The sun., 1908-04-18
DETROTHED PASTOR A SUICIDE
G. ". TOMSON SHOOTS HIMSELF
Ar WOODBURY., ~ j.
His Enlargement TO = widow In the TSvB
was Announced = Few Days Aso, After
which Another WCman DnOuneed
HIm-RumOr Of q Broken Promise.

in this place last evening, the Rev. George
W. Tomson, pastor Of tho First Presby.
terian Church, whose engagement 10 marry
Mrs. Fannie Kenworthy, a wealthy widow
Of his congregation, had just beeu an
nounoed wrote the last words Of hlS Easter
sermon and then fred q bullet into bic
right temple He died instantly,
Although the Coroner's jury, composed
largely Of friends OF Mr.. Tomson. found
that the suicide was committed during
temporary mental alteration, II iS recalled
that Immediately after the announcement
Of the clergymsns engagement he was
denounced by Miss Helen Moore. former
teacher in his Sunday school, who until
Monday last occupied room across the
hall from his at the hotel. One Of the
brothers Of Mrs, Kenworthy denied to-day
that either he or his brother had q stormy
interview with the clergyman the day
before he made his betrothal public. The
other brother refused 10 affirm or deny
the report that there had been such IN
interview.
Mr.. Tomson had some means Of his own.
He received salary Of 81, 200 and had beep
subletting the parsonage which went
with bis charge for $500 a year AZ coon
as his gagement was announced. how
ever, he started to have the manao painted
and repaired for the reception Of his bride.
When his body was found this morning
there we're in his coat three tickets 10 Boston,
indicating, il seemed. his purpose to
90 to that city on his wedding journey
and to take with him and his wife Florence
Kenworthy, the sifteen-year-old daughter
Of Mrs. Kenworthy by her first marriage.
These signs seemed TO point 10 q plan 70
have the marriage occur before May I,
| the date originally announced. The ~
volver, a weapon Of 80 calibre, was new.
Nobody can recall his ever carrying one,
and no dealer In Woodbury. sold Il,
Besides the sermon on the open desk and
some notes for the children's day services
there we're no manuscripts, letters or photo
! graphs in the room Mr. Tomson, looking
/ depressed, had gone there at St6 O'Clock
! Thursday afternoon Failing 70 keep 80
appointment with his fiaDcee and one 10
attend a meeting Of the church trustees
that night, he had been sought by the hotel
employees, but the bed hid his fallen body
from the doorway and discovery Was not
I made until $50 this morning Inveshn-
| ton has indicated that between the time
| Mr.. Tomson was last seen and the finding
! OF his body he had received no visitor, No
| teegramA or letters. and local lawyers
declare they have no knowledge Of the
service upon him Of any legal papers or Of
any threatened suit for breach Of promise
Miss Helen Moore, whose room wac
across the hall from that Of Mr.. Tomeon,
could not be found to-day. She had )eft
the hotel on Monday and taken all her be-
longings with her. This was not discovered
until yesterday At the wholesale grocery
house in Philadelphia where she went daily
to work as a stenoTapher II was said that
her whereabouts was unknown.
Miss Moore is a short plump brunette.
well up in the thirties and after the death
Of Mrs. Tomson many OF the church men,
bers expected that she would be the neIt
hostess at the manse. She nursed AiFp
Tomson in her last illness and having
refused an offer OF pay for her services
the clergyman gave her q gold watch and
chain. However, as Mr.. Tomson was re-
ported later to be engaged TO q school
teacher in Nutley and was attentive 10
women in CLAYTON, Lakewood and Paterson,
as well as 10 Mrs. Elizabeth johnson In
Woodbury., the town was surprised when
the engagement TO Mrs Kenworthy was
announced on Tuesday evening Of last
week at a meeting Of the church's ladies
aid society, Of which Mrs. Kenworthy u
the secretary.
Next day Mr.. Tomson called at the otios
Of local paper and ordered the insertion
Of a notice confirming the announcement
That evening Miss Moore is said TO have
interrupted a teacheu' meeting ln the
church, declaring that she would have
nothing moro to do with the church and
denouncins the pastor,
Mira Kenworthy is the widow Of John.
son Of Benjamin Kenworthy. president Of
the Manayunk Trust Company Of Philadsl.
phia John Kenworthy inherited nearly
500 900 from his father. Mrs. Kenworthy
came to Woodbury. twelve years ago and
has been an earnest worker In the Proa6y-
terian Church. She was prostrated By The
news OF the suicide and refused 10 make
any statement. Her brothers, John and
Samuel s. Sneyd. the latter . clerk 10 the
Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company's
Office, received ali callers The wife u
Samuel is said recently 10 have refused 10
play In an orchestra at the Prosbytedan
Church II Mr.. Tomson was there. but John
declared he was friendly with the pastor.
my relations with Mr. Tomson, be ssid.
aocenting the personal pronoun, 'wors per
fectly amioable.'
Did you quarrel just before the engage
ment was announced, he was asked. cor
say that Mr. Tomson must either marry your
sister or give up his key TO her houSei'
Il did not
did your brothsri'
'0h, my brother must speak for himself'
The brothers only answer waS Il have
nothing to say
q. H, AllisteT, trustee Of the church,
admitted that Miss Moore hid 'hArAnChSd
the teachers meeting, and Dr. 7. =. Per-
ker, another trustee, added that Mr. Tolp-
son had been most kind 10 Miss Moore I'D
her family, securing for her sister treat
ment at the Philadelphia Rush Hospital
before she died.
Ethel johnson, the daughter Of Mrs.
Elizabeth johnson, librarian Of the FrSe