Evening journal., 1889-05-10
A DEACON'S INFATUATION
Historic Lebanon Agitated by
a Scandal.
A YOUNG WOMAN IN THE CASE

Up His Home and business for has-
cinating BoolSkeeper Employed In His
Store.
Norwich, Conn, May 10 Historic Leb
anon Green, the home of "Brother jonathan
Trumbull, of the revolution, one of the pret !
test and most antique country villages in
New England, vibrates with a scandal |
Deacon Asher p Smith, who keeps the big
Lebanon grange store and is brother of
Roswell Smith, the millionaire partner in
The Century Magazine company OF New
York, is in trouble with a fair young lady
who kept his books and he has fled, it is be-
lieved, 10 Canada.
Owns "a Splendid Farm.
Mr. Smith, who is not only deacon in the
Congregational church to which War Gov
ernors Trumbull and Buckingham belonged,
but also is superintendent ,@f the Sunday
school, is 60 years old. He is a wealthy citi-
zen of the Green, owns splendid big farm,
and his home is almost under the caves of the
church, not twenty rods from the old Lee
banon ''war office.n The Lebanon Associa-
ton Of Farmers built the fine store several
years ago, and an agent conducted its busi
ness on the cooperative plan until two years
ago Deacon Asher bought the building and
business, and has since done a smashing
wholesale and retail trade with the farmers
of half of two counties.
But on one unucky night when Mr. Smith
was tired, and his brain was dizzy over the
book accounts, he decided that it was too
much for one man to buy and sell all day
and keep the run of his books at the same
time He resolved that he must have book
keeper, and he knew of one that, in his
opinion, would just fill his long felt want
Straightway he engaged her She was the
pretty daughter OF Mr.. j. H. King, whose
house front, like that of the deacon's, looked
out over the ample and elm shaded Green
Miss King is brunette, her age between %
and 80 years, and she has pretty teeth and
beautiful eyes,
'The Thing Wuz Really Coin Too Fur"
The deacon kept on doing his big business
and the fair accountant kept her fingers fly
ing at the figures for several months, and it
was remarked by the village dickerers who
frnged the parade barrels at night that
deacon and bookkeeper "wuz undoubtedly
thinkn' more'n an morn o each other every
day" BY and by the tenor of the talk
changed in degree, and elderly gossips gave
1t out as their opinion that deacon Asher
and that girl was thinkin' rather morn o
each other than circumstances seemed to
warrant ON the part Of a deacon and a super
intendent Of Sunday school But there was
not much serious discussion Of the matter
until four or five months ago, when the sagest
heads in Lebanon admitted in private talks
that the thing wuz really goin' too fur--ac-
tually gettin TO be scandalous.
A FIutter in Society.
After a while Deacon Smith took Mis-,
King into his own family to board with them,
and thereupon there was a decided flutter in
Lebanon society, it being limited az that
time that the act was done in the face of
vigorous opposition ON the part of Mrs
Smith, the fair faced, kindly and estimable
wife of the storekeeper. But there was no
outspoken scandal until within the past ten
days, when il was learned at the Green that
Deacon Smith had taken his bookkeeper to
New York to the centennial and had spent
the week with her there looking at the sights
on that throbbing occasion.
Must Cast That Woman on.
When the storekeeper and Miss King re-
turned from the centennial they found that
a storm had gathered that BODIED them ILL.,
An ominous hush was upon grange and green,
and as soon as Deacon Asher and Miss King
had entered the Smith house part of the
storm met them Mrs. Smith was angry.
She dictated terms TO the errant couple The
deacon must cast 'that woman Of. II is
ported she said, "Now and forever or if he
refused TO do so she would instantly quit the
house and go to live with her daughter, Mrs.
Perry, in New London. The deacon was nc
less insistent in refusing to comply, and the
enraged wife departed from her home.
Deserts the Bookkeeper.
Finally Deacon Smith collected all tn,
money that was due him from customers il
half dozen towns 5000 or 81, 900 it Is said
made an assignment of his business, and Oh
the following day visited this city, where h,
was indebted TO several merchants, amonl
them being Preston Bros, from whom he re
Gently purchased S40O worth Of moving ma
chimes, and he consulted a Norwich attorney
and drew money from the banks Later OF
that day he boarded a north bound train
which carried him directly past his owl
home, twelve miles from this city, and it
believed that be is now in Canada. His fas
cinating bookkeeper he deserted Some per
sons think she may rejoin him in the north.
Miss King Returns Home.
Mr. Smiths friends are at a loss to explain
the startling infatuation on his part, nhicl
has wrecked his home and business, AM
blighted his own life and that of young VIC
man whose reputation hitherto has been un
blemished. Miss King has returned to he
mothers home Deacon Smiths dwelling
famous as being the mansion in which Wash
ington tarried on his visit to Lebanon in til
revolution. Mrs Smith is said to be wort
about $7j, 900, her own money.
Pennsvlvanta Commissioners IN Paris.
HARRISBURG, Pa, May l0.-The goverro
has appointed the following as commissioner
to the Paris exposition: John Henry Harje'