The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-05-09
PARSON SMITH.
THE TERRIBLE SCANDAL THAT FOLLOWED HIS
APPEARANCE IN NEwrowN, L. j.


THE TERRIBLE SCANDAL THAT FOLLOWED HIS
APPEARANCE IN NEwrowN, L. j.
Tho colorcd aristocrsoy OF NcwtowD, L. l.. Is ngi-
tatca over scandal that threatens ihc complete
structon Of newly established church ana involves
the iar fame minister and OF Of tho prctt,os,
.yaiier gals" In all tho country round about The
peasant little village has considerable colored
population, has always until lately been tree from
any OF the seciaran differences that be found
wherever there two or more churches in one
place. single coorcd church has until last winter
been sufficient 10 accommodate all tho Worship
pcrs, but three months ago tho Rev.
George Smith visited .Ncwtowp. ana on learn
Ing that the only colorcd theology there
was Presbyterian be resolved TO devote himself 10
the enlarg ement Of tho Methodist census Begin ny
with a handful Of people who were attracted by
the novelty nc conducted series OF meetings in
tho quaint hiile court house, and soon had =
FOUNDER OBJ dc Gospel DAT ebcr exicrted sinners TO
impo ntancc in Newtown,p said one sorro~ing men,
mout serbed dc Loru wcll.' He vigorous
aud energetic shouting in the pulpit at tho top
o. MS voice ara beating up recruits s,us Tor =
went smoothly until last Thursday The church had
organized and trustees had been chosen and tho
Rev. Mr. smith had engaged 10 preach every
sunday IN tho court house until su,t.
abe quarters could DO obtained Tho weekly
collections had been sufficient to dc,rsy
had been arranged 10 raisc sum OF money that
should be- the nucleus OF building fund Tho con-
cert was gwen and proved success, but sundry
gossips the audience began wagging Their tongues
as they noticed that Mr. Smith was especially attcn.
two 10 Miss Martha Jane Mitchell.
REVOLUTION.
When Mr. smith first appeared Ncwtown II wns
generally understood that be was widowcr, though
no ono could be found who would testify TO having
heard MN say little later u WIS found Tor
The gossips SAID that he lived with comciy
colorcd woman IN Williamsburg, and OF tho
uloa eurio a
II. The explanation no made was that The woman
kept house tor him stu later wEs y whispered tnat
Mr.. Smith had wife living IN New YORK. and TO this
soft impeachment hc ~ last pleaded guilty.
THIS was the dnmuing fact TINT made his at
tentons to Miss Martha Jane Mitchell so hcibous.
ana tho ewtown cossips were busy about IL curly
Thursday morning IL cGp, therefore, b. roidily un-
dcrstood that mere wac consiocraolr sensation when
later In the day Mss Mitchell walked over from her
homo Ia Wluncid, mile away. and joining Mr.
smith Ncwiown entered the cars with him
and departed Tor psrts unknown. Not only New
town and Winfield, but Muspcth also, from all Of
which villages The now Methodist Church had been
gathered now rang with scandal aud there were n
Surprising number OF people who wcrc ready swear
that "dcy alters knowed dc minister, an' Martby
wnrn't bcttcr'n dcy'd oughtcr be. = Tho pastor,
however, had many loyal friends In the church. and
as they confidently expected him 10 preach rs
usual on SUNDAY last there general
suspension OF judgment on the part OF the commu
nifty. On sunday mere was crowded house. but luc
hour for worship came and went AMI Mr.. smith ap.
pcnrcd not, and even his friends were silenced.
Hardly one vcnturcd TO assert hs Innocence, and MS
Tor the griis reputation there was OF 1, lcft
Singular enough her sister, Emma Mitchell was ono
OF tue oudcst IN her Remuneration OF the vanished
pair.
NOT Itorrp.
on Tuesday night however, when a small aud sor.
rowing band Of the brethren anu sisters OF
the church met at the weekly prayer
meeting Mr.. smith appeared. He proicsscd
great sorrow Tor his absence tbs pro-
ced,ug sunday. and explained u by saying
that the weather had prevented him from returning
iron New Jersey, where he had been to iulh certain
engagements ne had made 10 preach. Wnen no
questioned Miss Mitchell he grow indignant and
said that Of service IN New YORK at The samc
place with his wife, and declared his intention OF
bringing hor back
Herald reporter last evening, vhilc walking up
the pretty main street OF tho village met an inte
gent African gentleman, OF whom he Obtained the
foregoing history IN substance. "Dcre am dose, y
said he ''who consider the explanations OF Mr. smith
TO be inferior IN contiguousness But do best informed
oh dc congregation are dubous.n
odd Mr.. smith take any money with hmfb
"GOily, sab, DOM reckon no hadn't any money (;
sartain he didnt take no money oh dc church. But
u yon want ~ know bout dc matter Pieces Ioois VI
tell you. lie de trustees =
''Who did soy - asked Reporter eta gfcring
"Phccs Hoos lie Ibis behind de court housc.u
The man with this startling name, md who seemed
somewhat nbasbed when accoslcd BY IT, readily replied
90 all the questions put TO him. lie said n was
utterly false that Mr. smith had taken the girl
away. She bnd gone 10 New York with him, ne said,
ana was now ~ service with Mrs smith. The stories
Of The scaudaious relations between thc two Air. PAGES
Hoois said, we're started Nv MISS Emma Mtcncii,
who was jealous. Tho OF ihs Jealousy he eafd,
was tho tact that Mr.. smith WIS dvsirous oi
acting honestly by everybody and had refused to
submit himself to ner In this mixed CONDITION the
affair now stands and " Is probable that Mrs Smiths
story wHibe necessary 70 fully clear the matter up.