New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-02-26
THE DILL TRIAL ENDED.
The PARSON FOUND GUILTY ON ONE
CHARGE.
HIS CONDUCT DECLARED UNBECoMlNG TO 4
cLERGYMAN-THE OTHER TWO CHARGES


cLERGYMAN-THE OTHER TWO CHARGES
DISMISSED.
Morristown " j.. Feb. % (SpeciaD.-It took the
Pesbytery Of Morris and orange which has been trying
the Rev. Arthur Gushing Dill the former pastor Of the
Stirling church. for unbecomng conduct and converse
ton and untruthfuness, nearly six hours to-day
agree on a verdict Here IT is given out at the
close Of the proceedings by the clerk "As the result
OF the trial, the Pesbyery Of Morris ard Orange found
the Rev. Arthur Gushing Dill guilty of using Ian
guage inconsistent with the character minister Of
the Gospel and which tends TO tempt others to sin
their spiritual edfcation" The vote IL
to 10.
The above verdict the first charge against
MI Dill. The other two charges were: Conduct
unbecoming to Christian minister and "untruthfn
ness" Mr.. Dill convicted of the first charge on
three specifications out of the ten made. Specification
No. stated that at the house OF Robert NJ Cornish OF
Stirling, Mr.. Dill had denied that he had been to the
Jardin Mabe, IN Paris, where 300 naked women
danced every night, but said that the Rev. Henry
Ward Beecher had said he Clr Beecherl had been
there. Mr.. Dill denied telling that story at Mr..
Cornish's house, but admitted that he might have mem
toned II TO some else. Mr.. Cornish the
only witness to prove this specification. No. was
about disgusting story which Frederick n. Taft
swore that Mr.. Dill had told him. Mr.. Dill admitted
telling q part OF this story to Taft, to warn him
from eHl,1 but absolutely denied making the alleged
statements about himself.
epeci6caton No. asserted that Mr.. Din had told
a young woman in his congregation that the young
women Of Mount Freed On were nor as healthy as
those of stirling because they were not as
careful of their clothing. This charge Mr.
Din most emphatlcay denied. The young woman was
the only witness. None OF the witnesses was ooiIoo
GRATED and 1t was generally commented on after tiie
trial as passing strange that the testimony when
had been substantated should have counted for nothg
while the unsupported testimony OF single witnesses WAS
allowed to stand and the conviction OF the clergy
the charges named.
When the moderator Dr. H. A. Harlow. called the
meeting order this morning these men were present
Dr. Green the prosecutor; Elder Theodor Little, the
assistant prosecutor; Mr.. Fill, the defendant the
Rev. DR.. John McNaughton, the Rev. DR.. John Croweh
the Rev. James b. Beaumont, the Rev. E. F. Gardner
the Rev Dr. II. F. Hickok. the Rev. DR.. Albert Erd-
man, the Rev. Thomas Garter, the Rev. John H.
Fisher the Rev Dr. W. W. Holloway, the Rev. George
@. Noble. the Rev Dr. Robert Arl1naD. Elders Ira b.
stephens d. O. Norris f. II. Williams. F. s Bradford
Joel Bebout, ". W. Marsh, ID. H.
Corey Hudson Muchmor. F. r. More
house jeremiah Baker. the Rev. William F. Whit
taker, the clerk the Rev. 5. J. McCienagh"n
the Rev. DR.. H. NJ. Storrs, the Rev. d. O. Irving.
A. G. Smith. the defendants counsel knowing that he
would not be allowed vote, did not appear, and Mr.
Dill was left alone fight the prosecution during the
remainder of Elder Titles summing-up speech.
Mr. Little began soon the court opened. NJ
q, u
of confirming himself strictly to the evidence the lawyer
brought up outside issues and insisted upon giving MS
own opinion almost every point. He explained IN
tie beginning that he himself not DESTROYS OF Mr.
pn's conviction aud then went 10 refer in indig
rant terms 10 short letter from Mr. Dill to his mother
which was published In OF the papers this morn
Ing In II Mr.. Dill said that he expected |" the mis-
Judgment Of the mean5 This statement Mr.. Little
declared reflected the Presbytcry and he wished to
make q point OF It, but Mr. Dill insisted that he should
keep 10 the evidence saying that no reference was
made to the Presbytery in the letter. Several tunes
when Elder Little showed inclination to wander on
the little minister brought him up with round turn
and several members OF the Prcsbytery aferward eX
pressed themselves surprised at the way Mr.. Dill
nothing daunted by the fierce aspect OF the prosecuting
lawyer kept the speaker down TO the points at issue
Mr. Little admitted that he did not think Mr.. DID
meant anything wrong by his conversations. lie did
not believe that Mr.. Dill corrupt man, either
but he had certainly been most ndiscreet
At the close of the summing up Mr.. Dill, the TWO
nrnsecuting attorneys and Elder Bebout, who had
shown a prejudice against the parson, were sent out
Of the building and the voting began. Each charge
and specification was taken up separately and every
member had the privilege Of expressing his opinioh
IN each one and then voting. This system used up
much time, that it was after . 80 D. H. "heh 'he
court finally agreed upon verdict The proceedings
were secret, as usual and 1t was Impossible TO hhd
out how each man had voted A committee OF three
min
ohtaned was appointed TO recommend an appropriate
verdict I'm the for the consideration OF me fTea-
bytery at It's next meeting on March at go a. IN.
I'm the chapel OF the First Presbyterian church IN
MorristOWn." This the way the clerk expressed
II. 1t aferward explained that the worn 'ouie'
shOuld have been sentence" .
Mr.. Dill diI not much cast down by the yer,
dict and said he thought ii would really do him more
good than an acqutal, although he dld not eA-
plain clearly just why this should pc, D hd
brought against certain people OF SURFING;
lie would say positively whether an appeal wonld
no take Ia
Conkling told The Tribune reporter in January when
the trial becn, that if the went against me par
son IL would be appealed the synod, % that IS le
to be the result. , - -
One thing that grathes Mr.. Dill greatly Is the way
in vi ich large majority OF the people Of stirling have
stood by Him over $50 of them insisted In the 2etl
lion which Mr. Little did not allow 10 be handed 70
The PresbyteIy yesterday, that Mr. Dill be reistated
as pastor Of the church there They sad mat II ne
was not sent back to them they would withdraw her
support and would establish Mr.. Dill In the school
house. The petition 1t is understood, viii be handca
To the Presbytery when they meet next Thursday