The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-06-30
BETRAYED BY HIS FRIEND.
WOW BULEN'S ONE OBJECT IN LIFE
rs TO HOUND BURTON.

Buien Berriended Burton In Several ways and
Took Him to His H~ouse-Burton Rnined
Buien'a Home-Buien HAS Forced burton 20
Leave Jersey city. and Is suinE rora Divorce.
When Laurin w. Burton Of 90 Bentley ave-
nue., Jersey City, resigned a week ago as super
intendent Of st. Johns Episcopal Church Sun
day school and left the city with his family, his
action excited considerable comment and gossip
among the members Of the church and in the
society In which no moved. In order to put an
end to tho gossip the Rev. DR.. e. L. Stoddard,
rector Of the church, has admitted the truth OF
the story which explains Burton's resignation
and departure According to tho story, Burton
has been a grievous sinner, but has repented,
and he went away by Dr.. Stoddard's advice in
order to avoid persecution. Burton is being
pursued by g. Fred Bulen, who was once his
friend and benefactor, but who now declares
that Burton betrayed his confidence and de-
stroyed his domestic happiness. Bulen has
taken up his residence in Jersey City in order to
institute proceedings for a divorce. DIR. Stod-
dard knows where Burton Is, but will not tell.
Mr.. Bulen is superintendent Of the Automatic
Fire Alarm and Fire Extinguisher Company of
this city. He Is also superintendent Of the
Electrical Sprinkler Company at 143 Leonard
street. He became acquainted with Burton In
a boarding house in this city In 1884, and
formed a warm friendship for him. Burton was
at that time employed by the Winchester Re-
peating Arms Company at a small salary. He
lost his place and Bulen procured a situation
for him with his company at a salary Of 81, 0
a year. Bulen invited Burton to his home, and
Burton became q frequent visitor there.
I'm 1885," Mr.. Bulen said yesterday. II built
a hosue for myself and wife in Bayonne. Bur
ton was a frequent visitor there. and we con-
tinnad the onciahility and friapdrhip that had
existed between us ever since I first met him.
My wife begged me several times to keep Bur
ton away from the house. but I paid no atten-
ton to her request, as I thought 1t was nothing
but a woman's whim l invited Burton to take
was leaving the house that morning my wife,
who was crying bitterly, threw her arms around
my. neck and begged me not to let Burton come
to the house any more. She made no explana-
ton Of her request, except that she didn't like
him. but l was so impressed with her earnest
ness that when / met Burton ! told him that
the dinner was off. also told him that he had
better not come to the house any more, as my
didn't want him there. He said All right
and promised that he would not call at the
"One day in the summer of 1893 a friend of
mine told me that he saw Burton at my house
frequently, He said he had seen him in the
could not believe it and lot the circumstance
drop from my mind. In October, 1893. my
Burton. 1t was written In O disguised hand
and asked her to let him know where and at
Mhat time she would S.Ss lunch in New s,a York on .Io the
friend, L w. Burton. and at the bottom was
written, Please destroy, My wife told me
said that 1 must do something to make him
stop. When l met Burton 1 upbraided him for
his bad faith, and asked him what he meant by
writing such q letter to my wife.
He said he merely wanted to see her 30 that
he .f foui se Sse her w fsss th be tFS ea@e T ta ask nv
advice about an investment. He called fire.
quently. and that brought to my mind what
4. took him TO dinner, and BY pretending
getting a confession from him"
Bulen says that he felt like striking Burton
SS ssa b 6nI hs IS s6s mean h time and b %as p2 4na
his duties as superintendent of tie sunday
use it in a divorce suit. Burton was 30 nervous
himself, and he requested Bulen to write it,
this: D
held Improper relations with your wife. Mrs, Carrie
avenue. on Staten Island. and in Bayonne.
Burton asked him to add that this was done
before Buttons marriage, but Bplen told him
made public It would make dreadful trouble for
him with his family. Fearing that Burton
would not sign the statement otherwise, Bulen
made the desired addition.
Bulen then confronted his wife with the
statement, and she confessed. She told her
husband that Burton had gained an advantage
over her and then forced her to submission
afterward by threatening to expose her. Bulen
sent his wife home TO her parents In Ohio and
went in pursuit Of Burton. He had Burton
ed edS' him from rn09 getting Il s" ePmpio %Ens sn in p several
other places. He also had him expelled from
q Masonic lodge and other organizations.
81 will admit said Bulen, that my one OBJ
ject in life Is to make Burton suffer. / am not
afraid to kill him but l do not care 10 do IL
There is moro satisfaction in torturing him. I
will hound him 10 his death-no, not that, for
! want him 10 live and suffer. ! think that
thus far l have been very successful, but he
has had only a taste Of what l have in store for
him."
Bulen says that he is sorry for his wife, but
he cannot forgive, and he win sue for a divorce.
The Rev. DIR. Stoddard has refused TO drop
Burton's name from the roll OF church MEM
This event occurred before Mr.. Burton's
marriage" DR.. Stoddard said yesterday. He
has not been intimate with Mrs. Bulen since
fore not been unfaithful to his own wife. He
confessed his sin 70 me In the church before
the Lord and has lived a clean, manly Chris
Ian life for eight years; In view Of this fact !
I'M prepared TO defend him.. and / think he will
also be forgiven by all Christian men. ad.
leave town solely in the, hope that the man
who Is following him would not make the mat
ter public, and so injure a lot of innocent peo-
pie. ! have heard both sides Of the story and
am satisfied that what Burton has confessed
to me Is correct, His name will not be dropped
from tho church roll