The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1886-02-02

uhu people HOChcQ 10 tIlC various news
stands to buy. 1t was the sensation of
the hour. The vestry of St. Philips
held meeting and committee was ap.
pointed to 20 ut once to Cincinnati and
inquire into the matter. This was done
and the speciul committee filed report
cxoncrating Mr.. Armstrong from all
blame but the Clergyman demanded a
trial before the Bishop. and his request
was acceded to.
TRYING TO SAVE A LOST WOMAN.
The story Mr.. Armstrong tells is quite
as remarkable us any part Of this whole
remarkable case. His defence, it is un-
derstood, will be that he had been to
dinner with friend, and while there
had taken Il glass or two Of wine. as was
his usual custom. After dinner he had
learned that the daughter Of very dear
friend, who lives in Canada, was then
stopping Mt house Of ill-fame in Gin
cinnati, and he determined to seek her
out and try il he could not induce her to
return to n life Of rcctitudc and virtue
To this end he hireda carriage. and WIS.,
tied several bagnios of reputation, but
not unlil he had gone to eight or nine
did he find the object Of his search AZ
ter long talk with her he succeeded in
showing her the sinfulness and error Of
her ways, and made her promise to leave
the place forever. He claims to have
given the girl money and to have sent
her back to her friends in Canada where
she is now living. DR.. Armstrong. when
requested to give the girls name, declin-
ed positively, on the ground that she
was now living pure life, that no one
knew of her past, and that if he were to
divulge her name it might lead to her re-
turn to life Of shame. He would rath-
er. he said. suffer himself than that the
daughter of his dearest friend should be
brought to sin again, after her repent
unce.
THE COURT OF THE CHURCH.
Bishop Beckwith, of Georgia, and
slr. Armstrong arranged the -'detaiis of
the trial which begins tomorrow before
a Court OF five clcrgymcn and dcacons.
The principal prosecutor will be Mr..
led Harrison. clerk of the Supreme
Court of Georgia, who is a deacon of
st. Philips and who is believed to feel
strong personal dislike to the clergy
man who is to he tried. Public opinion
outside the church. ut least, is decidedly
with the defendant, and the expressions
Of belief in Mr. Armstrong's purity
come from men who arc looking upon
the :matter disintcrestedIy. In the
church opinion is very much divided
and the opposing factions are about
equal in point Of numbers The trial
will last several days and host Of wit
ncsscs will be examined, the most i'm
purtant Of whom will DC the reporter,
Mann. Mr.. Armstrong's action in de-
clining to have the young woman in the
case summoned to appear before the
ecclesiastical tribunal has put many of
the best people in the city on Iris side,
as the action was one Of decided hero
ism.
ARMSTRONG AND HIS FAMILY.
Mr.. Armstrong; family do not seem
to regard the trial as calculated in any
way to impair the clorgyman's reputa-
ton. Mrs. Armstrong remains in Flor
ida, where she has been visiting friends
since Cc:ober. Miss Nj iu,a is in At
lanta with her father. Mr.. Armstrong
is bright and cheerful, and thinks that
he will be fully vindicated.
In connection with the approaching
trial there has been seine little comment
created by the fact that Miss Armstrong
has been leader. at most Of the grand
balls and germnhs given here this win
ter, while her father has been contribu-
ting series Of articles on Shakespeare
to one Of the Atlanta newspapers. This
has scandalized some Of the church
people. who think the whole family
should have gone into sackcloth and
ashes the moment the trouble became
public, There are few who insist that
Mr.. Armstrong really is Booth, and some
who laugh at the idea. Most people,
however. simply shake their heads and
say they will let matters shape them
selves more fully before they render
any opinion. t
Unless some unforeseen proceeding
occurs the trial will begin at 9 O'Clock
tomorrow merning at tho chapel con-