The Washington times., 1906-10-14
WASHINGTON PASTOR
ACCUSED IN DIVORCE

timacy of Congressman Falrchild with
her husband, and says that the Con
Sressman aided A1r. Bassett in an at
tempt to kidnap the oldest boy, Chester
at the time of the scandal in Atlantic
city, July s. 1900
In depositions by Mr.. and Mrs. John
g. Gibson, OF Atlantic City. it is stated
that Mrs. Bassett and the Rev. Z. Law
renee Hunt occupied adjoining rooms at
their home, Is South Florida avenue
and represented themselves as brother
and sister She said that Hunt once
corrected her with the words. rsister.
please" when she referred 10 Mrs. Bas-
sett as his wife. At another time. she
says. she spoke TO Mrs. Bassett of the
attentiveness and patience Of Mr.. Hunt
toward the baby Lawrence. and Mrs.
Bassett answered that she never had a
brother quite like MIN. Hunt was at
the house only at intervals Of two OF
three days at "a time, but ncighbors tes-
titled that during his presence he was
markedly attentive TO Mrs Bassett and
the baby
What Servant Saw.
Hattie Thompson. servant in the
Bassett household. in a deposition told
Of long visits paid TO Mrs Bassett dur
ing the absence of her husband and said
she served them with luncheon on two
different occasions. She testified that
one day she saw Mrs. BasseJt throw her
arms about the Rev. Mr. Hunts neck
and kiss him at the door OF her apart
ments in the Albermarle.
Mrs Mary +. O'ROuTke. a cousin Of
Airs. Bassett's who lives I'm Highbridge,
n. T.. told OF a lengthy visit Of Mrs.
Bassett and her children. During her
stay she said that Mrs. Bassett was
absent for several days and nights on
four different occasions. At one time
She said, Mrs. Bassett told her she was
visiting the family Of John @. Carlisle.
former Secretary Of the Treasury. Sec
rotary Carlisle in his deposition says
she was never at his home and that he
does not know her personally.
Charles =. Hastings. Of New. York.
told OF arranging TO have the Rev. Mr.
Hunt fll the pulpit Of a Presbyterian
church at Greenwich. Conn. at the So
iicitaticn Of Mrs Bassett. lie said that
in o. conversation with Mr.. Hunt one
night IN Washington the latter told him
that he would stick with Mrs Bassctt
In her difficulty If he had 20 go through
he'll % do SO. He said that in outlining
her side Of the case Hunt told him Of
an instance when Eassett struck his
wife across the bare shoulders with
hlacksnakc whip. telling her with each
blow that he loved every inch OF her
Two Men Were Friends.
Airs. SophroHia Hunt, mother OF The
Rev = Lawrence Hunt, said that up
10 the winter Of 1893. Bassett was very
friendly with her son and was an in
terested party in campaign 10 secure
for the c!erBymeD the then vacant
eAaplaincy Of the senate. Mrs. Bassett.
She stated, Was chief lobbyist in that
campaign and even made a trip 10 New
lcrk 10 secure from H.. G. Benedict. "a
hunting and fishing companion OF Pres
ldent Cleveland. letters to help IN the
cause.
IL was only "a little later she said,
that Bassetl began 90 exhibit g curt
AND 'mpoiLte attitude toward her son
and then forbade Mrs Bassett 70 attend
ihe church or To send the children To
The sunday school. From then on. she
said Bsssett caused 10 be circulated re-
ports which we're meant 10 lniure her
son aad which finally ended in q big
scandal i'm tho church and the resiens-
tiou of tho Rev ar Hunt from his pas
torare
All this time She said rae attentions
on her SON toward Mrs. Bassett were
only those OF a thoughtful pastor 10
% distressed member OF his flock. and
that they had always been such since
She testified that the friends of Mrs
BasseJt had secured FOR Bassett a lob
in Panama, which would pay him S2.O10
@ year. and that it worried his wife
sick, because he would give no con
elusive answer as 10 whather he would
take the place
Morgan Bradford. jr.. "a private detec-
tive in Washington, and George y. Cur
ran, his empIOye, related a story of
trailing Bassett OH the evening of
April l5, 1903. TO a house OF questionable
reputation Bradford said he was en-
ployed to do the Job by the Rev. Il.
Lawrence Hunt, and paid somewhere
between SO and 500 FOR TWO weeks work
Ot that character.
The deposit uOn has been tagen here OF
Mrs. EaSsett Tor use in the defense of
the suit brought by her husband I'm
the District OF Columbia She stated
THAT her husband began 10 get insane
.y jealous because the Rev. e. Law
renee Hunt frequently walked home
from church with her when Mr.. Bas-
sett did not attend her. She said that
his insiuUJuoUs grew more pointed
until he finally accused her openly of
undue intimacy with the preacher.