The Newtown bee., 1888-09-21
STEpNEY,
The Truth of the Matter.

relative to my trouble, so sad at best, so unintentional at worst and altogether so unfortunate. have personally avoided the public print and only now request your space that I may answer at one writing the many tender letters of inqui- " addressed directly to me, conspicuous among the number in words of Christian comfort that of Rev J. F. Hoyt. The following offer on the honor of my sa- cred office as the truth and defy in Christian courage contradiction to my words:
 Returning from our vacation, spent at Fairfield, my wife, her sister and myself attended to some shopping in Bridge port, much to my distress, as on the day preceding had been quite sick and felt the slight eXertion almost intolerable. This sickness, which is attended with most painful vomiting, came on me sud- denly when entering the depot and ere l could leave the room overpowered me completely. We sat down opposite the ticket office and in view of the agents, who both testify that no scent of liquor could be detected from what came off my stomach. The waiting maid (ikewise total stranger to mel, when questioned, gave the same reply, adding that she could not be deceived in such matter, having too much of the unpleasant cxpe- rience from day to day. My wife had just expressed hope that Officer Ar I In, in hn and kindly brought fan to me and of- fered to escort us to the hotel and call a doctor. But having made all arrange ments to get home that uight, we declin- ed this proffered favor, accepting, how ever, Mir Arnold's later assistance to the railway car. In this connection l would state that Officer Arnold, when inter- viewed, fully concurred with the testi- mony already given, viz.: That liquor was not in the case, but out of the quest ion.
 Getting home as best we could, never dreaming that evil construction would be put upon my sickdess, we rested till morning and, next day, kept an appoint ment at my White Hills charge, eight miles away. On the Wednesday, l was about all day in company with brother from New York and never heard q whis- per of suspicion till Thursday morning, though it seems the town had meanwhile handled me in every shape. Thursday evening, l attended meeting with the eX- press intention of requesting a committee to investigate the vile report. My dea- cons got ahead of me, however and took the thing in hand. To say l was averse to investigation is to call black white. As soon as informed of the common talk l told my informant l should attend cOv- enant meeting, that night and demand a committee to investigate for the good of the church and my own reputation. The following Sunday, the committee report ed, as per last weeks BEE and, the church exonerating me, passed the reso- lutions printed, per order, in your col umns and in the Bridgeport papers Learning, in the interim of another week, that some on the committee felt dissatis- fled with the action of the church, l re- quested the church, the following Sun day, to re-appoint the committee for fur ther investigation, leaving at option the time of their report. And thus this chapter ends.
 But now the second and the saddel part. Perhaps the brethren who have so kindly addressed me can better appre- ciate my feelings all through, than those who never have had the responsibility of our office-weight to bear. No sleep for nights, no appetite, no rest of body nor of brain. While coming pillows had to be met, my nerves were strung to high est tension of necessity to face with sim pie truth the conflicting lies. But on the Sunday last referred to, when the storm was over and all seemed calm, twas then that the collapse came. The reactionwas too much in my condition. All Sunday night, kept the house awake with fool ish fancies coming over me. No persua. sion could get me to retire till very late and, even then, could not rest; was uI and lighting all the lamps in the middle of the night and, when the morning haNhtus NOulu Oll lOl with my sister on the early train, despite the earnest protests of my care-worI wife. It seems I spoke with several O1 our reliable members, at the depot anC elsewhere, but all my doings and these interviews have been told to my amaze ment. My first consciousness of whom and where l was came to me when or the cars and near to Bridgeport. Witt this returning knowledge, my trouble seemed to leave my brain and that terri ble stomach sickness again came on.
 I left my sister near her stopping place in Bridgeport and took a straight line fol the docks, to find place of convenience that I might vomit. Some passers-by saw me in my agony and, mo doubt, form ed the worst impression, for I was pre- cisely in the condition of two weeks be fore, when my appearance gave the li' to my true state. One man came up tc me and took my arm. I told him l want ed to take the mail train for Stepney. H. and insisted I should take some brandy was prepared to take anything to stol my pain and recover my strength sutfi cient to reach the depot. The feelins was that deathly sensation of sea-sick ness. I said if I could get little Cog niac brandy I would try it. He helped me across the street and brought me
 glass of Cogniac, with some pepper shak en in. I swallowed it to cure me of m. sickness, but it conquered me. I sanl on chair and fell into n stupor ant knew nothing more that happened til