The Breckenridge news., 1906-04-04
THE LAWHERN
SENSATION.

ut udIltdl tlOublc WulOu hoNO
existed for sUme time between MIR
Joseph Sapp and his wife, and which
have been generally known through
out the town, came to a climax Tues
day when an investigating board of
Methodist ministers were called to
decide the delicate point as to whether
Rev. B. F. Lawhern, pastor of the
Hawesville Methodist church, was the
obstacle between the husband and wife,
each being members of his congrega-
tion.
This investigating committee was
asked for and demanded by the minis
ter, who was charged by Mr.. Sapp on
tie streets of sustaining relations with
Mrs. Sspp unbe coming minister of
the gospel. The committee was com
posed of Revs Frank M. Thomas and
j. L. REID, of Owensboro, j. T. Rush
ing, of Henderson, and B. M. Currie
of Cloverport. In addition there was
present at the investigation, the local
official board of the church as follows /;
W. s. Thomas, Trustee and Treasurer,
and Stewards b. b. Moredock. Joseph
Sspp. q. Eplaey, Geo. Wilson and
Simms Thomas.
The investigation was conducted at
the home OF Mr.. W. H Williams,
whose finally adheres to this church,
and members of the local press were
invited in advance to be present.
Former Presiding Elder J. 7. Rush
ing acted as Chairman, and after a
talk abounding in fair sentiment and
stating the purpose of the gathering,
a prayer was offered and the investiga
tion opened
Being the accuser, Nh Sapp was call
ed upon for the initial statement.
Never did man talk with more serious
earnestness than he. Mr.. Sapp told in
detail OF all the troubles which had
existed between him and his wife. The
statement was made by him that one
Rev. j. I. Newsom, minister who
held series of meetings both in Haw-
esville and Cloverport year ago, was
the first to cast a shadow in his home,
and since his departure from Hawes-
vile after the meeting closed his wito
has been estranged in ner affections
and had never borne that love for him
which had existed prior to the time she
In Fn. ka NaI
that Newsom had broken up his home.
Rev. Mr.. LawheIn, he said, came
into the scene, and a few weeks ago in
his ministerial capacity, undertooR to
reconcile matters and restore the old
status of love and a cottage. This Sapp
consented to and encouraged him in
the effort Sapp alleged that Law
hern 8 visit to his wife and to their
place of business where she was fire.
quently to be found, as was her fire.
quent visits to the parsonage to see the
minister, aroused his suspicious, and
he prayed for a revelation as to the
truth of same. lie set a trap, he stat
ed, by boring holes IN the back of his
business house, and absenting himself
from the place while the minister and
his wife were there, determined to find
ont the truth. Pretending to go upon
the streets, Sapp took his position at
the look outs ana he says he was duly
rewarded in about fifteen minutes by
seeing plainly the minister and his
wife kiss and embrace. He called to
them that 5 enough of that, and
made way to get inside the store, where
he was met by either with confession
of the matter, but whom he says em-
plored him not to disclose il as IT
would ruin both the minister and the
church. The wife, he alleged, said if
he told it she would get their cnly
child, little girl, and jump in the
cistern with it. Lswhern left and the
whole matter got to be the talk of
the town. This occurred on Monday
evening, MI. Sapp says.
Rev. Lawhern was next asked for
his statement. Without going into
details. 1t is sufficient to say that al
most everything bearing on the matter
up to Monday evening was practically
agreed upon by these gentlemen. Re-
lative to his conduct the minister said
he mad visited Mr.. Sapp's home only
after very urgent and repeated invita-
tions from him, and thar he was
brought into the matter as pacifioa-
tor only at the solicitation of that gen.
tleman. On Monday evening, after
Mrs. Sapp had told him that she could
no longer tolerate the conduct of her
husband in his continued gosds and
sneering, which had been offered so
constantly during the past year, he
was making the last great effort to re-
concile the parties and keep intact the
little home. He had. after much per-
an on aupcaadad in Oatttno the wifa'a q