The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-05-25
Mrs. Kettell's Strong Charge Against
Rev. Frank L. Smith.
THE STORY AS SHE TELLS 1T.
Alleged to Have Been Dragged
and Outraged.
HER LETTERS FROM THE PASTOR.
The Examining Committee Salts
fed of His Innocence.

rtss scandalous charges against Rev. Frank L.
smith. the missionary OF Plymouth Bethel by tho
vouug widow, Mrs Matilda Kettel, formed promi-
mont tonic OF conversation among tho gossips OF
BROOKLYN yesterday. While the friends OF
Plymouth Church ana OF tho accused
minister scout the statements Of the lady
mentioned as being utterly unworthy OF crea-
ence others warmly ospouse her cause and point
10 tho circumsanti precision OF her apparently in
xenuous story before the committee as published in
ihc HERALD Of yesterday.
When the writer called at the residence OF Sfrs
KeelI nj No. 259 gh street, Brooklyn, on Thursday
evenlnr both she and her brother declined TO give
pny information relating TO the charge OF seduction
which, it sa:d, she had preferred TO the
vupcrintendcnt of the Bethel Sunday School, aga inst
Mr. smith The subject most unpleasant one
ana they manItestly shrank from the idoa
of giving it publicity. Statements made
ON behalf OF tho accused, however, which
Mrs Kc,tell says cruelty untrue and
calculated 10 degrade her in the public estimation,
have aroused her TO assume tho defensive, and
IN this mood she was found last evening
At her mothers residence. Having previously coun-
seled with BROTHER who was present. as was
also her aged mother, Mrs. Kettell expressed her
rntIro WILLINGNESS to rotate the story OF her
alleged wrongs to the HERALD representative Be
tore doing So however she said that In regard to the
yisit of herself and Mr.. Stntu 10 notei on Statcn
island as published IN these columns yesterday,
when Mr. smith asked the landlord for room and the
latter replied that he had no room except one with
bed In Mr. Smith said, .'That would no." She.
however Instant y arose and said, NO. sir, won't
20 into any room; let us go away and go home"
Whoreupon, she says, Mr.. Smith paid the bill and they
,et the hotel Mrs Ketteil also denies that Mr.
smiths father accompanied he- homo last Tuesday
after the scene Hicks street. but says that the old
Gentleman followed hcr home and renamed
some time al the house asking her mother
ana herself say anything further
about the charge against hs son Mrs ,nsn,
other down her cheeks gave tho substance 1,1ner
Sabbath school teachers, as foows:-
HER STATEMENT.
On Decoration Day Of last year Mr. smith asked
me 10 meet him at the corner OF Broadway and Four
ieenth street. at halt past one r. N. did meet him
little later IN tho asrnooo as he had waited ior me-
When she met me no said, ~ am almost starved:
Let US 60 aud nave something to eat" toid MIN !
was not hungry. Never mind.' he said, 'ao with
mo tor company" There was parade OF soldiers
passing Union square At the Time and We stopped
few minutes TO look st them. He then
over here and u viii be moro pleasant TO 60
nnd have something 10 eat than 10 stand hero" ]
asked him ii his motives were pure In wanting 10 taKc
me there, and ne assured mo that they were
ana that 1 should return just as, ! went
aoeI. ana we wen. up stairs at his urren. soliea.
lion, he said he preferred that wc should DC In
room alone. We were shown into u very pleasant
room having a small room adjoining. / would here
state that reach thisw had. think TO ascend Two
flights OF stars. The furniture Was upholstered in
SORT OF red plush velvet. and the floor was covered
with Brussels carpet. There were also sofa largo
easy chair and a marble top table in the ROOM
ASKED Mr. Smitn. what tho small room was tor;
at the same time 4 walked toward the
Our lunch was brought up aud placed on another
smaller table tho room. He ordered bottle OF
scotch ale for mo and a bottle OF tor himself
cannot remember the kind of wine he ordered He
ute heartily and pariook OF nothing but piece
Smith said TO me, "Pass mo your glass" He poured
out glass Of ale or me, and before ne passed Eyer
through It when he handed me little slip OF paper.
asking to read ~ at The same time he appeared to
be looking carefully INTO the memorandum book
DkUGGED.
After reading the slip Of paper looked up suddenly
and MT Smith in the act OF folding small piece
white paper which he at once placed IN mis- pocket
He then handed me the glass Of alc which no had
kept and told mo TO drink II quickly before tho
foam all died away. drank halt OF 1t and ate
small piece OF shortcaKe: Then drank the re-
and | said 'rm afraidsthis is going 10 make me
drunk" "0h, no." he said. ''drink II up and have
of numbness creeping over me. rose from tho table
and TO the lounge. saying, 'oh, I'm so SICK I'm
so SICK" Ho said II didn't think that 1t would Dsvo
that effect you I'm sorry. but take Of my wine;
IL will make you feel better" lie then tried to iorcc
Ican't can't lake ~ I continued growing worse
He took me in his arms aud carried
mo s into the ad bsss%s perfectly and .,up s
awnilc. Coming TO my senses found myself COM
plctely undrcssed, with the exception OF one garment
me. also undrcsscd. He said, snow have
aone am knew By 1a T .sa
BIO had accomplished his purposes. He replied, NO
you are not; you Will nnd That you arc all right"
mo room before did so, as re.
fused TO- sc, gu, Of bed while no 70
that there need of any modosty now md that
he would always be my friend pu, on my things
ana started TO leave, saying Now I'm gong home TO
tell NV mother lie begged Of me not TO do
SO, ana said that he would sec me through any
trouble, and that no would not lei me away from
niin out would always ready any thing that
would ask. lie gave me glass OF water, and we lett
the hotel
Il vas lnen about seven O'Clock ana he bad kept
me there since three IN the afternoon. We TOOK
ing the Fulton ferry lie sad would
not do for to cross together MS no
bad friend at the ferry whom he snia he d'd not
OF me. | took the next boat but on reaching the
brooklyn side Mr. smith had disappeared
| him that day. The
object Of frequent calls at our house aiterward
was to keep me from telling my mother aud brother
"Havc you any letters In your possession sout you
by Mr. SMITH"
choose Here they arc (produclnr three icttcrsJ In
the order IN which received them F"
The following are the missives ailudedto:-
TELL TALE LETTERS.
MosriesLLo sullivan County, y. y. August :. 1871
Ny D.E Fnitsp-Me arrived nete On thursday alter.
l md" ana went e n: ss... ssi,
an meeting the village green.
which attended by go people nnd
antiy. Aiterward held y meeting in the Methodist
church. NJ which young woman oid
man rose f,s ptsyer I am very anxious 10
hear from about mothers health. You
m the
gets along and any other which would interest me-
matter in whica you, Mrs. md
myself are Interested lyon Know What mean should he
dropped veil ne nut OF SIGHT believe
will be 90 benefit TO all 81 not 10 talk with
ss.S T. wes you 20 40. r ,s, 20, 20 10y snynns
not anything 20 hurt and ~ Will much
trsubio ~ IL again, account ~ tho mr.
stand nave tasen In behalf You know have done
everything could will continue 90 DO is because
have confidence w yon and yau may be that would
ASK do anything u " not for the best II
am praying for YOU your heart may be soitened
toward your enemies II | know my heart
a. Is, FOR do not hate one and although may
weak in things and very far wrong at times
I trying cultivate n spirit OF love all men, and
especially for those who friends o
has bee very good you. although passed
through Affections he has orsakeu