The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-03-13

niiiington ConfcsscA
NEWARK, N. j., March IL Rev f. j.
Oldknow Millington admitted to delsga.
tion of trustees of the Paramount Baptist
| Church last night that he had eloped with
| Mrs. Dorothy DickerFon and had been ac-
companied by her on his recent trip to
Montreal. He did not confess till his guilt
| had been clearly proved and until the con-
vlcting evidence of it had been published.
Both parties made a full confession
| last night" said one of the deacons this
morning. "The confessions are on tho
line of the published reports, Neither
party knew that the other had spoken,
| but both tell the same story.
"After the prayer meeting the trustees
and deacons went to the residence Of John
Bacheller, where Mrs. Dickerson told her
story. Then we went to Mr.. Millington,
and he made statement also, the same
as the other"
1t is even worse than we suspected"
said another deacon, and he then went on
to tell of Mr.. Millington's confession.
The pastor, 1t appears, had been leading
double life for months while on terms
of intimacy with Mrs. Dickerson. They
had planned TIE elopement long ago, and
both saved up money for their prospec-
tive flight.
KEPT THE PEOPLE GUESSING.
The intimacy began more than year
ago and for six or seven months he was
waiting for the opportunity to elope with
her. When, on February 2S, Mrs. Dicker.
son showed him tho telegram summoning
her to Dover the clergyman decided that
the time for flight had arrived. On the
morning of March l, when Millington left
the train at the Broad Street Station, of
the Morris e. Essex Railroad, 1t was to
meet Mrs. Dickerson. who had just re-
fnppaI frntp DpUnr and standing
the platform.
The couple then and there agreed to
elope. His Idea in telegraphing to his
wife from New York was to give his dis.
appearance an air of mystery and keep the
people and newspapers guessing.
1t was their intention to remain away
for good the minister declared, but for
their sudden discovery. The letter writ.
ten by Mrs. Dickerson for her clothes
spoiled all their plans. Miss Ashford
turned the letter over to Mr., Millington's
father, and the latter at once communi-
Gated with his son, at Keeseville, N. Y,
and instructed him to hurry to As Victoria
street. Montreal. and catch the runaway
couple before they could change their place
Of abode.
@Mr. Millington's brother and friond
went to Montreal last Monday night,
found the pair and compelled them to
separate. Milllngton was taken to his
fathers homo and the woman came to
Newark. The preachers brother Henry
would have made the whole affair public,
anyway. Mr.. Millington said and, as he
was penitent, he concluded to tell all him
self, without reserve.
On leaving Montreal, Millington and
Mrs. Dickerson seemingly hoped to escape
detection. When he arrived at Keeseville
on Monday night he told a story of having
wandered off while in dazed condition
and of having recovered consciousness to
find himself half starved at Montreal, with
just money enough to get to his fathers
home. When she came tOt the city on
Tuesday morning she said she had been to
Chicago.
HIS BROTHER ON HIS TRACK.
When the recreant pastors brother
Henry, learned of the absence of the New
ark clergyman, he Left his charge in Low
ell, Mass, and came to this city to aid in
the search. Distressed by the rumors Of
scandal yet determined to know the worst
he started on a our of Investigation, which
satisfied him beyond all question of doubt
as to his brothers guilt. He made no Of
fort to shield the pastor of the Fairnount
Church; on the contrary, he insisted that
his brother had waivetiidll right to remain
in the ministry and should confess his
misdeeds.
An investigation was =. formally begun
by the deacons of the Fairmount Church
last night After the members of the
congregation had attended tho usual
weekly prayer meeting at the church II
committee Of six, consisting Of Deaeons
James G. Blackford, John C. Bacheler,
John II. Blacktord, George w. Kidd, Mr.
Robbins and Treasurer j Parry Bachelor
repaired to Mr.. Millington's residence, lO2
Thirteenth avenue, to have an interview
with the preacher aud it lasted until
after midnight. r-'
Shortly after the arrival in Newark Of
Mrs. Dickerson last Tuesday, q friend of
the latter's called on ono of the church
trustees aud proceeded to question him,
with the evident intention of ascertain
ing just how much the trustee knew of
the affair." The trustee was not long in
enlightening his inquistor. In fact he
declared that it was useless to further at
tempt concsalment or evasion.
He told of the 'E. n. Harold letter which
was received by Beatrice Ashford last
Saturday, and which requested that Mrs.
Diokerson's clothes be forwarded to 4S
Victoria street, Montreal. Canada This
aud other damaging evidence was shown,
and when Mrs. Dickerson s friend departed
it was with a new idea Of the situation of
affairs.
HE WAS A REFORM PREACHER.
Mr.. Millington came to Fairmount
Baptist Church about four years ago. He
kept himself rather prominently before
the public during his pastorate. He
delivered numerous discourses, assailing
the Roman Catholic Church, but was ro-
quested by officers of his church about two
years ago to discontinue these attacks.
He figured conspicuously in crusade
against a New York police newspaper and
caused the arrest OF several news dealers
for exposing the paper for sale in their
windows.
1t was his contention that the pictures
in the paper were immoral. He was also
active in warfare upon saloons and par
ticularly upon Caledonian Park. He
assailod the Lebkuccher administration
for its attitude toward the liquor traffic,
but dropped that fight when he learned
that Investigation into his record before
his coming to Newark had boen made by
some men interested in local politics In
the last political campaign he spoke for
Bryan and free silver
No direct reference to the absence or re-
turn of Pastor Millington was made at
the prayer meeting last night, although
the newspaper reports of the events at.
tending the Clergyman adventures of the
last ten days were discussed by the people
as they left the church in groups OF three
or four after the meeting.
Milliugton was formerly stationed in
Sussex County; Del,
SFnnTI>E