. Mathews visited Elkton for
the purpose of having and interview with
the girl, his friends again attempted to
eStOlE from ultIl u utllldl cNcu
him that if he would make oath to his in
nocence they would believe him guiltless,
thesassertions of the girl to the contrary
notwithstanding. He, however, maintain
his usual reticence.
Almost every one expected Mr.. Mathews
to attend the meeting of Presbytery but
he failed to appear, and merely sent the
letter asking an investigation into the
L., o1la nSt in
letter there is said to be equivocation, and
the denial is only made by implication.
He says that certain ''false charges have
been made against him, which may mean
that the main one is correct and minor
ones false, or may be construed into de-
NAL of the whole story. The letter is very
carefully and guardedly written. If he is
guilty he is certainly acting in most con-
scientious manner, refusing to add purJury
to his other crime.
Another singular fact in connection with
this case is the political antecederts Of the
Rev. Mr.. Mathews. i Nirginian by birth,
he inherited all the antipathieS of his peo-
pie towards the colored men, and brought
with him his political predictions to his
new bone in Elkton. He was most ultra
in his views and strong in his prejudices-
so much so, in fact, that church separa-
ton could barely be prevented among his
people. In view of this fact. his present
situation is somewhat anomalous, but not
more so from this reason than by his de-
parture from the lessons of purity and
truth which he has been intoxicating these
many years.
On Monday last, Mr.. Mathews met the
committee appointed by Presbytery to
investigate his case, at Elkton. The exam
nation was held in the Office of Reuben
Haines, Esq, and several witnesses were
examined, who had interviewed Maria
Mr.. Mathews conducted the examination
himself. The examination being by spe-
cial committee was not public proceed
inc. though not strictly private. We were
unable to get a full report of the trial, but
learned that Mr.. Mathews was sworn be-
fore Justice Howard and declared on his
oath that his reported criminal intimacy
with the girl is entirely false. The eXami-
nation did not, that we could learn, bring
ont any new facts, and the only discre-
nancy in the girls statements to the differ
ant witnesses was in regard to Mr.. Mat
hews' proceedings when he took her to the
honse of the colored women in Baltimore.
One of the witnesses stated that Maria had
told him that Mr.. Mathews left her at the
door: While another said that Mr.. NJ.
waited at the door till the woman came
and told her to take good care of Maria.
One of the witnesses said she told him that
Mr.. Mathews pointed out the house and
stood at corner till she went in. After
half dozen interviewings and vast deal
of questioning, this was all the discrepancy
we could learn was found in Maria's state
mepts, which does not touch the main facts
Now, as the matter of allowing any man
TO take an oath who is charged with being
the father of an illegitimate child, touch
ing his guilt or Innocence of the crime, the
law says.-Section 3 of Art. 81 of the
MARYLAND Code Supplement-: "No person
who in any criminal proceeding is charged
with the commission of an indictabe of
f.nse. or any oifense punishable on sum-
mary conviction, shall be competent or COM
T~,, arN4