Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-10-01

They Sat I'm Nights.

BROOKLYN PRESBYTERY.
The interest I'm the trial of Pastor BENJAMIN
Stanton, OF the Fort Greene church, 10y the
Brooklyn presbytery for cruelty treating his
wife eliminated Wednesday In the appearance
of his wife, Mrs. Louise Caroline Staunton, as q
witness. She went TO the trial in the Fran Kiln
Avenue church from a sick bed, but endured
the ordeal OF questions for three hours She
accompanied by her mother and brothers
She Is described as a rather petite woman, with
Nivacious expression and determined air.
She gave her evidence with much earnestness,
and at times displayed considerable temper,
In response to Prosecutor FooLe, Mrs. Staunton
said:
Twas married I'm 1872 at Jackson. Tenn. ana
have one child thirteen years old. I am sepa.
rated from my husband and live at Saratoga
springs with my mother. Nv husband and
went 70 live at No. LIP Linden street i'm Jul-
1882. In August, 1854, 4 went TO Saratoga
Before that time the Rev. Mr. Ladder had
recommended his daugnte-in-iaw, Mrs. Mary
Ladder, to my husband as good church
singer, ana she was engaged Ia sing In the Fort
went TO board with Mrs. Ladder while was in
Saratoga. AT that time L had perfect conn.
dcnce in her. was i'm Saratoga for month
and my husband came up alter me- lie told
Inc he had given Mrs. Ladder permission To put
uer furniture in our house and she was doing
the housekeeping and had changed the house
from top ~ bottom. Alter got home 1 heard
my husband speak in an erdearing manner 10
Mrs. Ladder. 1 told MIR. stanton did not like
Mrs. Ladder To stay, but IL WA against my will.
The hrst night they stayed az after went 10 ted.
L
said she had 10 tell him her troubles for her
husband was q drunken sot They sat up
nearly every night, sometimes until L, ., 3 or
4 "A. IN. AT nrst they We're ia the study and at
terward in the basement. On several occasions
Mrs. Ladder pretended 10 GO to bed, but found
out alterward that she returned down sIairs.
One sunday night after we had been TO church
MIR. SIaunton had not come 10 led at O'Clock.
1 went uown stairs. La the basement hall Mr.
Staunton, who had been In the dining room.
met me, closing the door behind him. He
was as white as chalk and would not let me go
in the front basement, but pushed me into the
Kitchen, where he put me In chair. He kept
me there about five minutes. 1 heard the
stairs creak as II some one was going up.
When went upstairs, stopping at Mrs Laid
lers room, 1 found that she was undressing.
Neither my husband nor Mrs. Ladder dared
look me ia my lace the next morning. The
Elder Watt TO lead the pray er-neeting as ne
WAS sick, and Mrs. Ladder would take care OF
him. When got back saw through the VIM
dow Mrs. Ladder sitting IA my hus-
bands lap in an arm chair. When went
10 they both denied It. The next day
house. Mr. slaunton went upstairs to see Mrs.
Ladder and when he came down he burst out:
low, madam. what have you said 10 our
guest?'' 1 said L had asked her 10 leave the
house. He said: "iou miserable little wretch!
you ought 10 he ashamed OF yourself for insult
ing guest. lou are not hall good she
is Walking into the 'front.' room, he threw me
some money and said: "Now go home your
mother aad milk the cows. Ii you don't beg
Mrs. Ladders pardon you shall get out of Tins
house aud never come back again." My brother
told me not 10 leave the house and make that
man support me. AT my brothers. request
asked her 10 stay In the house. She stayed
about month longer. My husband WAS con-
stantly AT home while Mrs. Ladder there,
but after she went away he Was not at home
much. He was cy ncal, ironicai and domineer-
ing 10 me. He used TO ask me In L didn't think
Mrs Ladder had an angelic voice. He asked
me To play The piano Tor Mrs. Ladder to sing
one day. When refused he said: "Did not Mrs.
Beecher stand up aud testify foi her husband?"
"Ies," said, "but he didnt ask her " 60 aud
hug Mrs. Tilton." tSensation.
sue told also Of her husband on one occasion
taking her by the throat and dragging her
along the door, and OF their subsequent separa-
ton. On crosse Examination Mrs. SIaunton said
that she had difficulties with her husband,
which were reconciled. before they came to
Brooklyn. The cause Of the difficulty WAS q
Mrs. Shufeldt. Mrs. Staunton further said
one occasion her husband called her sister by q
horrible name-so bad THAT she would not re-
peat IL to the presbytery. IL made her angry
that she dew al her husband aud pulled OUT q
handful OF his whiskers. He was SO surprised
that he said: "You mink, GO and sit ia that
chair" The Rev. DR. Speer asked The witness II
she knew Of her own knowledge that her hus-
band had been guilty OF adultery with MIS-.
Ladder. Her reply Was: AS far az could tell
by my woman 3 Instinct yes; but did not see
them In the act"