Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1875-08-19
LOCAL AFFAIRS.


HrR FRIENDS D1scREDIr mrs. vAHNETkR STORY
THEIR REASON FOR NO poi.a-rHk PULL TNPoRT
OF THE AcousArIoNs AaASsT TIE REVEREND
GENTLEMAN.
When Mrs. VanMeters accusation WAS first
brought against Rev. E. T. Kenney, the plAusi-
bilility with vhi,h the story Of his alleged crime
was told, Ginning in as it did with the outward
circumstances Of the affair, led many persons to
accept the charge ~ true. Among them were
many prominent members Of the accused's own
persuasion. Lstte1ly, however, the current OF
public opinion seerns set in the other direction,
and the memberhip Of Mr.. Kenney's own
church (siloam) bave the greatest G ,ntdence in
his innooencs Of all crime, while his ministerial
brethren have full faith In the ability OF his
friends to set the matter right before the world.
Conspicuous amoug the reasons for this
change in public sentiment is the very many
versions which have boon given Of the afiair:
BY one Mr. kenney 10 represented As guilty OF
the foule4t OF all crimes; another charges him
with the serious injury Of the child; third sim
ply with improperly Of conduct, and 80 on to
accused and the public, the Trus-
tees of the church, in the early stages
Of the affair, presented themselves before
Mrs. Van Meter to hear her statement, which
was reduced 10 writing, care being taken to
closely question her Is to the full extent OF Mr..
q
quontly signed by Mrs. Van Meter, after she had
repeatedly told the Trustees, -" That is al, and
1t is now 10 the hands Of = gentleman well known
in this city. The strongest construction winch
be pat upon thus i siA'e"so1 souduot
and this the friends Of Mr.. Kenney
announce their readiness to take issue on.
Neither Mrs. VsnMeter nor any one else, they
say, can legally or morally produce any other
charge than 10 contained in this written state
1 = IL ~srS oR a
one they have addressed themselves.
To this end they doubt the crodibility OF
the boy witness to the affair, basing their belief
upon other questionable acts Of his, which they
aiege against him. They also claim to be
able to show genera! csrelsssness IN tn9 con
ture nor yet Of any extreme degree OF 1mpro-
priety, but sufficient to exhibit the possibility
| Of a misooncepton on her part Of her reation
to the case and susceptibility to be improper
ly influenced in her opinions. The refusal te
permit q committee OF disinterested ladies tt
make IN examination Of the child, and her re
moval to Philadelphia, arc strongly character
ized ~ efforts to conceal the real truth ane
and magnify the case. Mrs. VanMeter's sub
seauent conduct IL also unfavoraby criticised
and direct issue Of truthfulness has, we ART
told, been raised between her and lady o
good standing in Grace church, this city.
These arc some Of the testimonies upon which
the friends of MIR. Kenney rely TO prove his IN
nooence when the charges are presented agains
him, II indeed they ever are. "But," say thu
friends Of Mr.. Kenney, "if the only actua
charge be sustained, We are ready to show tina
ha was not responsible for his acts. And her'
they recite his condition for some days antece
dent to the camp meeting relating numerou
incidents Of an absentmnded man. some o
which We have already printed, and it Is unnec
esssry to repeat them here. Their creates
present concern is to clear up the scandal, but
seems to be dying VI it's own accord, MIR. kenne
! in the meantime rising higher in the public est
nation OF those who are in position to kno'
the full facts Of the case.
30 great has been the popular revulsion ths
Mr.. Kenney is even declared by some to ha,
been the victim Of = conspiracy. though wit
what motive is not explained, The intimAtio
i, has been made however, that the whole ana
: has sprung from jealoua rivalry between on
! side parties, and that Mr.. Kenney has been MAJ
: the victim by which to cripple one side. v
Q have no reason 10 believe such thing, and on
: give publicity to it to show the theories
= some people who are casting about for soluti'
- | 1s1 tho Affair.