The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-05-25
PLYM0UTII'S NEW SCANDAL.
WHAT THE RET. MR.. SMITH SAYS hBOUT
MRS kITTELLE's CHARGES.
81 nm the lightning Nod Now that Must
Take all the Fire from the sky"-Mhnt

ct nm the lightning Rod Now that Must
Take all the Fire From, the sky"-whnt
MIR. Lewis says he hns SIN In Reserve.
The Rev. Frank L. Smith OF the Plymouth
Bethel. Henry Ward Bcecher's favoritc mission.
was Yesterday externally rs calm and unrufllcd
ms the Plymouth pastor ever was in the storm
OF scandal that ragged about his loftcr pulpit
Mr.. Smith continued in the hands OF his friends,
and was not willing 10 say anything for himself.
except that the whole story is n fabrication. and
that il he chose he could riddle It all to pieces
But" he added. iocularly. am the lightning
rod now that must take all the fire from tho
sky number Of ministers called ON Mr.
Smith at his Office to express sympathy. and
several Christian workers among the lowly told
him that 1t was only through tho mercy Of God
that they had escaped calumny In their labors
with the abandoned A dcputaiion from tho
Young Mons Christian Association called TO
eXpiess their sympathy. and letters and tclc-
grams poured in upon him.
Mr. Isaac r. Sgnor publshcda card in which
he said that the persons making these charges
had boon given an opportunity to appear before
the teachers of the Bethel. TO make hcir state-
mcn,s rs fully as they desired. and that at such
hearing they wore SHOWN every cons liberation
and treated with tho utmost fnirnese. Tho con-
Trajectory and Inconsistent stories of persons
themselves, and the evidence OF other persons
tegrty. who had shown conclusivcly that il was
impossible for Mr.. Smith TO have been at the
places mentioned on the days specified in the
charges lei the committee To conclude that tho
charges were not ouly unproven. hut utterly
disproycd and without foundation. They adj
vised tho persons making the charges to with
draw from the Bethel. Mr.. Signor says:
Where MIR. Smith and the parties are thor.
A member of Plymouth Church said that tho
charges would not be- taken up by the Examin-
INK Committee. because no Importance If at
tachcd to them. Mr.. Smith had the confidence
OF the church. and he had been assured that
there was no need Of his troubling himself
about the charges which had doubtless been
made for Matchmaking purposes. Mr.. Smith
went into the family rs n missionary. md, on
co,sod To pay his Visits and then the charges
Were made. L the family chose to 90 into
court OF law they would readily he disposed Of
John l"Nis is an Intelligent mnehinist. ana IL
said TO he honest and Industrious. The apart
menis IN which he his sister aud his mother
live are neat, and the walls are adorned with
many pleasing pictures. Lewis SAYS that he WAS
prompted to expose the Rev. Frank J.. smith
because he saw that he was a horrible hypo-
critic. He intended to tell what he knew 10 no
one except to Mr.. Leighton. his SUNDAY school
teacher; hut when his sister Mrs Kittellc told
him that Mr.. Smith had threatened - send him
higher than kite. and that he had paid 800 TO
get proof against him. he determined to press
blackmailer. he made up his mind 10 let the
world see what kind Of q man Mr. Beechcr had
in charge of the Bethel. Lewis says that he IL
ready 10 swear that he never wrote the postal
card demanding $50 hush money. He AYERS
tnNt tlle language ~ not MS. tne Writing II not
his. and that he could not tell TO save his lfo
where Station ID is in this city. He did not un-
derstand the second letter that he received. Of
fering him money 20 keep still. until II was
suggested TO him that II was decoy lctter.
intended to entrap him as q blackmailer. The
only answer he gave was brief note sent to j.
W. W. al - Orange street. 10 show that the let
ter had been received.
Lewis says that he believes that Smith sent tho
postal card 20 himself that he might have
something on which to hang n defence. He
adds: 8" have reserved some damaging facts.
and n supplementary statement which pictures
Smith rs even greater villain than my sisters
story would show him to be-" His sister has "A
number Of letters from Smith. but they ara
written in spiritual vein. and do not refer 20
| his frequent alleged protestations OF love: In
| one letter he speaks Of Il compact that has been
| made between them.
Mrs. Kitielle would never be suspected from
| her conversation and appearance 10 be- de.
signing woman. or Rught else than trustiul
| person. easy u be- persuaded by one who had
| her confidence. She said to the reporter her
eyes wet with tears: As God II NV witness.
| associated with Mr.. Smith that he might tell me
| OF the love OF God. When he confessed his love
| for mo so repeatedly. | said 10 him. You are
leading me astray, Do speak to me as a Chris
tian. When Mr.. Morton was here. my heart was
| SO full 81 love for God. and long TO have it
| again"
| The Rev. Frank L. Smith occupied tho soft
| chair on the lecture platform in Plymouth
| Church last evening In the absence Of Mr.
/ Beecher,