Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-10-08
Pastor Downs Novel Defense.

HE THINKS MR.. TABER WANTED To IMPLICATB
HIM TO DIVORCE MRS. TABER.
The scandal that agitated Boston i'm the mid.
die of August has been revived. The Rev. w.
W. Downs, pastor OF the Bowdoin Baptist
church, at the West End. Boston, and Annie
Taber, the wife OF Frederick Taber. were arrest
ed on the evening OF Aug. = at the instance Of
Mr.. Taber, on a charge of having been too init
mate, but the case WAS not tried. IL is now
again before the public because Mr. Downs m
reported to be in possession OF Information
which leads him TO believe that he was the vic
tim OF "a cunningly contriNed conspiracy. He
claims that he can show that the reason Mr.. Ia
Der prosecuted him and Mrs. Taber was because
he wanted to get rid OF his wife and not through
jealousy alone.
According TO the new developments the Rev.
Dr.. Downs received a letter about week ago
postmarked Boston and addressed 10 him,
though the letter was intended for Mrs. Taber,
and informed her that her husband was very
indicated in the missive. Mr.. Downs immedi-
ateiy determined 10 investigate the case and
consult counsel. with that object in view The
woman referred To was said To be I'm the service
of a professor in one OF Boston's large educa-
tional institutions, and IL was decided 10 send a
trusted lady friend to question him. This was
Mr.. Downs and his counsellor. The professor did
so, and gave them an account OF the previous
history OF young woman he had in his employ,
and then said that at the time oil the Downs
Taber affair he and his vile recalled that Mr..
Tabcr had been In the habit OF calling upon
the young woman, who was then on q visit to
a lady living IN Worcester, and that upon her
return the professors wife innocently asked her
III the Mr.. Taber who visited her was the Mr..
Taber who was mixed up In the Downs affair.
The young woman, the professor Is reported to
have said. then burst into tears and replied
that il was the same man. He had been visit
ing her for about TOUR years. the young woman
having first met Mr.. Taber ON the steam cars.
Mr.. Downs and his counsellor, Mr. Butter
worth, afterwards made a second call at the
professors house for the purpose of interview
her admit that Mr. Taber had been visiting her:
that she was I'm the habit OF meeting him In
Boston, and that he took her to places OF amuse-
ment until she Joined The church.
THE DETECTIVES wINKED - William Bro
chard. barber at Downingtown, Pa, wishing
man rom Philadelphia to work for him during
his absepce The man proved 20 be dudish-
looking, and wore a handsome diamond ring.
On Friday two detectives entered the barber
shop to get shaved. One spied the ring ON the
finger and recognized IL as one which had been
stolen In Philadelphia. The detectives winked
at one another, and then got into the chairs To
SSy sPs the
noticed the winks Of the detectives. As SION
he had his man iathered he said that he had 10
10 other chimes. Meanwhile the detectives sat
In the chairs waiting 10 get shaved. But the
tied that their bird had flown.
ELorEp RArHER THAN wAIr.-An eiops-
ment pTccipitated by the going into operation
OF the new Pennsyl vania marriage law reQutrs
ing the certified consent Of guardians 10 the
phia Tuesday night John c. Dennis, . young
bother. came TO board at Andrew Buslings sa-
a. n the bssss sna
daughter, aged seventeen, fell in love at long
range and began . clandestine correspondence,
less have cbntinued longer had the lovers not
been apprioed OF the immediate operation OF
the marriage law. Spurred by the neceaa1ty OF
either marrying az once or waiting until the
young lady should become Of age, they made an
arrangement oy which Mics George cFept out
ofthe house, after having sent her CLOTHES b.
tore her, and were married tWo hours bofnso
the law went Into operation.