Wilmington daily commercial., 1875-08-12
FIRST EDITION.
Mr. Kenney's.Derence.

| HIR FRIENDS DIscREDIT MRS. vANMETERs sToRY--
THEIR REASON FOR 10 DoiNa--THE FULL IMPORT
OF THE ACCUSATIONS AGAINST THE REVEREND
| GENTLEMAN.
| When Mrs. VanMeter's accusation WAS first
brought against Rev. L. Il. Kenney, the plausi-
bility with whi,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 as true. Among them were
| many prominent members of tho accused's own
persuasion. Latterly, however, the current of
public opinion seems set in the other direction,
and the membership of Mr.. Kenney's own
| church (Siloam) have the greatest )ntidence in
his innocence 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 been given of the affair.
BY one MIR. Kenney is represented as guilty of
the foulest of all crimes; another charges him
with the serious injury of the child; third sim
considerable number Fortunately for the
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 to writing, care being taken to
closely question her as to the full extent of Mr..
kenney's conduct. This statement was subse-
quently signed by Mrs. Van Meter, after she had
repeatedly told the Trustees, q That is all, and
it is now in the hands Of gentleman well known
in this city. The strongest construction which
can be put upon this statement is
that OF improperly of conduct.
and this the friends of Mr.. Konney
announce their readiness to take issue on.
Neither Mrs. vanMeter nor any. one else, they
say, can legally Or morally produce any other
charge than is contained in this written state
ment, and to the clearing up of this particular
one they have addressed themselves.
To this end they doubt the credibility OF
the boy witness to the affair, basing their belief
upon other questionable acts of his, which they
allege against him. They also claim to be
able to show general carelessness in the con-
duct OF the girl herself. not of criminal ma
ture, nor yet OF any extreme degree of impro-
priety, but sufficient to exhibit the possibility
Of misconception on her part of her relation
to the case and susceptibility to be improper
ly influenced in her opinions. The refusal to
permit committee OF disinterested ladies' to
make an examination Of the child, and her re-
moval to Philadelphia, are strongly character
lied as efforts to conceal the real truth and
and magnify the case. Mrs. VanNIeter's sub
Hequent conduct is also unfavorably criticised,
and direct issue of truthfulness has, we are
told been raised between her and lady of
good standing in Grace church, this city.
These are some Of the testimonies upon which
the friends of Mr., Kenney rely to prove his in-
nocence when the charges are presented against
him, IL indeed they over are. But, say the
IrlenuH OF Mr. henneyt IL tue oniy hctuai
charge be sustained, we are ready to show that
ha was not responsible for his acts" And here
they recite his condition for some days antece-
dent to the camp. meeting, relating numerous
Incidents of an absent-minded man, aome of
which we have already printed, and it is unnec-
essary to repeat them here. Their greatest
present concern is to clear up the scandal but it
seems to be dying of its own accord, Mr.. Kenney
in the meantime rising higher in the public esti-
nation OF those who are in q position to know
the full facts of the case.
So great has been the popular revulsion that
Mr. Kenney is even declared by some to have
been the victim of a conspiracy. though with
what motive is not explained. The intmation
has been made, however, that the whole affair
side parties, and that Mr.. Kenney has been made
the victim by which to cripple one side. We
have no reason to believe such thing, and only
give publicity to it to show the theories of
some people who are casting about for solution
IN tha n tfair