New-York tribune., 1878-05-24
PLYMOUTH CHURCH SCANDALS.
CHARGES AGAINST A MISSIONARY.

CHARGES AGAINST A MISSIONARY.
TIE REV. FRANCIS SMITH OF THE BETHEL MISSION
OF PLYMOUTH CHURCH ACCUSED BY WOMAN
AN INVESTIGATING COMMITTEE DECLARES THE
CHARGES FALSE.
As the Rev. Francis Smith, pastor of the
Bethel Mission OF Plymouth Church. was leaving the
mIs,onsn Hicksst Brooklyn, with his father, Tuesday
morning las., woman addressed him IN abusive IAN
guage. Mr. Smith aud his father walked away rapidly
making no reply. The woman was Mrs Matilda Kettcl
a widow ago thirty-four. OF No 250 Hgh-st. She isa
woman OF average height with gray eyes and dark hair
who lives with her mother and brother and earns money
by sewing She has two children about nine and seven
years OF age
Isaac signor superintendent Of the Bethel Sunday
school, said yesterday that about March. John LOWS
Mrs Kottcll's Drotherold Thomas g. shearmanthat Mr.
Smith had walked home with his sister and no did not
consider this right In married man. Mr. Smith did not
deny that he had walked homo With Mrs ketten, but
said at her request aS she had something 10
say to him. About two weeks ago Lewis told Mr. signor
that he had further charges 70 make against Mr. Smith,
and that he and his sister wished 20 he heard Mr. sig
nor invited ten or twelve OF the male tea,h
ers OF the Sunday, school TO meet and ana
her mother and brother appeared before the teach
crs and made their statements what These were M
Testimony was taken on both sides by tho commit
cLaTtes were dspGoycd. Mr. ssnor said thar
Mrs Keltru was q member Of one OF the classes
Bible class. After this occurrence Mr. s!gnor nd
yisfd them to leave the school ana they did so Mr.
missionary, who preached sunday evenings, at The
Bethel. Before coming 20 Brooklyn lac had hvff ia
KOchester and indianapolis and ~ each OF those places
he had been secretary Of the Young Mems Christian
Association Mr SignOr believed tue charges against
Mr.. smith to be ridiculous and false.
Mr. Smith sometime ago received postal cara 0I,
which was Willaeh "" s,aiion d 'NrwSoIk
mean business Pride must have "A fan Mr slalth
T,trr called upan the superintendent OF station ID.
Z dI,f j. j.
not called for. Mr. Smith refused, YESTERDAY, 10 say
ANYTHING about the charges except TO Characterize them
as false and malicious.
Tho statements made TO the committee OF teachers
were obtained from Mrs. Kctte aud her brother last
evening John Leys, the brother Of Mrs Keitel SAYS
in his statement that May 1871 he became acquainted
with Mr.. Smith One evening in Jny smith came
TO the house and they played euchre
until 1880 The following week he came
again and proposed game OF euchre. Lewis says he
became convinced that smith was frequently lhtOh
ne cHntiC3 cHntJ3 ~ os NJ lie HeIb.I and trrgncnty cot
nome late. When saith went his Summer va,
I cation Mrs Kcttell did not visit the Bethel
"a ofien ON October o, Lewis SAYS he followed Mrs
keItelI and saw her ride long distance srect
with Mr. Smith. He spoke TO smith about IT, ami smith
KIN him at the Behe. II II becaue known.
Mrs. Kellell made substantially the following state,
Bethel. lie called on me at my home Ia
February and he April !. -, On one occasion
rant the Island and had dance, and l drank ale
| with him Smith asked tho landlord for IA private
room, but did not get one We went away
and afterward stopped in lagerbecr saloon and had
come lager. Smith got private room aud began to KISS
| and clTess me. | objected shower kept us
| there until o'clock. He told me tDat he loved
, me when he first saw me nj The Bethel. Ole
Day in the park he told he was miserable as bis
wi not for him. lie wanted somebody TO love,
and tue last ten years OF his life had been nothing but
surog og and disappointment lie begged me to hun
often a. he loved me 10 distraction.
''On another occasion met him at the Seyenth.ayc.
entrance 10 Park. lie said mat he had got tired
of waiting and had had a drink OF whIskey, remarkng
that it was d-d bad stuff lie led me about
| the park until dark and got lost.
lie prom -ed never 10 leave me- but said lac would
the end Of the world with me. and asked me II would
| leave my friends and 20 with him. Ho also
! asked let the secret De buried with
| me, and swOre that he would leave the Bethel
| sooner than he would leave About
April l. ! called TO HIM about letter had written
| to him, and he lola that my brother had gone
back ON him, aud that he had paid 500 for testimony
against my brother He said he sorry he had not
told the trutn but he would stick to what he had sad
for SignOr was his side and would zee him through
After tho committee mot. Nj. SgnOr told Lewis that
the charges had fallen through, Mr. Smith had proved
an aliD ON ali the dates that had been mentioned.