The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-03-16
CORDOVA GUILTY OF ASSAULT.
SECOND CONVICTION AGAINST
ELOPING PREACHER.
Likely to Get a state Prison Sentence
wife Tells Of His Throwing Dishes
at Her After She Had Pound Letter
From Your Truly IlOytDg Julia"


wife Tells Of His Throwing Dishes
At Her AFTER She Had Found q Letter
From your Truly IOytDg Julia"
NEW BRUNSWICK, March Isl. Frank
Cordova, the South River Clergyman who
twice eloped with Miss Julia Bovine, Is
likely 10 get a State prison sentence on the
two convictions against him, one yesterday
for deserving his family and another to-
day for assault upon Mrs. Cordova.
The Jury which heard the first trial OF the
minister was six hours in finding him guilty.
To-day's jury brought in verdict after
thirty minutes elaboration. II is thought
that Judge Woodbridge Strong viii SEN
tence Cordova for not less than one year
in State prison.
Cordova spent considerable time on the
witness stand this afternoon trying 10 con-
vince a jury that he is a prosecuted man;
that his wife is 10 blame for all his troubles
and that her testimony Is not TO be be-
ieved.
He specifically denied his wife's tesi-
mony and told the jury she had used lam
giage toward him which he would not
repeat; that he would serve term In state
prison before he would repeat II.
Cordova declared that he even kissed
his wife's feet while begging her 10 separate
from him and relieve him from the miserable
existence he was living. When the Prose,
cutoT wanted 20 know who II was who had
lifted him from that state Of misery TO the
happy state some Of his letters showed him
to he in, there was no answer.
Mrs. Cordoya testified that COrdoYa, then
the pastor Of the church at South River in
April, 1904, was in the kitchen with a glass
In his hands. She asked him II he intended
helDing her with the hOusecleaning.
He replied that he did not intend to work
with her. that he had told her that before.
He threw the glass he had In his hand
at me. told him was not afraid OF him.
Then he took up a pan and threw II at me
had my hand on the door and az did not
move the pan struck me on the shoulder
He then threw a vegetable dish at me and
IL broke the panel Of the door.
The Prosecutor brought out the fact that
the trouble imme diately preceding the as
sault was due 10 letter which Cordoya
had received from Julia Bovine, signed
Your truly loving Julia, and addressed
10 Dear Frank. The letter had been
burned.
The morning she got hold OF the letter
she said that she had intended going TO
Miss Bovine with Il and that Cordova had
grabbed her boys baseball bat and had
threatened 10 strike her II she did: At
his command, enforced by the base ball bat,
she had burned the letter.
One Of the most pathetic scenes IN the
whole trial was when Rhea Cordova, the
eleven year-old daughter Of the minister,
was put on the witness stand TO testify
against her father. She swore that she
had bathed her mothers bruises after
Cordova had assaulted her and that her
father had told her he had lost his temper
when he struck her,
Cordova was allowed TO tell his story
without questioning from his lawyer, and
with few objections from the Prosecutor,
who tried in vain 70 get the witness to
mention Miss Bowne's name.
Julia Bovine left the jail late tonight,
going TO her former home In South River.
She was accompanied by her father.