Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1886-01-04
Bristor Again.
WITH A YOUNG GIRL
WHO wAsINDENTURED
TO HIN.
G REAT EXCITEMENT.


The Rev. DR.. George r. Bristor of
Spring Valley, n. T., was arrested on
Friday on q warrant issued by Justice
Gemmel, accusing him OF betraying Ida
Downes, a simple girl who was serving in
the clergyman's family. The girl was
indentured TO him for term Of ten years
from the Brooklyn Orphan Asylum. The
q RI said he had assaulted her three times.
When the warrant was given to Police
man Charles b. Fisher, who went to the
parsonage, the clergyman was inclined 70
resist and refused to go to the court, but
the muscular officer assured him that
force would be used II necessary, and
thereupon the clergyman went quietly.
Ida Downes accompanied him, and a
number of church members followed.
The trial was held in Justice Fenton's
court room. He sat as an associate with
Justice Gemmel. Mr.. Edward G. Reames
was present, representing the Brooklyn
Orphan Asylum. He produced papers
from the officers of that institltion de-
msDding the return Of the girl. There
were about 200 people in the room. Toe
\ feeling against the clergyman was very
deep and bitter. Immediately after the
Justice had raped for order, Mr. Bristor
spraBg to his feet and asked If he would
be allowed TO lay before the court certain
papers which were at his home. Per
mission was granted. AS he was leaving
the room he said TO some OF the church
members:
:" See that the girl Is not molested. /
am afraid Of that man Gemmel."
On his return with the papers he an.
nounced that he would appear as counsel
tho rrfrI TUha.
fused he insisted on his demand. Justice
Fenton ordered him to sit down.
won't sit down." he exclaimed. az
demand my rights"
Then the justice ordered the muscular
constable to put the clergyman down,
which he did promptly.
Isaac W. Edsall here asked the court
for leave to make few remarks. He de-
clared that, as one OF the citizens of the
town, he demanded that thorough in
vestigation be made. "Charges of such
q nature as those made by the GIRL" he
said, should not be left to the church Of
which the accused was pastor" Mr.. Ed
sail declared that some of the church
members were trying TO cover up the
lscandal, but he and many others we're de.
ltermined that the clergyman should be
tried in criminal court,
The clergyman interrupted the speaker
and some hot words passed bet ween them
II was thought that they might come to
blows, but the court interfered and Mr..
Edsall was allowed to finish without the
Ipeace beng disturbed. Then the Rev.
Mr.. Bristor made a complete denial of the
accusation. He said that when he frs,
, heard 1t he was very angry and i'm
II ua adtatalxJ want hnpna Than ha nhfHaf
the girl and slapped her face, whereupoI
|, the girl ran over TO Justice Gemmel'
! house. Justice Gemmel wss their neares
|, Inei0hbor and it was in that house tn,
story was concocted. Justice Gemme
stopped him and tnrning to Mr.. Reames
! the counsel for the asylum, said:
! "Take the girl In yocr charge and hav
i her here when the court reassem bles."
al proceedings were then discontinued
i but very few left the room. There hat
been a semblance of order before, but nov
1.-THE air was full Of accusations. Bristol
Istood In the middle of the floor and begaI
, making serious charges against Justic'
. Gemmel, saying that when the girl was a
i that gentleman's house he had kissed hei
and put his arms around her neck. Gem
mel denied the accusation, aud told thu
+ reverend gentleman that he was liar.
"see here, Bristor," said one Of thu
, men In the crowd, you'd better go hem'
right away, or we'll tar and feather you
Mr.. William Fl Seward, a friend of tn
! clergyman and member OF the church
retorted that the man had too much t.
say, but the man said to him :"Shut up
IorI'll break your nose"
ri Things were getting very serious, and
needed but very little for the crowd to be
come a mob and treat the preache
roughly. Justice Fenton interfered an6
, ordered every person out of the room
The crowd fingered on the street, disput
t lug and becoming angrier every moment
+ lwhen Mr.. Schuyler Westervelt calle'
[ several church members to his side. The
r surrounded the clergyman and took hin
8 to his home in safety.
' The Rev. Mr. b Bristor did not produce
] lon his trial the retraction which he de
clared the girl made and signed just afte
the story was first published. He refuse'
q to show the paper. Nobody has seen II
and consequently number Of prominen
members OF the church resigned yesterday
i'll The feeling among the people is ev
identity very strong. Presiding Eide
lCraig; of the Methodist Episcopal Confel
leDce, was at Spring Valley yesterday an
Iordered thorough investigation to /
made. The church hearing is set dow
!. for Tuesday week. Mr.. Bristor, 1t
!. understood, will plead his own case.