The daily gazette. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1874-1883, 1881-03-11
THIRD EDITION
HEAVY BLAOKMAIL.
A Mediums Alleged Husband
Demands $40, 900 of a
minister.

REV. THOMAS KELLY, THE HIsHLY-Es-
TERMED PASTOR OF THE WESTERN
NJ. Il. CHURCH, UNDER INvEsTIeA-
TIoN ON AN OUTRAGEOUS CHARGE.
From the Phila. Press.
A Church Committee is now inves-
tigatlng a matter which has caused a
good deal of quiet talk in Methodist
circles for two weeks, the charge that
Rev. Thomas Kelly of the Western III.
e. Church, Twentieth street below
Walnut, has been guilty of improper
intimacy with Mis-. Parks, and
enough has already been developed to
show that the minister is the victim
of an outrageous conspiracy. The
charge was made at the close of the
second year OF Mr.. Kelly's successful
ministry of the affairs of the church.
Coming to this city from Albany, he
took charge of the Western Church,
which had been in a bad condition fl
nancially for many years. He at once
became popular among his congrega-
ton, which includes such gentlemen
as Controller Pattison and William
Somers, Jr., increased the mem bership
and paid of every cent of the church
debt. Two weeks ago the eongrega-
ton celebrated this great elimination
of prosperity and listened to stirring
sermon from the venerable pulpit ora.
tor, Bishop Simpson.
When the charge was made to Pre-
siding Elder, W. j. Paxon, Mr.. Kelly's
immediate superior in church work,
that gentleman appointed Committee
of Investigation in accordance with
the discipline of the Church. On the
Committee are such well known
preachers as Reverend DR.. L. G.. Muir
ply of Broad street NJ. Il. Church,
Reverend w. q. Robinson, Chester
Reverend S. A. Heilner of Fortieth
street NJ. L. Church, Reverend fheo-
dore Stevens of Wharton street Nj. L.
ChRfch, Reverend j. Dickerson of AS
bury and Rev. Il. r. Hurock of Elev-
enth street. Rev. DIR. Jacob Todd of
Green street and Rev. DIR. Dobbns of
Trinity conduct the case of Mr.. Kelly
and Rev. w. l.. Gray and j. 5. J Nc
Council that of the prosecution. The
Committee have had three or four
meetings and will probably hold what |
will probably be the closing session
tomorrow. They will thea make up
their report and the Presiding Elder
will take such action as seems to him
fit.
THE FACTS IN THE CASE.
The case CT MI. Kelly is substantially
as follows Some months ago he was
called on at The church by a rather fash
ionably-dressed lady whom he atterward
knew as Mrs. Parks, who announced
that aha nod q of M4th,Vtg,,,
felt considerable interest in religious
matters, and indicated desire for light
on the subject. She was invited to the
prayer meeting and attended. Mr..
Kelly very naturally and properly made
Apastoral call on her at her residence,
No. 1247 North Fifteenth street. The
lady then told him that she was "Bible
Spiritualist," aud while she did not be.
leve in the clap trap of the common
kind OF SplrituAhsts she had faith in
mediumistic power, and was, TO some
extent, a II edlum herself. She offered
TO exhibit her powers TO Mr.. Kelly, and
be agreed to become witness to them
privately, although he informed her Of
mis- disbelief in such matters. Subse-
quently she gave him a rather astonish-
Ing exhibition of her qualities as me-
All nGll1 IldtlG bthti al ulUIt
visits, Mrs. Parks still protesting de-
s re TO embrace Methodlsm, end during
the last one was astounded by man
claiming TO be the husband Of the wom-
"A coming into tie room, no, with very
little ceremony and good deal of We
hemenCe, cha ged him with criminal
intimacy with his wife. Mr.. Kelly in
dignantly denied the charge.
BLAcHMILISG FoR $4,000.
1t is further said that Montgomery
Martin, the alleged husband, then tand
there demanded $4,000 damages az a
recompense for the wTougt, which
amount he soon reduced TO $4,000. He
then left the room and Mrs. Parks az.
vised Mr.. Kelley TO pay the money, and
SAID she would r1im burse him from her
earnings as a spIritaulistiC. medium. Mr.
Kelley, OF course refused to pay a cent
and lett the house. Mrs. Parks and
Montgomery Marun appeared before
the committee and endesvored 10 sub.
stantlats the charge against Mr., Kelly.
Their statements were CONSIDERABLY
weakened under rigid cross examine
Non by the gentleman who was defend.
ing Mr.. Kelly. The husband said he
discovered the fact from Mrs. Parks
talking Ia her sleep. Mr.. Kelly ; cen.
gIegalon stand by him, ami many o.
them express the opinion that the charge
originated in a scheme To blackmall til.
pastor. Mr.. Kelly IA man Of mos
excellent re l1Jation and his character
has never boeu attacked before in anl
way. Mrs. ParkB, on the contrary, il
well known n medlumistIc circles, al
though Mr.. Kelley was not aware OF tina
fact before, and bears the cbaraete
peculiar TO people of that class ST.,
frequently advecIgses herself IN tht
newspapers as a spiritual II edtum anC
magnetic healer" There il not a son
tary person acquainted with Nj. Kelly
but VINO believes that he Is the victim D
an infamous conspiracy, and he hat
been adv SEED 10 have bOth man and v d
man arrested for cousplnng to extor
money.