The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-01-22
THE CONGER DIVORCE SUIT.

THE REFEREE REPORTS IN FAVOR OF THE DE-
TlNDANr-HIs SON OPPOSED TO TIE CON-
FiRMATIoN OF THE REPORT.
Tho referee to whom was referred the matter OF the
application OF Jane McCrea Conger Tor absolute d.
vorcs the ground OF adultery against Abraham B.
Conger, submitted report for confirmation yesterday
in the Supreme Court Kings county. before Judge
Gilbert. in favor OF the defendant evidence being
ELECTED 10 show crminality on his part.
Tho confirmation of the report opposed by
Mr.. Clarence Congor. Of the dcienaant. who
said that he objected the report being confirmed
the ground tnat II showed bias and prejudice The
misconduct Of the pArticeps crlminis, said, had
been msjudged by the referee, for IL had shown
that shc received visits from the defendant 10 her
husbands absence. The charges had boon brought
before the Prcsbytery, but tney had refused inves
tieate them.
Mr.. Robert Seweil, counsel for the defendant said
that this brought by lady loose the bonds
OF matrlmony which had existed tor upward OF forty
years. The referee, Mr. Kctcnum, Of tho plain
tins own selection, and tho hearing had gone on oil
last summer From the hrst the referee was preju-
diced against tho minister's WIFE Mr.. Kctchum was
unimpeachcd and unimpeachable
The particulars OF the case have been published
heretofore. Tho referee says:--
But tho defendant accused by his son the crmo
charged nero, anu told TO cease visiting the PARSONAGE.
s was Ssanssr son; saasasa able ana n tas pro-
the father vt many sons and daughters,
a and to- w na aas TO-
be aacensrosa ana rspsiiea the charge e would
suit and ali It's. s.rrows.
described relations defendant TO til. estate OF
s wis anS the with II his with IT, the
ming returned subject The defendants cou-
Of s III sas aas
ihe plaintiffs was large It's liberal income
WAS WIN wo%ans love ana trust sar1sndsrsd 10 her
amiy through me L. was his duty :, project ana
s1sassd s1'; xn,s IN :sos. raising
failure and tho disrepute which follows it, FOR
While that ssSo@ to him Who 10
eaa ana ns. TO asaes a &
source WAS their mosaes .noaa upon tho diseoy
be first distressed ana then angry.
father Of their aad respect For in tees@br or
s4 VII, sas SOU sssas Of his
SnI hs his pa upGn asr h a his open
ton had become necessary to Stop the waste 10
the plaintiff estate npon the paramosr Of her husband
given Wy the defendant Tor paid by
part OF pr"o defendant expended the ao"eS
sn S 81 S sa usrs ~. been
plaintiff In his nnai .rsumeat has pressed the
charge. and also that tho ministers wife luiIty
with sns men whose names hive been connected hers with
hers. The nrst Is no longer asserted.
not, upon the evidence, believe.
The principal witness for she plaintiff was
man named Palmer, who ID seventy years OF ago
ana employed about the minister's house
He SAID he MD himself dumb w.iter
Tor lour hours, and while there he Witnessed
gross Improperly between Mr. Conger and Mr..
Northrup Though the witness remained the en-
poy Of Mr. N0rthrup tor two after TINS
occurrence he did not tell OF IL Tor a year utter
| the affair, whcn informed Mr.. Conger's
| son IT. Since thon Palmer has been
| indicted for perjury Tho retvree discredits
| the testimony VI this witness. Testimony
also adduced to the effect that Mrs. Northrup had
committed herself with former pupil, the name OF
| the youth in question being withheld. There were
| other accusations, which also discarded. Tho
reIatons OF the defendan head trustee IN the
church, sunday school ana district school, OF which
! the lady named teacher, brought him often 10
the inster's house, und thcre was no impropr,ety
in his visits there In conclusion the referee ADDS -
1t has very caring Of the
Ut abhorred crime. called In
most OpproDrious quite audible
-haps I" hor taough partially deaf; and hear,
among other things her words o. kindness
chdten who had been her scholars. whose
susan Conkiin hal given adverse testimony this
sterniy contssdcted by her.
am OF opinion that the defendant is guilty auy
OF the O adultery charged in :he complaint
the Is not guilty VI criminal inti
with whose nave, upon trial
been connected with hcrsn evil reports against her
Judge Gilbert has reserved decision on the mo-
| ton CONFIRM the report 0i the referee.