The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1892-04-15

PROVE A HALIBI."
"A Church Scandal Which
Only Old Mr.. We11er's
Advice Can Settle.
PASTOR AND DAMsEL FAIR
1t is Said They fingered in the
Church Too Long After Even
ing Service.
PASTOR AND DAMsEL FAIR
Special to the Jersey citu Me,a..

PORT NORRIS, April 15, 1S92.-One OF the
| most sensational sessions that the officials
of the Port Norris Methodist Episcopal
Church ever held has just closed. The
Rev. William j. Stuart. the pastor of the
sanctuary. was given preliminary hear
| ing on the following charges advanced
against him by Mr.. and Mrs. William
Peace, two members of his congregation.
1t Is claimed that on last Thursday
night Mr.. Stuart, in company with Miss
Eva Owens. another of his flock, were In
the church alone for considerable peri
od- Mr.. Stuart will be tried before a
court of ministers which will convene in
| about ten days. At the Official Meeting
the joint defendants were present.
1.-THE statement made by Mrs. Peace
was as follows:-
ION Thursday night a prayer meeting
was held at the church, which directly
adjoins my residence. After the meeting
the lights were put out, and I. sitting at
a window in my house, saw Rev. Mr..
Stuart enter the church Some little
time afterward saw Miss Owens leave it
by the back door, which faces my dwell
ing. She started toward her home, and
then perceived the minister passing my
house.
SHE UPBRAIDED THE MINISTER.
:" Did you come out OF the front door
of the church, said.
Yes he replied; I did,
Il then told him that girl had come
out of the back door. aud he insisted that
/ must have been mistaken. l upbraided
him. and he. denying his guilt departed" )"
Mrs. Peace is backed up in her charge
by her husband who, although he was at
home with her at the time, took no part
in the conversation with the minister.
Rev. Mr.. Stuart, in reply to this
statement againt him, made by Mrs.
Peace, told the presiding elder that
he could prove an alibi. After
Thursday nights prayer meeting he de-
clared he acted as janitor, as that official
| that night was absent.
'The time that l had passed with Mr..
| Dixon. with whom l was,n he concluded,
| 'allowed for me not more than a minute
or two at the most to be in the church."
Mr.. Dixon, who was present. confirmed
| the statement by Mr.. Stuart in so far as it
| related to himself.
| EVA DENIES THE CHARGE.
| Miss Owens, who is a pretty brunette
| of about eighteen summers. was
| then called to the stand by Presiding
Elder White. The charge against her
/ was reau ana sue was as keQ as TO ner guilt.
Mot guilty" she replied. She Will en-
deavor TO prove an abb. The prayer meet
| ing, she claims. closed at few minutes
before nine O'Clock, and she then walked
almost the entire wav to her home with
several ladies, arriving home at ten min
| utes past nine.
| Opinion as to the minister's guilt 10
about evenly divided. His reputation has
hitherto been good, while Miss Ovens
! character is irreproachable. Mr.. Stuart
is just entering upon the third year of his
pastorate. All the people implicated
| in the affair are of the great
est responsibility. George Owens.
the young lady's father, is a
| church trustee and wealthy merchant.
| Mr.. Peace Is retired banker and Is now
| employed In the oyster planting business
upon Maurice River. He is trustee of
the church, and is said by all to be most
| honest and reputable citizen.