The sun., 1873-12-17
CONNECTICUT SCANDAL.
| A Menbsr Of the Howard Avenue Church
Expresses his Opinion.

DIR see III your fssub VI lPtOs Vui't hh
extensive article headed "a Connecticut soan-
dal." As your reporter has evidently obtained
his informatio solely from what may be termed
the prosecution standpoint, perhaps you will
allow few ords from the ground occupied by
the defence. As regards the early life marriage,
and departure OF Mrs. Sprague your report Is In
the main correct. The statement that tire Rev.
o. II. White expressed to Mrs. Hamilton his
conviction that Mrs. Sprague was guilty Is most
certainly incorrect. The further statement that
he reluctantly called the attention Of the stand
ing Committee of the church to the matter Is
also a slight deviation from strict veracity.
The matter was promptly brought to the at
tentiun OF the committee, and the only re-
luctance on the part Of Mr.. White was his de.
termination not to believe the lady guilty until
guilt was proven; and IN his judgment tho proper
court rather than TO make the church an In
strumeDt In the hands OF outside parties TO
wreak private vengeance. Your reporter tur-
ther says that Mrs. Sprague was ordered back
from California for an investigation Of tho
charges. The truth Is that on receipt Of a let.
ter from Dr. CLARK Of Boston informing thom OF
the various TumOrs ahOat concerning Mrs.
Sprague, she al once tclcgraphed to Boston. ask
ing permission To roturn to New Haven, that she
might face her acCuscrs and pfoNe her entire IN
noCcnce Again. your reporter says that Mrs.
spag9o claimed that her Paisley shawl had
black border attached to II, and that experts
testified that Paisley shawls were not made in
this manner. Mrs Sprague did not claim that
attached and had n black fringe. and no experts
testified TO the contrary. IL was clearly shown
that cheap Paisley shhwls we're often made with
the border attached. Your reporter further
says that at the trial before the church the Rov.
Dr. Bacon acted as Modcrp,9r; lhls IS "l," IN IN.
church, occupied that position. Dr. Bacon,
however. did act In that capacity during the
session Of the Council, Again, your report
says that MIR. sprague complained that the
church was not Impartial. ana just before the
conclusion Of the trial the verdict forestall-
ed D demand for trial before All tEglcslastl-
Surogue did moi claim that the church WAS pnr-
tial or impartial. but only on account Of the
feeling that had begun to manifest itself In the
church. and for the sake Of peace and harmony
among the church members did he suggest the
propacty Of calling a council. lie had abun-
dant reason for calling an er pdrtc 60 neil had
hIs wife 40 desired, but they preferred amutual
council. and the church gladly acceded to the
request, both parties agreeing TO abide by the
decision, whatever II might be. These are afew
| OF the incorrect statements made by your re-
porter, who doubtless procured his inform alton
from the despunding occupant OF a law office on
| Church street. and the residents of an humble
| dwelling near the banks OF the QunniIiec in
| IL is true that Mrs Spraeue was charged with
stealing black lace shawl from Mrs. Gray of
| Straford IN March. 1871, but all the prosecution
could 9nsr ia Me- W Of eHdeHf1 rSs s Nh. ,ne
| SprAgue to look at her wardrobe As IL was packed
| ia her trunks, saw there a black lace shawl
! The defence was arlc to show by more than one
reliable aud respectable witness that Mrs.
| NprhSue nhu oNneu anu worn
shawl more than twelve months previous
| To the loss Of Mis-. Gray's shawl, allow ng that
Mrs, Gray ever did lose shawl and 1t was
further shown that Mrs. Sprague's shawl was Of a
! very norcut style and manufacture from Mrs.
| Gray's. II Is also true that Mrs. Sprague was
! charged with stealing a Paisley shawl from =
/ Mrs. II hamilton IN farhayen on the morning Of
| her wedding, and that Mrs. Hamilton prUfcsses
| to have received from Mrs. Sprague an envelope
containing tlS. In answer t. letter charging her
with the theft; but our most renowned experts
and one OF our most scientific men have de-
Fl 4r.H tNNn al IGN Al Al AZ he A. n
velope was never addressed by Mrs. Spraguo
that the handwriting bears not the slightest re-
| scmhlance to hers and still further, that tho
address was not written with the same Kind OF
! ink a all their other correspondence. Further
| testimony showed that 40 such Kind Of ink
| could h, any possibility have been procured 10y
! Mr.. or Mrs Spfa-ue at the place were the, were
then stoppIns An oysrw rwhelmins amount OF
! u MI entirely different style and manufacture
from Mrs ianiton-. and the prosecution
! failed In every instance to establish any ything
like claim to indenthcation.
This council was composed OF mon well quail
fed by wisdom and sound judgment 10 SIT In
| Just such case as this. They patiently listened
To all the evidence, and hing was suppie--ed
that had any bearing on tho case. They care
! aud then came to the unanimous conclusion IN at
Mrs Sprague was not guilty OF any OF the
= -'.~w.ass.ss lsruy'.siU<pg~I~Ss~ before
| the church Is matter concerning which many
opinions are expressed prominent among which
is that that dccp-lald conspiracy exists t. ruin
the character Oi ono whose reputation has hith-
|
| ou-y, and malice had joined hands ia tho un-
/ holy war. aud found only too many willing
hands within the church to assist in the cruel
| at OF persecution; hut happily their intention,
! have been frustrated, ana Mrs. SUrague stand.
| acquitted Of the charges, notwithstanding The
untiriug and almost uuscrupulous Efforts OF the
prose .utipn. The committee of the church, ul
rather the majority of the committee who had
adj Judged her as guilty ON "A partial hearing be
fore their august body, are of course dissatisfied
with the decision Of the council; but, ~ they
had previously agreed to abide by It's decision
they can think Of no better plan than To tender
neutrality-suspicious. AS members OF the committee
which they have done. declaring II they cannot
have their own way, they prefer not TO play any
| more. The case has been very painful both tC
the church and to the accused, and has caused
| a great deal Of feeling both In the church ant
the community; but II all parties will acc.p
the situation and endeayor to heal all tn,
wounds and devote all their energies tOwarC
promoting peace aud harmony In the church. al
| may vet be we'll and peace and prosperity will
| prevail in the Howard Avenue Church.
! am sorry t. be obliged to ask you to publsl
so long a Communication, vet trust you will b,
willing TO do so In justice to d much njUro'
and abused Christian lady and her sorrowing
vet rejoicing husband -sOrrowing that any on
can be found vndictiye enough to make sucl
charges against the partner OF us life, and re
icicing that their schemes have been brought 4
naught and his companion enabled TO live in tn
proud CONSCIOUSNESS Of clearly proven inno
cenCe. JUSTICE.
NEw HAVEN, Doc. 8.