Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1878-06-14
4 SCENE IN CHURCH.
THE ACQUITTAL OF A PASTOR OF THE
CHARGE OF ADMINISTERING POISON TO
HIS wIFE-THE SUBSEQUENT PROCEED


CHARGE OF ADMINISTERING POISON TO
HIS WIFE-THE SUBSEQUENT PROCEED
INGs IN HIS .ChURCn--IIis SERMON, i.
&C., &C., &C.
Rev. Geo. B. Vosburgh, pastor of a
Baptist church in Jersey City, N. J.. has
been for some weeks on trial for admins
tering poison to bis wife. The evidence
was decided that some one had admins
tered the poison, but it was not
conclusive as to her husbands motive
for the decd, and there was still less proof
of tbs fact that he had poisoned her food
and medicine. On Sal urday the jury re-
turned Il verdict of not guilty. Upon the
rendition Of the verdict there WIS ire
mendous outbursL of applause, which was
repeated again and again amid the loud
cheering and waving OF hats on the part OF
the multitude. Vosburgn turned terribly
pale; it WAS the reaction from his long
.eut-up excitement. Miss Ida Vosburgh,
,ister vi the accused, burst into tears and
!irew herself into the arms of her mother.
V0stu.gh, III answer to an inquiry how lie
tetC over he verdict, replied: II 1eel more
Ike going down on my knees and thanking
God thaA throwing up my hat. There are
rails and sutferipgs for which a man is all
5Ae better. ai'd perhaps this is one OF
nem.'' AT MIR. Vosburgh'S church, Sun
lay, he did not preach, but Rev. Or. Pat
5an, editor Of the baptist Weekly"
MI. osuurg MAS not III church during
Jila sermon. Dnb JEST after the benadlct.oli
g was seen shaking hands with DR.. Pat
ten. The bread and wine for tue COM
munion service were on a Handicapped
table in front Of the platform. MI. Vos
burgh asked those who desired to receive.
the right hand of fellowship to come for
ward. Mr.. Fans, q New York merchant.
his wife, and four children stepped TO tie
front, and the pastor shook them by the
hand and welcomed them as new Corners
to the church. Then he began to break
the slices Of bread into small pieces, talk
ing at the same Time of the lesson taught
by the commemorative service. Deacons
Estey; Miller, Grant, and Schopp carried
ne bread to the congregation, who re-
NAMED in their seats. About three-quar-
tiers of those who had been present during
the service remained. Deacon Bumstead
sat alone and received the communion
bread. In blessing the wine Mr.. Vosburgh
rayed that the.spirit which was in Christ
when he said, ''Father, forgive them, -
wonld be in allspresent; that malice, ha-
tired, and revenge might be put far away,
and that in their stead there might be all
gentleness, tenderness, and forgiveness.
After the service nearly all of the as
sembly stopped on the stoop until Mr..
hon hoyy rrafh nr
ed about to shake bis hand.
In the evening the church was thronged.
After the pews were all filled settees were
brought from the lecture-rOom, until the
aisles were almost impossible throughout
their whole length. Then the thrOng
pressed forward half way up the aisles, to
stand patiently through the service. MT.
Vosburgh came in with his wife, leaving her
at his pew, near the centre of the church.
He assembled the platform stairs and leaned
his head YEARLY against the red velvet
that covers the high back of the sofa. A
white necktie replaced the black one that
he had worn during the trial. He looked
worn and nervous. In the congregation
| were ex-senator Charles 81. Winfield, one
of his lawyers; Drs. Carpenter, Forman
YOulin and Wilkinson, who had testified
| in behalf; and most Of the jurymen, who
came up the north aisle in q body. On
Saturday night most of them had assem-
bled in Osborn's Hotel, near the Court
House, and there determined to attend the
| first service in which Mr.. Vosburgh should
preach. They met accordingly last even
ing in Osborn's Hotel, and went to the
church together. Mr.. Kinmonth, ''the
boy Juror" went up stairs into the sing
ers gallery, ard sat directly over the pas
tors's head. A floral heart, the work of
Mrs. Siedler, rested on the pulpit. Dea-
con Bumstead entered late. His pew was
filled, aud he went forward and put his
hat on the floor in the corner, against the
south wall. A settee was broaght in for
him, and he sat down and gave close at
tention to the services.
Mr. Vosburgh said that his text was from
Rev. vii, IA: s'These are they which came
out Of great trii. ulation, and have washed
their robes, aud made them white III the
blood of the Lamb'' The revelator, he
explained, had asked who those were that
were clothed in white raimenJ, and he was
Informed that they had not come out OF
peace. It was possible to have tribulation
i'll this world and damnation in the next,
but these said Mr.. Vosburgh, with en-
phasis, had washed their robes III the
blood of the Lamb" His subject, he said
was the true moral significance Of sancti-
fled suffering. He did not assume too
much, he thought, when he said he Was
qualified to speak on that subject. There
were those present whose hairs were sill
vered with age, yet he thought there was
none with more experience of suffering
than himself.
''From that dark Sunday, Feb. 24,'' said
the speaker, ''when in ex-Mayor Siedler's
house, first learned of the suspicion
against me, down to Z O'Clock last even
ing, when heard the welcome words that
[ shall never forget. Not guilty "a burst
OF applause interrupted the speaker, who
Immediately added Il accept the ap-
plause, not iii my own behalf, but in be-
half of justice. During that long interval
the heavens above were clouded canopy.
Every darling hope was yelled in darkness
could OILY bow my head and say: God
of my childhood, comfort me now." From
that baptism of suffering I have emerged
better man, better prepared to examine the
words OF my text tonight, and Of every
text
Mr.. Vosburgh had learned, he continued,
that suffering WAS not vengeance. The
man vino locked from his window in the
night and saw q flash of lightning and
heard all the fury Of the elements, might
ask if that was Gods mercy and be skept-
cal. The next morning he would see
that the storm meant beauty and bounty
VI Cllo edICu, Will Gile Sln9Ill VI Dlluo'
'Down to the time" said MI. VosEurgh,
in slow, solemn tones, when some kindly
hand shall fold my hands across my mo-
tionless breast, that storm shall nourish
my life. Blessed are they to whom troubles
can come as showers to thirsty land. You
may build your house as grand as you
please, but if your neighbor's house Says
and his wall is wrongly built your house
must be damaged, and without your fault.
l did not believe this four months ago.
believe it now. I have learned several
things from my sufferings that L may
speak of. Far be it from me to tell all I