The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1892-08-11
SCANDAL AT COLUMBUS.
ONE OF Gov MKlNLEY's FMoRlTes is
IN DISGRACE.

Rev. J. M. Treffstt, Chaplain Of the Peni-
tentiary, is Charged with Gross Immor-
ality-He Hands in His Resignation in
Response to n Demand for the Same
He was Too Cay During the Absences Of
His Wife.
COLUMBUS, Aug. A sensation, scan
dAlous in it's details, broke upon Mchin-
ley's board Of penitentisry managers yes
terday afternoon. IL 10 disgustingly nau'
seating and a very hard blow at the alleg-
| ed morality party, who are always preach
| inc their own virtue because no one else
| is willing to assume responsibility Tor
such falsehoods. No less parsonage than
Rev. James NJ. Treffett, the chaplain OF
the penitentiary, is involved and he re-
treated under fire, rendering nis resigna'
| ton last evening. The chaplain's wite
has been absent from the city for some
months, and the reverend gentleman,
according TO the statements laid before
the board of managers, has been using his
own house Tor immoral purposes. In DIS
unholy and illicit relations with other wo-
men he was so indiscreet as TO disgust the
neiphbors, some of whom claim to have
been eve witnesses to his forbidden per-
formapces. The name OF the woman is
not given, but she is supposed to be the
wife of a convict whom the chaplain has
IN some way betrlenueu.
While a part Of the details OF the story
are wholly unfit for publication, an inter
view with William G. Shepherd and his
wife, who live next door to the chaplain's
house and whose sleeping room is so To-
Gated as to enable them to look into the
bedroom occupied by the divine, will not
be out of place. Besides they tell the
whole story, except as to the official ac
tion of the board and the work Of the
warden in investigating for himself.
Some time last month rumors OF the chap.
lain,s immoral practices reached the war
den and he set on foot an investigation
that fully satisfied him of lheir truthful
ness. On the strength OF this information
he laid the matter before the board yester'
day afternoon.
Mrs. William c. Shepherd relates the
occurrences witnessed by her as as fol-
lows: "The first time at which / noticed
anything wrong at the Tretfett residence
was the night before Memorial day. was
in my room, the windows of which are di-
rectly opposite and on level with those
of Treffett, and when looked across the
street | saw him with a woman. The
shutters were closed, the movable
Stats being open, but bright light was
burning in the room. From that date up
until last Monday morning l have seen
the same woman enter his house at
different hours during the day and night.
When my husband and / retired Sunday
night opened the shutters and raised the
blinds on the front windows OF my room.
l awoke about 80 Monday morning and
as soon as got up l i9oEea ;so 0u;rph 0uh GI tne
were astir. When / looked out the first
object to attract my attention was on the
bed of Mr.. Treffett, which was close to
the window, the shutters OF which were
open and the blinds up. l saw Mr..
Treffett and the woman in bed together:
7 Ia In Nuh m /
had observed and he was witness to the
scene. My husband called to Mr.. Tref-
fett to pull down the blinds then
went down stairs to prepare breakfast,
my husband remaining upstairs. On
another occasion / saw Mr.. Tretfett give
the same woman some money at tne
corner of Spruce and Kilbourne Streets"
Mrs. Shepherd describes the woman in
the case as handsomely dressed and at |
tractive. On another occasion, Mrs. Shep'
herd says, the woman came to the
house about o'clock in the afternoon
during heavy rain and that MIR. Ireffett /
opened the door for Der.
Mr., Sbepherd, the husband of the wo-
man whose statements are given above,
fully corroborates his wife in every par
ticular, and recites the story with many /
more details, which are wholly unfit for |
publication,
The chaplain entered a general denial
10 dll LDt CnhTReS WhSh btCh ~ -
paper correspondent, but soon thereafter 1
was advised by the board that his resigna-
ton would be accepted at once. He re-
treated under fire and addresse the fol-
lowing communication to the managers:
COLUMBUS Aug. 3.
The Board OF Managers Ohio PenitentiaTy: lnas-
much as serious charges have been presented
against In the papers Of this date end while not
desiring IN any TO admit the truthfulness OF
the charges yet In the meantime Knowing that my II
usefulness must be impaired before class Of men
that had sincerely hoped TO help, hereby concur
In the belief OF the board that my resignation would
be for the best interests Of the institution There
fore tender the same wishing the triumph OF truth
and blessing upon you all.
Since the matter became public it is
rumored Treffett had record before in i
the line of immoralities indicated above,
and the wonder is that he was selected as
the spiritual adviser at the prison, charged |
with the religious teaching of 1880 pris- /
oners. The affair has created a great i
sensation in official circles. There are
few other sensations brewing at the pris-
on, though not as disgusting as the one
exposed today.