Evening journal., 1895-10-17
GRAVE CRIME CHARGED
Accusations Against the Rev.
Hyatt Smith.
DID HE SEND VILE POSTAL oARDs9

Pastor-A Warrant Issued For His Ar
rest--Investigation by the United States
Grand Jury-1Ir. Smith Now In Denver.
BosToN, Oct. 17.-I.atest details of the
doings which led to the issue Of warrant
for the arrest Of the Rev. Frank Hyatt
Smith of the North Cambridge Congrega-
tional church ON a charge Of sending vile
postal cards through the mail show that a
strong line Of oircumstantial evidence had
been obtained before the arrest was order
ed, and further that anything but a peace
ful condition Of brotherly love has existed
in his church for q long time.
According 60 the members Of the
church, the trouble began when some Of
the young men Of tho church proposed
that thoy take charge Of the Sunday even
ing services and mix something of n so.
oial entertainment with pious instruc-
tions, with Wow Of increasing the ratk-
or slim attendance. Pastor Smith, who
was going away on q vacation, approved
of the idea, and publicly announced that
IL would be go ordered Meantime the ex-
ecutive committee Of tho church had not
been consulted, and they had arranged for
preachers TO come in and give instruction
only, and they strenuously objected to
the slight that had been put upon thom
when they were ignored. So thoy called a
church meeting and arranged matters so
that the social programme was over
thrown. This seemed 60 the pastor Co bo
snub and when he came back from his
vacation he announced that he would re-
sign as soon as he could get q call to
preach elsewhere, but gave no definite
reason for doing so.
AT this the friends of the pastor on one
side and those Of the executive committee
on the other began to say words that stir
red up anger, and the anger eliminated in
"A church meeting at which so many sin
ful things wero said that the members
were ashamed to let the reporters in TO
take notes, though many Of them after
ward told sorry tales about the doings Of
others there. Meanwhile vile postal cards
bad been sent TO several members who
were opposed TO Parson Smith, and those
who got thom went to the postoflice au-
thorltios with them with a view of having
the sender arrested. Postoflice Inspector
BoyntOn of Boston took charge of the
case, and with several assistants, inolud-
ing the postmaster at Cambridge, began
TO investigate tho charge, which some Of
the members Of tho congregation made,
that the writing on the postal cards,
though manfestly disguised was that Of
Pastor Frank Hyatt Smith.
A Trap Set For the Pastor.
First of all considerable collection Of
tho cards was made. The writing was
submitted to experts, and they agreed
that it was all done by one hand, and
that the hand had peculiaritios which
they found in the writing that was Pastor
Smith s. Then cards were carefully mark
ed by ono Of the inspectors, and when
next Pastor Smith came TO buy cards he
got the marked package. A careful watch
was set on the cards that came in, and
eventually, so tho inspectors say, a card
bearing the private mark of those sold TO
Pastor Smith was received. It was direct
cd TO one of the church members opposed
to the pastor To add to the weight Of
evidence, detectives were set to watch the
street letter box where the pastor deposit
ed his mail. This required some time, but,
the inspectors assert that they saw thel
pastor deposit cards. Then they counted.
every letter and cnrd that was put in afterl
he had put his in up TO the time the post
man camo TO gather the mail. When thei
box was opened, they found the mail piled
up so neatly that they were able to count
down the number that had been deposit.
cd after Pastor Smiths, and so be certain,
that they had the one no put in. This one|
arrived at by count proved TO be one of
the offensive cards, and marked one as,
well.
So warrant was obtained from United
States Commissioners Smith, and an Off
Ger went TO the PASTORS house TO arrest,
him. He found that the pastor, with his
wife, had gone to Denver to stay over twOl
Sundays and preach to a CONGREGATIONAL
church there, hoping to arrange 20 takel
charge of IT, Accordingly the warrant
was sent TO the United States district at
torney at Donver; but, according to the)
latest dispatches received from Denver, ID.
has not yet been served.
Pastor Smih's friends are positive thatl
he is tho victim either Of a crank or OF
his enemies They assert that among his
opponents may be found at least one Ca
pablo Of writing the cards in hand that
would implicate the pastor They say
that stealing cards from the PASTORS
study is also possible, and they believe it
has been done. It is intimated that the
delay in making the arrest proves that
the issuing of the warrant was without
due evidence and was procured by enc
mics who hoped to ruin the man, but are
now afraid TO carry the matter further.
On the other hand, It is alleged that the
arrest is delayed only that the United
States grand jury may have a chance to
consider the matter before any other ao-
tion Is taken II they do not indict him,
the matter will be dropped.
The Rev. Frank Hyatt is a graduate of
Princeton and is counted one of the most
eloquent speakers of tho New England
pulpits.
DENVER Oct 17.-The Rev. Hyatt
Smith has not been arrested. When tele-
grams concerning the charges against him
were shown 20 him, he replied that the
whole affair grew out Of trouble in his
church east, and that he would be in Bos'
ton in a few days, leaving here Monday
TO face his accusars.
Spanish Losses In Cubn.