The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-10-18
BEEoHERIsm IN CONNECTICUT
The Rev. Mr.. Punum on the Rack-nis
Wife's Testimony.

HARTFORD, Oct. 1.-THE trial OF the
Bufum divorce case, being cross bill between
the Rev. L. II. Bufum and his wife. was begun
In the Suuerior Court, before Judge Sanford in
this city to-day, and attracted crowd which
completely 0ned the court room, and included
several women. Mr.. Bucum was graduated at
the Hartford Theological Seminary, which Is
thoroughly Old school, and was arst after his
ordin ,ton inst allied pastor Of the Windsor Ave
nue. Congregational Church, in Hartford. This
was In 1871. lie was n very earnest preacher,
rather more 50 than the average pastor, and be-
sides directing his sermon against sin In gem
eral, he preached evening lectures aimed at the
special faults and fOibles Of n perverse generi-
ton. Dress. fashion, dancing, and card PLAYING
as n rarlor anu sement. were denounced In the
most severe terms. So radical were all his
views Of Chrlsti1n discipline and duty that some
Of the more conservative clereymen OF the same
denomination In this vicinity were Suspicious
of him, though there had been then no dis
closures affecting his moral CHI iracter.
After he had been settled q year or two, n
Young iirl about sixteen years ~ age, named
Cora Lord, whose parents lived near the pastoral
residence. became a member Of his family in
the cap city II child's nur'e. and subsequently,
a. she developed into more muscular woman
hood. was housekeeper. While II IL evident
now that ere were queer doings m TN family
very soon after the appearance oi this Girl within
II, vet the goesips OF the neighhorhood did not
yet hold ofany material facts. Trouble. however,
grew up between the pastor aud his peonl, on
acc Iunt 81 pccuniarv diferences and while this
was pending, Mr. lutrum received and accepted
acn 70 n the hulnlt OF the Conn egational
m'nv years supplied by the venerable Dr.
Spring In his new 1cId he had a uni ed church
aud society; Liberal salary, and every induce
mCnt To make his lnhors sucCossful.
10 this point he had not been scaudnlzed hut
i was not long before his name and that 81 the
Lord girl were uppleasantly associated, and
nntllv the whole co immunity was n lodel with
the most sickeuing details Of his moral deln-
qucncy he church could not rest without
a ton. and meetings were held, which deveioped
the fact that thore were many dis believers who
adhered 20 the pastor ON the presumption of his
Innocence, nud II was only after vigorous par
tis m conflict that 0nal results we're reached.
When at last Mrs. Burum came out boldly and
told all she knew the ohnrch formally asked for
n council. which was called, and the recre nj pas
tor was not only relieved Of hi. pastor t. hit
was deposed from the ministry. The HArtford
Association Of Ministers then dismissed nun 10y
IN .ntnlous vote, Hnd he departed tow I'd the
region made famous 10y tue lacouic advice ~ the
Bloomington. ILL., Airs. Bufum at once fled
petition Tor divorce, accusing him o. repeated
acts ~ adultery with Miss Lord ana cruelty to
herself aud children. This brougnt her husband
back, aud lie brought cross petition, alleging
sticking pms In him and hreaking furniture.
Mrs Bunum WAS the nrst witness called to-
dav AMI her testimony direct was not closed
when tho court adjourned, at4 =. ". Il appears
from her story tnat upon the nrst entrance Of
Miss Lord INTO tue BulTum mansio on the he, j Of
the family began to grow vi-iOly cool toward MS
spouse. and did not please ner. espcci tllv when
he took Mas Lord into his lap In her presence.
was our daughter" The pastor had his study
In bis church, and Miss Lord went there almost
q ily which was another cause of unpleasant
ness. Finally Bunum himself had gone so far
that he saw no y out Of his cmbs rrassmeut
txreut 70 confess 20 HIS wife TIA { the girl was
" Ia trouble. and that he must take her away
which he did. and later told his wife that every
thing was all right. He eNpresse great sorrow,
and asked her forgive less, which she says she
granted, though she WIS much crushed In spirit.
Tho substance OF the rest OF her testimony was
10 the elect that no fewer than four abOitiOns
were committed. though she testified that Buff
f1in did not admit them Dut when she pressed
him us TO one case, he replied that " she nad IN
opportunity to show true Christian grace and
spirit Of forgiveness seldom Afforded any wo-
mun."
Mrs. Bunum Is "a years OF age. She appeared
to-day In dress OF black She looked very
pale. yet was apparently calm. and told her story
readily, aud used good language. though some
Of the spect tors thought she strived somewhat
forenoon and took copous notes. lie IS about
% years OF age. and Il a nervous man. He kept
away THIS afternoon by advice OF physicians
who told him that the excitement would he too
much for him. II lie did not beware. The court
adjourned to 10 o'clock \. NJ tomorrow.
"A "A part OF nis answer to the allegations
against MIN. Bunum SAWS hat SO far rs he was
guilty OF any lault. bis wife condoned r. but
that Will not affect probably. the question 4 d.
Nofrc Inc main thing IN the contest l. the
Possession OF the children, Of whom there arc
fuui. and the disposal " them viii rest with the
discretion OF the court, Independent OF the de-
cision oil divorce as between the opposite petit