The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-05-26
THE MOBILE FAST LINE
PLYMOUTH'S LATEST.
A NEW SCANDAL. BUT THE SAME OLD
STORY,



charges against Rev. Frank L. Smith, mis-
sionary OF Plymouth Bethel, by the youn
y widow, Mrs. Matilda Kettell, forms a prom
nent topic OF conversation among the gossips
While the friends Of Plymouth Church an
of the accused minister scout the statement
Kof the lady mentioned as being utterly unwor
Y thy OF credence others as warmly espouse he
cause, and point to the crcumstantial precis
m .9n OF her apparently ingenious story befor
Mrs. Kettell says that on decoration day O
last year she met Smith by appointment, an,
went with him to the West Side Hotel, New
York where they had something to eat ant
! rooms: Smith ordered ale for Mrs. Kettel
and wine for himself. The widow saws sh,
cannot remember the kind Of wine ordered
He ate heartily, and partook of nothing bu
4 9 piece Of strawberry shortcake. When tn,
1 waiter had drawn the oorks from two bottles
Z, Smith said to me. Pass me your glass" Ht
poured out glass of ale for me, and before
ne passed 1t over he took out his memoran
i dum book and was looking through it, when
he handed me little slip Of paper asking me
to read 1t. At the same time he appeared tc
be looking carefully into the memorandum
I book.
After reading the slip of paper looked up
suddenly and saw Smith in the act Of folding
a small piece of white paper, which he at once
placed In his pocket He then handed me the
I. glass Of ale which he had kept near him. and
tod me to drink 1t quickly before the foam
died away; ! drank half 1t, and ate small
mainder Of the ale. ] then became very talk
make me drunk"
'Oh, no, he said: "drink Ii IN and have
some OF my wine.'
began to experience feeling of dullness
creeping over me. | rose from the table and
went to tn the lounge, saying "Oh, I'm 50 sick
Ia oil sl,,y@ L.x.t~l
that effect on you; I'm sorry, but take some
OF my wine, 1t will make you feel better" and
then he tried to force some through NV lins
! said Don't; oh, don't; can't, l can't
continued growing worse. He took me in
his arms. carried me into the adjoining room
and laid me on the bed. | became PERFECTLY
stupid for awhile. Coming to my senses
found myself completely undressed, with the
exception OF one garment and my hose and
Smith standing over me also undressed.
He said: Nov have you In my power"
| said: What have done? am lost" for
4 knew by this time that he had accomplished
his purpose.
He replied: No You are not; you will find
that you are all right
got up and dressed sending him out of
the room before l did SO, as l refused to get
out OF bed while he remained
He told me not to be ashamed of him: that
there was no need Of any modesty now. and
that he would always be my friend
l put on my things and started to leave,
SAYING Now, I'm going home to tell my
said he would see me through my trou-
bie. and that he would not let me go away
from him, but would always be my friend and
ready to do anything that l would ask. He
hotel "
The mother of Mrs. Kettell, who sat near
by weeping at the recital of her daughters
narrative, said: Smith is a bad man
About, the first of September his infant child |
died, lad on his return from Monticello he |
called here and was sitting on the sofa. | |
was commencing to condoie with him on the |
death Of his child, when he said: 'Well. am
can take care Of
Isaac n. Signor, the superintendent of the
Bethel Mission, said: $50 far as anything
these people may say or do, the charge
against Smith is ended. The committee ale
entirely satisfied as to his innocence and will
take no further. notice of them" Mrs. Ket-
tel has several tell-tale letters from the
pastor.