The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-10-27
HER WILES FAILED
EFFORTS OF A YOUNG WOMAN TO
ENsNARE A PREACHER.
statement of the Girl and Reply of
the Einfster-Latter Exonerated
by His Church.

MIDDLETOWN, N. Y, Oct. 26.-St.
Paurs Methodist Episcopal Church mem
bers are in great excitement on account of
charges made by Miss Eula l.. Deved
against Rev. DR.. j. McKendree Darwood,
the pastor. Miss Deved is the daughter of a
carpenter of this city. Her mother died
eighteen months ago. Soon after Mrs.
Deved's death the pastor called upon Miss
Deved to console her. Miss Deved now al
leges that the pastor was unduly familiar
on this and subsequent calls. Her charges
finally came to the pastors ears, who de-
manded an investigation. AS a result
Miss Deved, who was not a member Of the
church, was expelled from Sunday school,,
where she was teaching. The church trus-
tees investigated, and reported Saturday
night in favor of the pastor. asking the
bishop that he be returned another year
to this pastorate.
Miss Deved has published this statement
in the local newspapers: II hereby re-
affirm what 1 nave heretofore stated re-
Sarding the unminiSterial conduct OF e
certain doctor of divinity of this city dur
ing his several pastoral visits at my home.
and solemnly declare that, Notwithstanding
the ministers denials and the attempts
of MS friends to cover up his sinful acts
at the expense of my reputation and char
acter, 1 have only stated the facts TO those
VINO nave inquired OF me, and am now
determined that there shall be a complete
exposure OF the Doctors shameful conduct
In my presence"
DIR. Darwood responds with the following
statement: Soon after i came TO Middle
town, / think il was in July, | heard that
Miss Deved had recently lost her mother,
and, supposing she was a member of St.
Paul's parish, / called to see her. In a few
minutes she worked herself up into a hys-
terical condition. talking about her mother.
who, she said, had died of a broken heart
through jealousy of her father. Suddenly
she threw her arms around my neck and
wept and sobbed like her heart was break
ing. | pleaded with her not TO give way
10 her grief, as X would injure her health
and possibly her mind l then prayed with
her, arose from my knees, bade her good
waited for me at the entrance OF the
lecture room, and, under great excitement,
she secretly thrust a piece Of thin tissue
paper. wrapped up until not larger than
n quarter of a dollar. into the palm OF my
hand, under the pretenss OF shaking hands
with me. AS il was time 20 begin the
meeting. / did not read ii until L got home,
when, TO my utter Amusement, | read these
words. which, distinctly remember: Some
ladies are so constituted that they exert
an evil influence over the opposite sex. I
fear I am myself and am exerting an evil
influence over YOU and some other things
which thought at the time very suggest
i've. and which no woman should write and
secretly thrust into the hands of a stran-
ger After reading ii | was greatly sur
and finally tore Ii 10 pieces. After retiring
/ thought more and more about it. till
finally ] resolved TO go the next dav and
disabuse her mind as TO any evil Influence
she might have over me. and show her
the impropriety of writing such p MESSAGE
end thrusting IL secretly into the hands
Of a stranger. Ii was then. after | lad
told her nv errand. that she few into n
rage because she had been caught in her
own snare. and swore she would ruin me"