New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-01-19
A PASTOR WITH A PISTOL,
NOT IN HIS PULPIT BUT IN JAIL

- LANDLORD-HE PASSES SUNDAY IN COSFINE-
MENT
The Rev. William NJ. Trumbower, student Of
the Syracuse Theological Seminary, was appointed
in April last to take charge of the spiritual inter
ests of the Porter NJ. T. Church at West Hoboken.
The new pastor was eloquent in the delivery Of his
sermons. and this made him favorite with the
elderly portion of the congregation. He was agree
able and pleasant and withal rather prepossessing
in appearance and this made him a great favOrlte
with the younger members of his congregation. lie
twenty-three years of age and unmarried. just
previous to the recent Christmas entertainment
that was held at the church. Miss Maggie Du Bots
made a remark. it is sad rejecting the character
of the pastor. She said that one Sunday evening"
while returning from church she walked behind
HIM. when he was in company with Mrs. Sarah
Bob, in whose family lie then boarding, and
overheard Mr.. Trumbower make use OF very familiar
language in his conversation. Miss Du Bois re-
peated the remarks she had overheard to some Of
the church members and at the next church service
the pastor took occasion TO speak against the Du
Bos family. He charged Miss Du Bos with having
set her cap for him. and failing to succeed in her
schemes had put forth these stories for the
purpose of injuring his standing and repu-
tatioD. The upshot of the affair, which
at the time created much feeling, was that
the Du Bos family withdrew from thechurch, and
at subsequent meeting of the church trustees
the Rev. Mr.. Trumbower apolOglzed and the mat
ter was dropped.
The affair and all its attendant circumstances,
however, had been published in the newspapers,
and from reading these reports, Joseph Bob, the
husband of the pastors landlady, grew suspicious
of the relations between his wife and
his boarder. He at once began keeping n close
watch on the movements of both. At an early hour
on Saturday evening Mr.. Bob told his wife that hc
"guessed be would go to New-York" to do some
marketing. She quietly assented, and tie husband
left the room.
ITe however, did not leave the house. On the
contrary, he cautiously removed his shoes in
the hail. and lying at full length on the hall
floor listened to the conversation that passed be-
tween the young pastor and bis wife. Among other
things he says he also heard them discussing plan
to eope At this point the husband, unable
longer to restrain his wrath, burst open
the door. He at ordered the pastor
to leave the house. which the latter, without wait
ing to put on his hat, made haste to do. Mrs. Bob
started to run after him. when her husband seized
her. and q desperate struggle ensued, which re-
suited in her escaping. She fed into the street,
with her husband in hot pursuit.
Catching sight of the pastor Mr.. Bob ran then
toward him, and was rapidly gaining upon him.
when the pastor stopped, and pulling revolver
from his pocket cried. Stand back, man. or I'll
shoot"
Bob halted. and the pastor followed closely by
Bohs wife disappeared in the darkness. They ran
to the house OF Trustee Daniel p. Westervelt. Here
the church choir under the direction OF Trustee
Theodore Buttonbaum rehearsing. The pastor
excitedly and breathlessly told that he was being
pursued by madman, aud asked the protection of
Trustee Buttonbaum. The latter without waiting 10
hear any particulars conducted the pastor to his
house few blocks Off where he was directed TO 20 10
bed Mrs Bob was taken in charge by the Westervelt
family. Meanwhile the pastor got up and. borrow
inc one OF Bu:tonbaums hats. went into the street.
and meeting Officer John Feeney of the Union Hill
| police force, asked for protection. He asked the
officer to accompany him to Boh's house. aud help
| him secure his clothing and effects. The officer
went with him to the house but they were refused
admission by Mrs. Boulanger, who was in charge.
Trumbower then asked the officer TO break open the
window and so gain admittancc; this the officer
| refused to do. and after long talk Mrs. Dou.
| apger admitted them.
They went to the PASTOR room. where they secured
his clothing and one or two other articles. Just as
he was leaving the house, the officer reminded
| him that If he had any love letter. he
would better take them away too Trum'
bower then pulled open stand drawer ana took
from il package of letters which he secreed IN his
rocket fIe told the officer that one letter was miss
ing. That letter is now in the possession of Mr.
Boh. II Is addressed TO Trumbowers sister in
IEackettstown. New-Jersey and in it the pastor re-
latcs the troubles of the Bob family Onicer Feeney
| accompanied the pastor back 20 trustee Button
| bauns house.
While this had been gong on Mr., Bob had gone
| to the house of Mr.. Schneurger. Justice 0t the
Peace, whom he awoke and took to tne Office M
| Palsade-ave. Here Mr.. Bob entered q formal
| charge of abduction and assault with intent 10
| xiii against the pastor. Before the AFFIDAVIT
] was made out he Withdrew the abduction charge.
and the warrant was made out for assaHit with
| intent to kill alone This was placed ia the hands
| of Charles Mas Sergeant of Police, who wentQo
| Buttonhaum's house aud arrested the parson, who
| preacher to the village lookup. where. with q
| single board for bed. ANA dlriy army
blanket for a covering. the pastor passed the
night. Upon searching the bed which he had
slept in at Buttonbaum's house q small seven cham
bered revolver was found under the pillow. The
pistol was of the ordinary cheap k.nd nn1 was
the pastor was offered q cup of cold water aud "a
crust OF bread by the iailcr which he refused 10
church visited the lookup and Officer Fcency took
the pastor to the County Jail. The trus;es, how
ever interfered, and after considerable c,"Alng
| DANIEL +. Wcstervclt trustee of tic church, was
induced TO go bail in the sum OF 5000 Tor the pas-
TORS appearance at Justice Schneurigeis Court this
afternoon on condition that he be allowed to keep
| the prisoner locked np in his house under the
charge of an officer until the Court convened. The
| bail was accepted under these conditions The
nrisouer was then removed 10 Mr.. Wcstcryelt's
house and locked up in that gentleDiaIis front par
lor and Officer William Ludlow was stationed at the
door, with instructions Ia allow no one 10 n"d COM
| munIcaiOn with the prisoner
| reporter called at the house aud sent IN his carl
! I'm a few moments the officer returned saying that
| Mr. Trumbower did not wish 20 sce ANY reporters,
| aud that ne had no statement TO make. lie could
only say that he not guilty of the charges. Mr.
| Boil Was visited, but he refused 10 make any state
nent other than to say that the pastor was a rasca
| that he had interfered in his family affairs that he
| owed him for twenty weeks board at 50
/ a week; that he had kicked the pastor
| ont of the house, and that the pastor had
drawn a pistol and threatened to shoot
him Mr.. Bob added that the facts could he learned
| M the examination before Justice Schneuriger to-
dav. Mr.. Bob is employed at the Weohawken Oil
Docks in the capacity of foreman OF a gang OF
coopers. He earns good wages, aud ~ considered