Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-04
INQUIRY At AN END
Rev. John Wesley Steel Admits
Truth of Charges.
HIS WiFE'S ALLEGATIONS
Investigation Conducted by Com
mittee Of M. E. Ministers.
THE ACTION WAS UNANIMOUS
Accused Minister Permitted to With
draw From Conference and the
Church "Under Charges"

Inc investigation of the charges against
Rev. John Wesley Steel, formerly superin-
tendent Of The Central Union Mission of
this city, and a minister of the Methodist
Eplscopal Church for thirty years pre-
Ierreo by his wife, Mrs. AImeda G. Steel
was brought to an abrupt end yesterday
afternoon by confession OF guilt on the
part or the defendant and a vindication
OF MS wife. The investigation was con-
Quoted by q. committee of nine ministers
selected by Presiding Elder Henry r. Nay
Tor Of the Washington district, by author
lily of the Baltimore annual conference.
Inc action of the committee was mlanI-
nous, and was a complete yindication of
Mrs. Steel 1t embodied a recommendation
20 the Baltimore conference that Mr. Steel
De allowed to withdraw from the ministry
and membership of the Methodist Episcopal
Church under charges AT his own ra
quest.
The meetings of the investigating commit
zee were held at the Hamline NJ. e. Church
9TH ana + streets northwest. Rev, Charles
y. isaac was chosen secretary of the COM
Mlttee. Rev. s. r. Murray, pastor of the
Union NJ E. Church, acted as counsel for
the church. and Rev RI Wright of Ry-
land Church as counsel for Mr.. Steel
Pleads Guilty.
The accused minister came before the
guilty of the charges as preferred and re-
quested to be permitted to withdraw from
the ministry and membership of the Meth
odist Episcopal Church.
1t was ordered, on motion of Rev. Alex
ander Bielaski, that In view of the con-
fesslon or the Rev. J. w. Steel to the
charges preferred against him, we unani-
mously agree to suspend him from the min
1stry and membership of the Methodist
Episcopal Church and recommend that his
request to be permitted to withdraw under
charges from the ministry and membtkship
of the Methodist Episcopal ChurH be
granted"
The papers In connection with the case
Will be presented to the conference. The
matter will come for final action before the
next meeting of the conference
The general charge against her husband
submitted by Mrs. Steel. was one of i'm
morality. The specifications charged irregu-
larities on the part of Mr.. Steel while he
was her assistant as postmistress at Ian
ham, Md.
Under the subcharge of Lying" she
brought forward two specifications: first
that in order to protect himself from
the results of his wrong-dolng he repeat
ediy circulated and still circulates the false
report that your complainant is insane
whereas In truth and in fact your com
plainant is absolutely sane
The second specification under the head
of lying was that while your complain
ant and her husband, j. w. Steel, both en-
gagged in work at the Central Union Mis-
sion in Washington, D. C.. on Septey,ahar
IA, 1905, he, falsely representing to the
board OF directors that your complainant
was not of sound mind. caused a leave
of absence to be served upon her: and
when she left the city he falsely reported
that your complainant had eIoped from the
city with another man"
Report Traced to Husband.
Counsel for the church and Mrs Steel
stated at the opening of the trial that he
was prepared to prove by witnesses at
that time in the church that the rlInors
concerning Mrs. Steels alleged insanity and
her marital infidelty had come directly
from Mr.. Steel, her husband. He also
stated that he was ready to prove by
physicians testimony that she was perfect
ly sane, and also ready to account in a
perfectly satisfactory manner for every
hour of her time after she left the Central
Union Mission until she arrived at Havre-
de-Grace at her mothers home, during
which time rumor said she was in company
with man not her husband. The most
of this time. he stated, she was in the COM
pany of highly reputable ladies' who have
been connected with the Central Union Mis-
sion as members of the womens board for
many years.
His First Offer.
II is understood on the highest authority
that Mr.. Steel first offered, through his
counsel, to enter a complete confession to
the charges If the committee would report
to the conference in favor of his remaining
In the church and the ministry, and that in
that event he would completely exonerate
Mrs. Steel, but that the committee refused
to say 1t would make such a recommends
ton.
Later Mr.. Steel appeared In person be-
fore the committee and made a confession
to the same effect. After this statement
by Mr.. Steel the members of the committee
including some who were considered as
being favorable to Mr. Steel warmly con-
graduated Mrs Steel in having taken the
step she had, as the only method of clear
ing herself Of charges brought against her
by her husband.
Her nephew, who was not able to be pres
ent In her behalf, submitted an affidavit to
the effect that during the specific time of
the alleged elopement he was in company
with the man who figured in the reports.
DIR. Murray also called upon the post
office authorities for documentary evidence
sustaining the charge of Mrs. Steel that her
husband had violated the postal laws. A
post office inspector appeared before the
ministerial body and told of the result of
the investigation made by the department
of the Lanham office affair.
During the investigation Mrs. Steel spent
several hours on the stand, giving a COM
-plete account of her version of the affair
AT the conclusion of the trial Mr.. Steel
asked the forgiveness of his wife and that
she would return to him. She replied to
the effect that 1t would be impossible for
her to return to him. but she went to him
and kissed him goodbye