Smyrna times., 1872-10-23
The Elkton Scandal Case.
The Character of Rev. Henry Matthews Fully
NiuCicated.

The Synod Of Baltimore, which includes all
the Presbyterian churches IN the Presbyteries
OF Washington, Baltimore and New Castle,
1870 in number, met in West Church, Whining
ton, "Wednesday last, 10th inst There were
l20 delegates III attendance.
The Committee on Investigation, appointed
by the Presbytcry Of New Castle, to investi-
gate the charge Of Adultery, made by Maria
salisbury, of Elkton, against Rev. Henry
Matthews, minister formerly residing in that
town, made its report to the Presbytery. The
following is the substance of the report:
The statement Of the girl, to the effect that
Mr.. Matthews is the father Of her child, which
was sworn to before the Committee, in EIkton,
on Sept. 30th, and the circumstances connected
with the discovery of the affair, have already
been published. The charge was denied by
Mr.. Matthews, under oath, before Justice OF
! the Peace, in ElktOn, on the 3Oth OF Sept.
The following is his affidavit:
| First, be it known that the charge brought
| by one Maria Salisbury, muattO, of Elkton,
! Maryland accusing the undersigned Henry
! Matthews of being the father of the illegtl-
mate child to which she gave birth on or about
the 30th of last August, is most infamous
slander and malicious calumny on my character.
| SccOndly and be it known that |, the accused,
Henry Matthews, calling TO witness that God
and before whose bar Of Justice shall one day
stand to be judged, do most sincerely and
sOlemnly, without the least mental reservation
or prevaricatiOG, swear aud declare that the
aforesaid charge is utterly false and of it
stand absolutely innocent. Thutiy. And l.
the said Henry Matthews, do further make
oath in the same manner, that l have never
had criminal intercourse with the said Mari,
Salisbury. HENRY MATTHEWS.
Twenty five witnesses we're examined by thC
Committee, including Mrs. Matthews, DR.
/ Zollickoffer and wife, of Baltimore, and DIR
J Jamar DIR. Frazer, Hon. j. t. Mccullough
Albert Constable, Esq, Mrs. Ward, Mis-
, Wallace, and others, of Elkton. Much of th
testimony was about the time Mr.. NJ. was salt
to be with the girl in Baltimore, at the hous
Of a certain Gillard's, and it was proven tha
when she said he was there with her that h
: was not in that city at all. The girl also, il
9 her sworn testimony, admitted there had bee
: bad reports about her, one in reference t
l Clayton Manly aud one about Rev. MIR. Wi
s lams of the Colored NJ. p church, at ElktOr
y and asserted that the criminal intercourse wit
d Mr.. Matthews had continued two years, aftG
!, having previously stating that the intercOurs
n was only three times. Mrs. Metthews, Mr.
y Ward and Miss Wallace testified that the ri
e was in the habit of repeating outrageou
d slanders about people she lived with; W;
@ an inveterate night runner, &c There WI
e also testimony produced, which, though nj
d directly proving the matter, pointed vel
t, strongly to the existence of criminal intim
2. cy between the girl and Rev. Mr.. William
10 former pastor of the African NJ. p. church,
le Elkton, and also colored man named ClaytC
re Manly, of the same town.
S, Summing up the evidence in the case Il
O. committee reported as follows:
le |. That the charge against :he Rev.
Matthews rests only on the declaration al
of oath of the woman who accused him, unsu
le ported by any corroborating testimony or c
IS cumstances, whatever.
lie H. That her testimony is utterly unwortl
OF of credence or regard for the following amo
other reasons: | Because her previous cha
n acter is proved by her own admission and
lin the testimony of respectable witnesses, to ha
ng been loose as to her own conduct and false a
en- slanderous concerning others. 2. Because }
testimony against MIR. Matthews, destroys
ch self by being positively and materially &C
ch Trajectory in its sworn statement concerni