The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1900-03-09
Town TOPICS.
Mrs Crockett Applies for a Di-
VOrCe.

vOrCe.
A FAMOUS LOCAL SENSATION REVIEWED.
In a prominent corner of Bridgeport
evening paper was inserted, one day, re-
Gently, the legal notice of the application
for divorce Of Mrs Mary Hawley
Crockett of this town. She is sueing for
legal separation from the Rev John
Addison Crockett, once acting rector of
Trinity (EpiscopaY church of Newtown.
This notice recalled the biggest sensation
Newtown ever had. 1t will be remem-
bered that Rev Mr. Crockett came to
Newtown to act as supply at Trinity
during the absence of Rev Mr. wilkins
in Europe. He was popular with the
young people, an aggressive worker and
we'll liked throughout the town. In
course OF time he became interested in
Miss Hawley, daughter of the late Mar
Gus c. Hawley, the New York hardware
merchant and investor. An engagement
soon followed and in course of time Rev
Mr. Crockett, Miss Hawley and her par
ents proceeded to New York City where
a wedding ceremony was performed in
one Of the city churches. Rev and Mrs
Crockett set sail for Europe under the
most pleasing auspices for a happy
married life. But storms sometimes
arise in the history of married couples,
as the awful record Of the divorce courts
prove, and in this case it appears "sll
was not as happy as wedding morn"
For in a short space of time Mr. Crockett
returned home in one steamer, while the
parents of Mrs Crockett fastened across
the water to return with their daughter.
That there was sensation in Newtown
when the facts leaked out is stating it
mildly. 1t was the one theme of discus
sion, and all were trying to explain the
cause of the sudden separation of this
couple. But fer once the gossips of this
and neighboring towns were defeated,
for the fiji ieted coup lie guarded the mat
ter we'll, and to-day few know the reaE-
on for the cause OF the unfortunate affair.
A good many supposed that the late Ia
mented Bishop Williams had know
ledge of the facts in the case, as he had
been made an intimate by Mr. Crockett,
but on railroad train, not long before
his death, he told the writer he knew no
more about the sad case than the aver
age citizen of the town. Rev Mr.
Crockett went to New Milford on com.
pletlng his term of service here, where
he was rector Of the new All Saints
church there, and was well liked. He
remained there two years or more and
then went to New York, and his where
abouts have been unknown to most OF
the people of Newtown and New Milford
Whether Mr. Crockett VIII contest the d.
vorce remains to be seen, but as Mrs
Crockett and Mrs Hawley are supposed
to have combined fortune of from
$4,000 to $1,000, 900 it would no
seem strange If he should.
1t is not our place to sit in judgement
on the deeds of our neighbols and &C
quaintsnces, and we do not propose Il
usurp that power now. But we have al
ways looked upon divorce as crime
against society and great ain agains
Almighty God. We honor the Roman
Catholic church for its advanced stand
In this most Important Of public an'
private morals, and hope to see the dal
when as stringent rules are the law Of
every Protestant body. In the Epis copa
church, also, we understand, there ar,
strong laws against the re-marrisg
OF divorced parties. Look at tn
slckening records Of the divorce coustl
OF FART ldIcounty. The lists are appall
ling in length. And when il comes &
the question Of moral reciltude, 1t mat