The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-08-01
| A[L-N|GAT TRIAL.
Pastor Thompson Shows No Fear Of
His ACCuSerS.
TIE PRETTY WOMAN IN THE CASE
WAS Also On Hand to Protect Her Char
acter-Pas:or Had stcnographer to
Take Notes Detectives Following De-
tectives Reporters Not Admitted.

BRocKroN, Mass. Aug. 1.-The trial Of
Rev. Napoleon Bonaparte Thompson,
formerly pastor Of the South Congrega-
tional church. for alleged indiscretions un-
becoming minister of the gospel, began
Last night in the church where for four
years he preached There was large at
tendance, young and old being repre-
sented. There was one member present
who is 9e years of age, SO that the interest
manifested In the affair Is out> OF the
ordinary.
Long before the meeting of the church
lhero was a big crowd In the streets and
in front of the church. About o'clock
the doors opened and three sentries stood
ct the door.
AS each member of the church put in an
appearance he or she was closely scruti-
nixed. Among the first to enter the church
was Rev. Mr.. Thompson, accompanied
by two gentlemen and two ladies. One OF
the men was mystery to the church peo-
pla Somebody said he was detective In
the employ of Minister Thompson, but as
soon as the trial began he proceeded to
take notes. He was stenographer. and
every statement made against the ex-
pastor was taken down for future refer.
ence.
There was Great CONSERVATION
IN the church when Rev. Mr.. Thompson
walked down the aisle One of the women
who walked down the broad aisle was
0r& Lillian M. Swift, the former Brock
ton school teacher. whose name is linked
with that of Rev. Mr.. Thompson in
connection with this affair. Her appear
ance was a surprise to everybody, but she
came many miles from her home In Maine
10 meet the men who are making such
public property Of her name.
Mrs.. Swift does not look to be IS years
old, but she is said to have lived to that
ego She is about five feet and eight
inches tall, with rather slim but very
shapely figure. Her father was the pas
tor of Baptist church, but he died while
ahe was very young. Her mother after
ward became the wife of Hiram Wyman,
deacon In the local Congregational
church.
Miss Berry, as she was then known,
went through the town schools and went
to Pennington where she attended the
normal school. Her school life was inter-
rupted at Is by what proved to be a
most unfortunate step. She married G. G..
Swift. merchant. and later postmaster
Of New Sharon. They did not live happi-
~ and few years later Mrs. Swift
Secured . Divorce.
She became teacher. For two years
she taught I'm Brockton at what is known
a. Leyden Park. Then she was trans
ferred to tho Huntington avenue primary
school, where she has been engaged six
years. During all the time that she lived
here she was member Of the family Of
Deacon Carey Howard. She resigned her
position when the talk concerning Mr..
Thompson and herself came about and re.
turned to New Sharon. She is member
Of the Congregational church and the
Christian Endeavor society at New
Sharon.
Promptly at 7:30 the trial began, and
the church was well filled. principally by
women. The sentries who were on guard
performed their duties faithfully, and oc-
casionally one would come outside the
church and make patrol of the edifice.
90 that no eavesdropper would listen to
the proceedings, for they were secret.
One reporter, who is an ex-minister. drew
up petition to the church, which was
signed by himself and one or two others,
but
The Petition Was Ignored
the church refusing by unanimous vote
to admit press Representatives.
The pastor fought strenuously to make
the affair public, using the argument that
II the church wants fair reports the re.
porters. should be.admitted.
Therc'were scQrc ofwitnesses examined,
among whom were Detectives Porter and
Wood, The two latter were on the wit.
mess stand nearly. three hours, and the
ministef greatly puzzled them with his
numerous questions. 1t appears that all
tho time while the pastor was being
shadowed By detectives be had detectives
Of his own on theif track.
The church has not submitted all of its
case yet, but viii resume 1t again this
evening ct 8 o'clock.
The prosecution witnesses failed to tell
connected stories, and some were very
badly ratified. The trial did not adjourn
until nearly o'clock this morning.
LET IT BE KNOWNl
Derfanoue gu9westious Re0ardiug Threo