Wilmington daily commercial., 1876-10-14
FIRST EDITION.
PHILADELPHIA.
The Permanent Exhibition Scheme Centen-
nial Dots-Politics- Church Scandal
The Great Libel Suit, &c.

retaining the main building on the Centen-
nj grounds for the purpose of a perma-
neht exhibition has fallen almost as rapidly
as it arose, and to the great disappointment
OF certain parties who expected to make
money out of the scheme. 1t does not of
ten happen that men of influence such as
were associated in this project fail to ac-
compliah their ends, but this scheme was a
little toe much for them the requisite au-
thority could not be obtained, and there
we're substantial reasons why the main
building should not be preserved for the
proposed purpose. Understand, that all
| this has ncthing to do with the advisability
| OF having permanent exhibition, but that
it refers only to the place of holding it. 1t
has all along been understood that A[achi-
/ merry Hall was to remain after the close of
| the Exposition, and it is mall respects bet
/ ter built andm durable structure than
the other. 1t will admirably answer every
purpose, and il now the property OF the ci-
| ty, to be put to any use after the close of
the Great Fair which may be found expe-
| dent. Herein, of course, is the difficulty,
for the Main Building project was engi-
neered for individual profit while with Ma
| chinery Hall for base there will be no
such opportunity But the public will
profit, all the same.
THE FORREST HOME.
The first applicant for admission to the
edwin Forrest Home, whose petition was
favorably passed upon by the managers,
| was Mr.. William Thomas, an Englishman
by birth, but associated for number OF
| years with theatricals in the United States.
He is well known in this city as an actor of
old men, in which line OF parts he was
painstaking and acceptable. Some time
since he met with an accident which re-
suited In the amputation of several of the
fingers of his right hand. He is thoroughly
disabled from acting, and comes fairly with
IN the provisions of the Forrest will. The
Home could moi have a more promising
start than through the admission of this
veteran player. Mr.. Oakes sends word
from Boston that he has received number
OF applications, and there is a prospect that
the house will be filed during the winter.
The old Cope Mansion on the Spring Brook
estate cannot, however, accommodate many
inmates, the intention being to see how
far the enterprise is likely to succeed be-
fore going to the expense of erecting ad-
ditional buildings.
KENsINGToN CHURCH SCANDAL.
There is a lively church scandal of the
Brooklyn order exciting Kensington, and
which is to-day one of the matters of COM
mon talk everywhere. 1t refers to the Rev.
MIR. Bott, pastor OF the 18th Baptist church,
at Richmond and Shackamaxon streets.
There was business meeting at the church
last evening at which a member made
statement charging Mr.. Bott with certain
uncler1cal doings which naturally caused q
great uumult. Finding that he could not
stop the proceedings, the minister vacated
his place in the pulpit left the church, and
went rapidly up the street. Jim Smiley, we
are told in the fable, made desperate effort
to overhaul the chap who stuffed his frog,
Danl Webster, with shot, but he never
cotcht him, and so Mr.. Bott, though dill
gently pursued by the father of the young
woman who figures without name in the
story, managed to escape vengeance for the
time. 1t was this chase through the streets
which gave the affair its particular zest,
though it was not an improving spectacle
to see preacher pursued by that sort of a
nemesis. 1t is said the infuriated parent,
in the unwonted vigor of his movements, let
fall from his mouth set of artificial teeth,
and chat the time lost in their recovery gave
Bott an advantage which could not subse-
quently be redeemed. Mr.. Bott is young,
married, and is reported to possess a ''mov-
ing" power in the pulpit which greatly en-
deared him TO his congregation. 1t is q very
queer story throughout.
MKAK vs. MCLURE.
The Mckay libel suit against the Times
newspaper-one of the number, that is to
say-has at last come on but it is not prov
ing 80 entrancingly interesting as was an
ticipated. 1t was put on trial in the middle
Of the election excitement, and, no doubt,
but for that fact would have attracted more
attention than it has succeeded in doing.
As far as the case has proceeded, the Times,
1o1u
against Mckay, has hardly seemed to make
good the specific charges upon which the
present suit was brought. The central
claim made by the Times was that Mckay,
while acting as contractor for the removal
of material from the old Navy Yard to the
yard at League Island, appropriated guam
titles of this valuable stock to his private
advantage. This serious allegation has not
been as yet proven, but on the other hand,
the Times has shown up some of McKay's
methods of obtaining contracts, which will
make people believe that an individual of
such loose notions of honor would not hes
itate at any kind Of sharp practice" in
money making.
PURGING THE REGISTRY.
The usual process of what is termed
''purging the registry list" is now going on,
and there is some trouble in theicamp. Ac-
cording to law the names of persons on the
llsC VINO nave Oleo OF removed since the as
sessment cannot be stricken off, but it has
been the practice heretofore to write the
letters r. g. q. opposite such names, so
that everybody concerned might know
that such names could not be vot.
ed on. Thus, last year 12,700 names were
so marked between the 18th and 30th of
October, and when election day arrived vo-
ters knew that the lists were practically ac-
curate. But Mr.. Kneass, chairman OF the
Republican City Executive Committee, now
objects to this method, arguing that it is
not understood by election officers and tends
to produce confusion. Mr.. Kneass insists
on slower process which will not enable
the court to purge the lists of more than
5000 names between this and election, not.
withstanding those lists are much heavier
than ever before. The movement is known
to be in the Rowan interest, who could be
defeated in fair election, SO strong is the
Republican disaffection on that part of the
ticket. But with this material help there is
every reason to expect that Rowan will win.
Kneass wants to be District Attorney, and is |
making bold bid for the support of the
Ring.