New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-05-08
SUICIDE OF REV. Mr.. DAILY.
JUMPING INTO THE MISSISSIPPI.
DEATH OF FORMER JERSEY CITY CLEHGYMAx--
THE STORY OF HIS DOWNFALL.

DEATH OF A FORMER JERSEY CITY CLERGYMAN-s
THE STORY OF HIS DOWNFALL
Information was received in Jersey City yes
terday stating that the Rev. Jonathan H. Daily for
mer pastor Of the Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church
In forkst committed suicide few days ago by jump
ing into the Mississippi River from steamboat, wbis
ON the way from Nsw-oreans St. Louis The scandal
which drove Mr. Daily from the pulpit and to his death
was revived at the recent conference in Nyack Last
May Mr. Daily resigned his pastorste and the ministry
much. to the astonishment of the entire church. with
the exception Of two three prominent who
had been let into the secret soon leaked out that tho
clergyman had been accused Of having maintained i'm
proper relations with who had been taken into
his house by his wie out Of charity, while lived In
Paterson, N. j. Before Mr.. Daily removed to Jersey
City his life made miserable by the woman whoss
name was Ann Stewart and who had disclosed to Mrs
Daily the relations which existed between herself and
Mr. Daily The wife refused believe the story. and
at first ordered the women out OF the house,
but when she appealed to her husband to DENY
1t he made full confession and she resolved to try TO
bear up under the terrible blow and keep tie affair
secret In order to avoid scandal.
When Mr.. Daily was appointed to the pastorate OF
Trinity Church and the family removed there, Mrs.
Stewart accompanied them fondness for liquor
which she had contracted rapidly developed and she
frequently became drunk and created such disturbance
that 1t became necessary to call in the police. On one
of these occasions she told the story Of her
relatons Win MT Daly 10 tne pOHce OUT DO cfedcuco
was given It, Mr. Dalys life finally became so un-
bearuble that he determined to make full confession
This he did at meeting OF the officers of the church. but
they refused TO believe him and attributed
the story was confirmed by his wife thero
nothing left TO do but accept the resignation.
In order that there might be no gar0led stateulcnt
circulated Presiding Elder Craig prepared statement
OF the facts and caused 1t to be published On inyest
cation it ascertaDed that Mrs. Stewart had been
dissoute woman for years and that her mind was
weak She died recently in an insane asylum
Mr.. Daly's disgrace preyed heavily on his mind. He
of acute sensiDities. fine tcmperameno and
more than ordinary brain power He and his wife wen:
to live with his father wealthy brick manufacturer
m Woodbridge, NSs,,. j., ,,rI and ,i1s he t5!ed RED
scandal reentlessy pursued him, however and after
few weeks he went to Los Angeles Ca where he became
seriously Ill Duane seare one OF the stewards OF Trim
heard Of hs illness and employed physicians 70 attend
him. The patient hOyered on the brink OF death for
several MONTHS butt finally recovered and went
TO New-Oreans, where he began the study OF medi-
intending to practise medicine there The captain was
with his appearance and manner and invited him
to share his stateroOm. Mr. Daily acted queery at
times and seemed to think that some phantom was pur-
of the captain he broke out OF the staeroom and
jumped into the river The boat was stopped but no
trace of him could be discovered The captain ascer-
tained Mr. Daly's identity from some papers found
among his baggage, and wrote to his father In
Woodbridge He communicated the sad Intelligence 10
the officers of Trinity Church. When the news was
broken TO Mrs Daily she was utterly prostrated and s
now n critical condition. She was awaiting letter
from her husband informing her OF his settlement In St
Louis, where she intended to join him.
Mr. Daily born In Woodbridge on October 2, 1888,
admitted to the North Carolina Conference IN 1868 aud
transferred 10 the Newark Conference In le1l: He had
OF several churches and noted for his feryd
eloQuence and earnestness In the work.