The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-01-10

SAYS HIS WIFE CONFESSED
Claims the Exclusion of Reporters
From the Trial Has Resulted
in Spreading a Wrong
Impression.

examination of Mrs. Joseph Vas
sau occupied nearly the entire day yes
terday in the ecclesiastical trial of Rev.
Henry Dixon Jones, formerly pastor of
! the Church of the Messiah, who is
charged by Mr.. Nassau with being I'M
duly intimate with his wife.
| Since the trial has begun it has de-
veloped that Rev. Mr.. Jones achieved
some notoriety in Asbury Park, N. j.,
where, it is said, he struck his
servant girl The matter, it is claimed,
was brought into court, but never push
ed.
The morning session was held in St.
! Johns church, but in the afternoon the
court convened in Christ church, as
| it was more convenient for all concerned
| in the matter.
Besides Mrs. Nassau several of the
parishioners of the Church of the Mes
| siah were called to the stand to testify
to the character of both parties in the
case. AS usual the hearing was behind
| closed doors, although Mr.. Nassau want
| ed the representatives Of the newspa-
| pers to be present.
Mr.. Nassau asked the board that re-
porters might be admitted, saying in
the first place he wanted the matter to
| be entirely secret and had refused to give
out anything for publication. Some one
did, however and that result, was, he
/ claimed, unfair reports, which tended to
show that Mr.. Jones was being perse-
| cuted.
This request was denied, and Mr.. Vas
sau made the following statement to the
press.
eve were married in October, 1898, and
| during that year my wife joined the
church of the Messiah. About a year
later Mr.. Jones took charge of the
church, and baptized my wife.
+ Of ATp
wife became an active worker in the
church, attending the morning and noon
services Mr.. Jones wanted her to at
tend the night services, and agreed to
see that she was escorted if 1 was unable
to attend with her. Later Mr.. Jones
appointed Mrs. Nassau one of the ma
irons of the sanctuary chapter, which
cares for the altar. We invited Mr.
Jones to dine with US several times, and
he accepted our hospitality.
Last October. while out Of the city
buying cattle, I received an anonymous
letter, telling me to beware of Mr.. Jones'
1 wrote to my wife, but she denied all
wrong doing. Soon afterward I received
another, and I wrote to the lady that
kept the house where Mrs. Nassau lived.
1 received an answer that Mr.. Jones
had been making frequent calls, and his
behavior was such that the lady had re-
quested him to remain away. He did as
she requested, without ever asking the
cause for the demand.
'T started for st. Paul as soon as
received the letter, and was met OF the
depot Christmas morning by my wife.
In the interview that followed she con-
fessed to certain conduct with Mr.. Jones.
and we agreed upon a separation. We
further agreed that we would force Mr..
Jones to retire from the Episcopal min
istry.
81 did not wish to cause any scandal in
the church. felt that my wife had been
an innocent victim, and that had left
her at the mercy of man thot 1 trust
ed. We went to Mr.. Jones house to-
gether, and asked him to resign. He
wanted to talk the matter over and
finally said, 'I can't resign 7 struck
him then; and gave him chastising.
The present trial is the result of the
charges have preferred.
=" make this statement in justice to
myself and my motives. I nave heard
that 1 am accused of virtually black
| mailing Mr.. Jones and that [ am, doing
this for revenge. could have had all
| the revenge [ wanted if I cared to carry
| the matter into the courts and have the
! details published. I didn't do this be-
cause desired to shun publicity [ think
| the course I have followed is proof of my
/ Intentions