The times., 1899-03-04
SUING A CLERGYMAN.
Mother and Daughter Bring Action
for Standcr.

Pittsfeld. Mass, March 3.-For the first
time in many years in this State clergy
man is made defendant in a suit for sland-
er which is TO come before the superior
court, now in session here. The Rev. Leon
d. Bliss. pastor of the Congregations,
Church in Great harrington. is sued BY
Mrs. Susan F. Hopkins. of that town. forlI-
erly resident of Brooklyn for s., 600 dam
ages for alleged accusations regarding the
plaintiff. who was a member of the church.
a series of anonymous letters which the
clergyman received figure largely in the
suit.
The Rev Mr.. Bliss came to the Great
harrington Church n few years ago, soon
after graduation from a theological semi
nary Being an attractive young man and
unmarried he came in for much admiration
from the women members OF the flock. He
found letters slipped under his doorway
suggesting that it would be well for him
to marry and that many pretty girls in
the village would be willing to become a
clergyman wife Mr. Bliss did not pay
much attention to these letters at first, but
finally annoyed by their constant appear
ance he went to the church committee and
showed them several letters.
The matter was discussed. and some in
cidents were recalled which seemed to
point to Mrs. Hopkins and Miss Frances
Hopkins, her daughter. as the authors
Some friends of the Rev. Mr.. Bliss inves-
tigated the matter, and as result on New
Year Eve, 1897. the Rev. Mr.. Bliss with
two members OF the committee, called at
Mrs Hopkins home. showed her and her
daughter the letters and asked if they had
written them.
The two women appeared highly indig-
nant, and denied any knowledge of the
authorship. 1t is said that the clergyman
and his friends said they were not accus-
ed of writing the letters, and the women
promised to keep the matter secret in
order that it might be investigated fur
ther.
The incident soon became generally
known, however, and caused some gossip.
The women then asked that they be given
a hearing by the church. Later they sent
a letter to the Rev. Mr.. Bliss and mem
bers of the church saying that they had
been put under suspicion of being guilty
of grave misdemeanors, and asked that the
church publicly eXonerate them. They
complained that they had been done gross
injustice in not being allowed to vindi-
cate themselves. They further threatened
suit IL amends were not made at once.
When. after still another letter, they re-
ceived no reply they secured counsel and
began suit for SANDER against the clergy
man.
Ii Is said that witnesses will be called
from Brooklyn. and that several hand
writing experts will have a part in the
case. as they have been comparing the
writing in the anonymous letters with let
ters admittedly written by Mrs. Hoskins
and her daughter. A host of Great Bar
rington people have been summoned as
witnesses and the case will be hard
fought.
Mrs. Hopkins and her daughter have
means and their friends do not believe
they had anything to do with writing or
sending the letters. Mrs. Hopkins is
something Of an artist and her daughter
is most attractive young woman.
The church to which the clergyman and
his accusers belong is one of the most
fashionable in the Berkshires. The church
ediice was erected by the late Mrs Hop
kins widow of the California millionaire