The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-12-16

III
| culating about the church and the neigh
| borhood concerning the real reason why
! he wanted to get rid of his wife?" counsel
asked
"Yes. did,"
did you heax that another woman,
1 other than Mrs Allen, was mixed up with
Mr.. Aliens name in that scandal?"
| "T-e-s,'' reluctantly answered the wit
ness, and the testimony closed with
Counsellor Lindabury saying That's the
case" and then proceeded to argue the
case
| He said slowly and with great emphasis
| that the pastor of the Bergen Baptist
Church was charged with wilfully and
obstinately deserting his wife and the
proof conclusively established that charge
Mr.. Lindabury looked around here for
the pastor, but the Rev. John c. Aliens
yalor consisted in that better discretion
and he stayed away. Had he been pres
ciated ST. Laurent's experience on the
gridiron. Mr.. Lindabury didn't mince
words and bringing his hand down with
vigorous thump on the table he ex-
claimed:-
1T is certain that this Christian
minister treated his wife as a man
wouldn't treat a dog. He subjected her
to cruel and cold treatment and in the
face of scandals which connected his
name with an inmate of his family, he
persisted in abjuring his wife and asso-
ciating with this woman, and these scan
dals he admits on the stand
Mr.. Lindabury then recited the meet
ing of Pastor Allen and Deacons Morse
and Cort, who tried to induce the min
lister to take back mis- wife, and the
lawyer, in his most whitening tones
said
Now what did this Christian minister
say to these gentlemen? Did he do
what a man of honor would do? Moth
ing of the kind. He quibbled with them:
he did not tell them the real facts, and
when the deacons demurred and urg-
ed reconciliation with his wife as his
duty to the Christian ministry and to
his church, this pastor said he wouldn't
live with her; and when the deacons
threatened him with expulsion he still
kept back the facts.
''Then what did he do? Why, he went
out to Elizabeth to see his wife and
held out to her specious plea of rec
onciliation to get her to sign a deed to
transfer seme property held by him. His
real motive was to cut off her right of
dover and leave her penniless on the
streets of Elizabeth
Proceeding to Mr. Aliens evidence on
the stand Mr.. Lindabury analyzed it and
wound up with the statement that it
was false and contemplate. AS to the
pastors conduct towards his wife, Mr.
Lindabury said
Your Honor, in all my professional
career I never heard of case where a
Christian minister by his conduct
more offended the law of the
church and the morals which he
seeks to . inculcate in Others He
treated this woman in an aibominable man
ner, No man of honor, no gentleman. not
to say true Christian minister, would
ever have subjected wife who had done
no wrong to such treatment. He drove
her from his home and when she was liv-.
ing there insulted her by keeping in his
house and consorting with. woman con-
cerning whom all the neigiborhood and
his own church were talking II
this IS not abominable l don't know what
it Is This man is contemplate creature
whose acts towards his wife offend the
law, the church and morals.''
In closing Mr.. Lindabury said he would
leave the question of alimony to the Court,
but he protested at MIR. Aliens extrava-
gance in Jersey City. and then coming
whining into court that he had just
enough to support himself, Miss Dicker-
son, the adopted sister; his father and
treated wife,
your honor, it is his duty to cut down
his expenses in Jersey City and live as
cheaply as his wife does. Her claim for
support is paramount and always regarded
as sacred by men of honor and ministers,
with the exception of this man.
Mr.. Lindabury cracked his whip
metaphorically speaking, once more about
the defendants shoulders when just be-
fore he sat down he said that ministers
were supposed to. be examples of good
conduct and morality but the defendant
had outraged these principles which he
ought to have rigidly practiced.
His conduct has been abonlinable and
detestable IN the extreme. He has been
false in word and in deed, and I ask
your honor to emphasize this by giving
my client a decree"
Mr. Courtlandt Parker, in rising to de-
liver his argument for Pastor Allen, said
he would be very brief and confine HIM
self to the question of alimony
I'VE all have weaknesses" he said,
whether we wear the garb of minister
of religion or of a common citizen. l am
not going to enter into the charges against
Mr. Allen. but point to the certificate OF
character given to him by his church and
by his wife
''oh. yes, the one he obtained from his
wife by false pretences and crying on his
knees to forgive her." sarcastically inter-
jected Mr.. Lindabury.
II don't want to be interrupted"
haughtily rejoined Mr.. Parker, and pro-
ceeded to say that Mr.. Allen had large
expenses and couldn't afford much out of
an income of $500 for his wife Counsel
read extracts from decisions in cases of
alimony and closed by saying that he
would submit later on authorities
s'Very good" said the Vice Chancellor.
picking up the papers and escaping into
his private room. A decree will be en-
tered in few days. Since Mr.. Aliens
counsel virtually submitted no defense
and confined his argument to the Dues
tion Of alimony the lawyers in court said
the decree would be granted ia Mrs