The sun., 1903-11-26
MISSING AFTER A CHURCH ROW
GOSSIP MADE HOBBTNS INSANE,
THE PARSON THINKS.
He Vas Treasurer Of st. AIban's Until
Recently--Gossip Was Over the Re-
tirement OF q Lay Reader. and Women
Folks Pestcred IIobbiDs 10 KNOW Why.

Recently--GONe1p was OScr inc lse-
tirement OF q Lay Reader. and Women
Folks Pestered IIobbins TO KnOw Why.
The police OF the High B 'dge station
were uk,d yesterday to lock for James Fl.
Hobbins, who disappeared from his home.
at Ogden avenue and Union street on Tues
day night. Hobbins, up to a few days ago,
was tho treasurer Of st. Adams Protestant
piscopal Church. in Summit avenue, High
Bridge.
According to the rector OF the church.
the Rev. r. H. Wevill Hobbins resigned
because he had been bothered by some
women of the congregation who wanted
an explanation as to why Joseph Alien, a
Young lay reader, left the church about
three weeks ago. Mr.. Wevll! says that he
think, that Mr.. Hobbins is suffering from
mental alteration brought on by gossiping
women Of the parish and that he has wan
dered on.
The trouble seems to date from the time
that Young Alten, who is a student at the
General Theological Seminary. quit as
lay reader at the church. According to
Alten's friends In the parish, he was forced
out by the minister MIR. Wevili says that
Alten took the advice Of some Of the women
Mr.. Wevir resented this and sent letter to
Altep. telling him that he could consider
himself suspended until he had called upon
the minister.
AT least three women in the parish say
that Mr. Nevill's letter to Alien stated that
the lay reader had better leave High B.idge
at once These women say that Mr., Mevili
was Jealous of Alten as he feared that when
loir ha Uaf
ST. lban's parish.
This Mr. Wevill denies. He says that
Il will he two years yet before Alien is
ordained, so that on that score he had
nothing to fear. Mr.. Wevill says that he
simply wrote to Alien. telling him that he
church affairs and that until he responded
to the latter he might as well absent him
self from Glng, B 'idge.
Alien didn't reply to the letter and left
the church. Then the women went to
Hobbins to find out the reason. Hobbins
kept a small millinery store in the centre
of the parish
-They just worried him to DEATH said
the Rev. Mr.. Wevill last night. He was
suffering from nervousness resulting from
and these gossipers simply made him
worse. He came to me and told me that
he wanted to resign and al first | did not
consent. Then he came again. about thre
days ago, and accepted his resignation.
1T is true that Mr.. Hobbns and a couple
of the trustees called on ME 10 find out why
Mr.. Alien had left the church. told
them and they seemed to be satisfied. 1t
is just an ordinary church row--tte same
sort Of row that every church has now
and then. There ia no doubt in my mind
that Mr. Hobbins's condition was brought
on by gossiping women. l think that he
was demented.
'The trouble in he church is insignificant.
II Is OF no vital import ance. and you can
look upon it as a physician would look
upon a common fever.
Mrs Hobbins said last night that her
husband had suffered a great deal recently
from insomnia. She thinks, too, that the
church row has had great deal to do with
his disappearance. The police last night
had been unable to get any trace of the
missing man.
Mr. u evil says that Hobbins's accounts
with the church were correct.