Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-04-27
EPISCOPAL CHURCH SCANDAL
The Alleged Charges Against btsh.
Op mcCOskTy-EditOF1a Of a De-
tTOit HeWspRpeF.


Op McCoskTy-EditOriaI Of a De.
tTOit NeWspapeT.
A special dispatch from Detroit,
Michigan, says
The Post and Tribune, which has
heretofore said nothing as to the
charge against Bishop McCoskry,
of this city, will tomorrow publish
this editorial: "0ur telegraphic
dispatches of Sunday night con-
tanned card dated New York,
Saturday, addressed to the Asso-
ciated Press, and signed by Bishop
McCoskry, of this State, to this
effect, Il give my unqualified denial
to the articles which have appeared
in different papers against me- 1t
is understood that the bishop has
abandoned his plans for a European
trip and has demanded, or will
speedily demand, an investigation
by his church into the accusations
against him. We have hitherto re-
Trained from mentioning in any
form the current reports concern
ing the recent resignation of Bishop
McOoskry, believing that both the
interest of public and private NOR
ality, and the ends of justice, would
be best served by such course, but
it is evident that the situation has
essentially changed, and the indi-
cations now are that the whole case
will ultimately come within the
sphere of legitimate and unayoid-
able discussion. 1t is true that
grave circumstances coming to
the knowledge of official repre-
sentatives of this Protestant
Episcopal diocese forced them to
the decision that the vacating of
the bishoprio by Its incumbent was
demanded by the interests of the
church, and that the resignation of
his Office by the bishop was due to
this conviction on their part, and
not to his own free will. 1t is not
true that thore circumstances have
been correctly set forth In the
gross narratives SO widely pub
lished In so many instances with
revolving obscenity of language,
These publications have tended not
9ply to degrade journalism, pollute
society sna demorallge ppblie sen:
timent bnt also to defeat the aims
of justice, and to cruelty blight un-
offending lives We shall make no
effort 10 separate the presumably
true in these scandalous stories
from the certainly false. Most
e9phatioally is this case not one
for trial by newspapers, or at the
bar Of prurient gossip. 1t can be
safely left for settlement to the
powerful denomination concerned,
which, historically jealous Of its
own good name, has both the
strength and the will to deal Justly,
and aIone possesses satisfactory
jurisdiction. We shall Join in no
effort to forestall its action or an.
tipipRtQ its decision"
LETTER FROM THE BISHOP.
The Times, of this morning, says:
Yesterday Mr.. Peter Williamson,
whom Bishop McOoskry visited in
this city as an old and very dear
friend, received a letter from Bishop
McOoskry which, dated at New
York, was of the following import
"A miserable vagRbopd, who has
been in prison, professes to have
some letters written by me more
than five years ago to a poor orphan
girl, They have been published
and ! suppose you have read them.
The imitation of my handwriting
is said to be good. We go back to
Detroit, as ! am too good a soldier
to retreat while a gun is firing III
| am to be stricken down by the
hand Of an assassin ! shall fall with !
my whole armor on"
This Mr.. Williamson very readily |
interpreted to mean that Bishop
NcCoskry will not leave a stone
untprned in producing proofs of his
innocence at once and in prosecut-
ing the originators and oireaiattrS is
of the canard. The allusion in his
letter to his soldierly qualities will
not be understood by the public so
n ~