The sun., 1896-01-11
MRS. MxcoAu<x,s cHARGE.
The Noted writer Ceudones the Russian
Prtescs OHenee.

The com plant OF Mrs. n. MacGahan against
tho Rev. T.. Balonovitcl, pastor OF tho Russian
Church OF 81. Nicholas. In Second avenue, whom
she accused OF slandcr, was withdrawn In the
Yorkvillo Police Court yesterday. The com
plant was brought to court q week ago. and the
case was put over until yesterday afternoon.
Mrs. MacGiahnn's charge against the Rcv. Mr..
Balonovitch set forth tlint on Nov. II, In tho
presence Of several persons, no had applied to
her q Russian term which is unprintable. but
which has been translated literary prost!-
tute." 1t is q word Of the slums.
Tho Implication wne. according to Mrs. Mac.
Gahan. that she sold her pen to the highest
bidder, which would be equivalent to sayinG
that as her writings were mercenary, they were
OF no value when In them she took n position on
any question. Tho remark. she contcnded, WAS
for tho purpose Of inJuring her in Russia, or,
at least, would have such an effect, and Ms sho
is a professional newspaper and literary worker.
writing constantly for the Russian press and
periodicals, she felt impelled to demand re-
traction.
Mrs. MacGahan Is tho New York correspond
ent of the R,isstpd Vfcdomostt u daily political
paper OF Moscow. and during tho last fifteen
years she has been q contributor to the licstnih
E,ropv and the Northern Messenger. st. Peters,
burg monthlies. and to the Rtlsskdyd Mysl and
the Russkop. Oborrenpe. Her work has ap-
pearcd also in several OF the large New York
papers. including THE Sun, and in various jour
nails in the East and West of the United states.
Sho Is the widow Of the war correspondent. Y.
social. economic and political subjects be-
gan early in her life when she wrote for
from Spain, based on dispatches from her hus-
band who was with the army OF Don Carlos.
Il shs ssns pTRev tS Ss %
Turkey war. and later was attached to the
Goios stan; In ! $50 she was sent here BY tina.
the and Gss SsSF ss' to
s s1 Ssh sss
In the course Of her newspaper work II has
from time to time been part OF her duty, Mrs
MRCGahan says, to expose financial schemes af
Russia news which has not always been pleas
TrIeved " done ones she says. desiring to discredt her
a. eorrespondent which they found 'u q d,fiicult
on e BY
means OF the priest Of whom they made an nn-
whiting instrnment There ] h"s been: shG ,i says Is,
which she and tho pastor were opposed to one
A1Sas On Nov. II the Syrian orthodox colony gave
dinner in celebration OF the bless ing Of the
building wherein they were TO have their
Ss dnner WHO
the two women present. was seated at the right
of the Bishop and was naturally the recipien1 OF
Rev. Mr.. Belonovitch was one Of the diners.
After tn, banquet Mr.. Balonovitch, at his own
house, In conversinR with several priests,
spoke Of Mira. MncGshan. she says. In the
words before mentioned. The Russian word
Of which he made use s said to be SO bad that II
priest is not supposed to be familiar with It, and,
IN fact. on at least ct Mr.. Balonovitch's audi
tors was ignorant of its Significance. He WAS
the Rev. Father Raphael. and he asked a wo-
man we'll known in the Russian colony and also
. writer like Mrs. MacGahan what It meant.
Being Of the tUerutt she was able to tell him,
and the priest was greatly shocked. His in
formant was scandalized and she told Mrs. Mac
Gahan about 1t.
Failing to get from the Rev. Mr.. Balonovitch
a retraction Of his accusation. Mrs. MacGahan
carried the matter to the police court to see
whether the priest could not be held to be guilty
OF a crime misdemeanOr. and so subject to
prosecution by the crimIn authorities. The
complaint was made under section 615 OF the
Code.
Lawyer Hugh Pentecost. Mrs. MacGahan's
counsel! told Magistrate Mott yesterday tnat
his client desired to withdraw the complaint, rs
she had learned that Mr. Balonovitch had re-
signed from the church and was to return very
soon to Russia. and also because she believed
that he was not aware Of the meaning attached
native of Austria. he said. and Mrs Mactiahan
had concluded that he did not know the horri-
bic meaning which to a Russian attached to
the term he applied to her.
Frederic X. Coudert. Jr. or counsel 10 tho
Russian Government, appeared with Consul
Genera. Olarovsky for Mr.. Baonovttch. He
said tha: there had been no intention to put tho
slightest i'm putation upon Mrs. Mac(iahan.
Mrs. Mace Rhan wished it to be particularly
understood that her action had been intended in
no way to reflect on the Russian church here, Of
which she was one of the organizers.