The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-04-07
MR.. SYKES EXPLANATION.
Scandal Drove Him From Home.
But He Took No Money.
Special to The Jersey ciy Ne,ps.

BRIDGEToN, April Z, 1s93.-The Rev.
George s.. Sykes, the well known Metho-
dist Episcopal clergyman, who returned
home yesterday after a long and mysteri-
GUS absence. today gave out a statement
regarding his reasons for his seemingly
strange action.
Mr.. Sykes said that he Is in good health
with the exception of a cold which he re-
Gently contracted, and that he has ex-
perienccd q sense of relief while away
which he had not known before for a
long time. He declined to say just where
he has been, but it is known that he has
been in California at a point near San
Francisco.
SCANDAL DROVE HIM AWAY.
He declared nat it was the evil reports
so freely circulated in West Long Branch,
connecting his name with that of Miss
Dangler, q pariShoner of his, which led
to his departure. These reports, he said.
were utterly without foundation. So fire.
quent and so malicious did they become
that they preyed upon his mind until he
could endur 1t no longer. For W
months | scarcely slept" he said. II be-
came desperate and felt that I must get
away at any cost. / wanted to leave Long
Branch at once, but my family, not rea-
LIKING the situation, urged that it would
be better to remain until spring."
MET A YOUNG WOMAN AT TRENTON.
On Tuesday, October 25, he came to
Bridgetown to preside over the State Con-
vention Of Christian Endeayor Societies,
where it was noticed tina he seemed
haggard and greatly distressed. Ev en-
here, he said, he felt that the reports at
fectiug him were known and that he was
not greeted by one or two OF his old
friends for that reason. Coming to
Pridoofnn M sold ho 0hnnOp6 pQrS QE
Trenton, where he talked with a young
lady from Beverly whom be knew and
who was on her way from school. This,
he said, gave rise to the false report,
sanctioned by SOM of the ciergymen,th that
be met the young woman from Long
Branch at Trenton.
OFF FOR H WEST.
After the convention in this city he left
on Friday morning, October 90. for Phila-
deiphia, and left Philadelphia at four
O'Clock thai afternoon for the West, going
straight through as far as Chicago. He
denies positively the report that he WAS
seen in Phiiadelphia until the following
Tuesday. He intended to write to his
wife from Philadelphia to relieve Eer OF
suspense and uncertainty regarding his,
whereabouts. but, finding that he must
take a train four hours eariier than he
had intended to in order to avoid lying
over in Washington, and having several
matters to. attend to which detained ham
greatly. he did. not get the letter off.
After leaving Philadelphia, he did not
write because he wished to cover up his
tracks from that point. He intended
then never TO return.
DID o TAKE HIS wIFE'S MONEY.
Mr.. Sykes positively denies the rumors
that be- took his wife's money and church
money with him, and Mrs Sykes indorses
what he says. He also denies the charge
that he borrowed money. There has
been much comment and several pub
lished statements regarding bis purchase
of a quantity of women's wearing apparel
in Bridgetoh just before his departure.
This, together with some clothing for
himself, he had put into n package and
shipped to Philadelphia. Mr.. Sykes says
that he did this intending TO separate The
TWO purchases in Philadelphia and send
the dress goods n similar articles home
to Long Branch to his family. The short
ness of time and hurry in Philadelphia,
however, prevented mis- doing this, as
we'll as writing the letter.