Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-12
DIR. HUNTS STATEMENT
NAMED IN DIVORCE
CASE MAKES EXCLAMATION.

In connection with the naming of Rev.
e. Lawrence Hunt in tho Bassett divorce
proceedings recently Instituted In the Dis
trict Supreme Court. DR.. Hunt, who Is now
pastor of the Noble Street Presbyterian
church. Brooklyn. N. Y, yesterday. In New
York. gave out the following statement:
This Ii case where from the very be-
ginning have kept dignif1ed silence. and
now that It has been taken into the courts
In such a way as to maIiciously cause no.
torfety and public scandal my best judg-
ment is that dignified silence is the best
course to pursue, as the case ought to be
tried In the courts. where 1t belongs, rather
than In newspapers. But since 1t has APP
peared in a sensational form in morning
newspaper. l may in justice to others who
are deeply affected by this make this state
ment:
First. that last night received the first
word or this through a newspaper reporter,
and did my utmost until o'clock to pre-
vent its insertion in order that 1t might not
hurt other people Regarding the case tt
self. l shall not enter into great details. but
ought to say that Mrs. Bassett on account
of the treatment she has received at the
hands OF her husband had determined to
live with him no more and had left him;
that he tried in vain to induce her to re-
turn; that she had proposed a separation.
and that there had been, through her
brothers and others. efforts made to make
terms about the children: that she finally
moved to Nebraska and there brought suit
for divorce; that a summons was sent to
Washington to Mr.. Bassett with q copy Of
the petition: that effort was made to
serve the papers on him. they being hand
ed him with a statement to what they
We're: that he refused to receive them
and two days later filed his petition against
his wife for divorce, naming me as CO.
respondent his animosity against me being
based upon the reasons that have helped
Mrs. Bassett to escape from her treatment
by him. which endangered her life
When Mr. Hunt was asked what about
Mr.. Bassett's charge that he and Mrs. Bas-
sett were together In Atlantic City, Phila-
de1phia, Baltimore and other places, he re-
piled:
That is a detail which think 1t wiser
not to deal with, except to say that his dog
sfng her footsteps by private detectives and
terrorizing her mother love by threats or
taking the children from her made it nee
essary for me to go to her to protect
mother and children"
The Rev Mr.. Hunt added that he hadn' t
the slightest doubt about the courts vim
dicatfng him. He said that he had not been
served with papers i'll the case. but that
omcfal notice Of the beginning of the action
reached him through special delivery
letter from Hilary A. Herbert, former Sec
rotary of the Navy, who Is Mrs. Bassett's
counsel. 1t is said that Mr.. Herbert urged
the clergyman not to enter into any news
paper controversy over the merits OF the
case. but to visit Washington at the first
opportunity to arrange for the defense OF
the action.
According to the Rev. Mr. Hunt. Mrs
Bassett had endured thirteen years Of do
nestle unhappiness before she left her hus-
band, eight months ago. Officials of the
Noble Street Presbyterian Church among
them William Rylance. declared they be-
lieved the charges baseless.