New-York tribune., 1908-04-18
MINISTER A SUICIDE
SOUGHT BY 3 WOMEN.
Jersey Pastor Shoots Himself When
Al announce Engagements.

Woodbury. y J.. April 17.-The Rev George W.
Tomson. pastor of the First Presbyterian Church
in this city and chairman OF the Board OF Foreign
Missions Of the West Jersey Presbytery. was found
dead with a bullet wound In his temple in his room
at the Hotel Newton yesterday
Mr.. Tomson have married Mrs. Fannie
kenworthy. wealthy widow, of this city on May
/. and his suicide has caused much excitement
among the members of his congregation and those
who were associated with him in his work
Coroner James Hunter. jr- impanelIed jury
composed mostly Of Mr. Tomson's parshioners, and
the verdict returned was that the minister had shot
himself while temporarily insane.
Mr.. TOmsou delivered address meeting Z
the missionary society of which is the chair
Thursday afternoon. and he had arranged
to call on Mrs. KenUorthy in the evening. When
he failed to appear Mrs Kenworthy called up
prominent member of the congregation on the
telephone. and a searching party was organized
The town was searched and the party went to his
room at the Newton, but found his bed untouched
and failed to notice the body between the wall and
the bed.
Although no one in the hotel beard the report
Of the pistol shot. the condition of the body would
Indicate that Mr.. Tomson shot himself about
O'clock on Thursday night On 4 desk in the room
was found which Mr.. Tomson had pre-
pared. and was TO have delivered before his congTe-
CATION Easter.
A chain of remarkable Circumstances, in which the
names of two women were mentioned. preceded the
suicide of Mr. Tomson II is supposed that charges
and threats of exposure drove the minister insane
When il announced that Mrs kcnworthy
and Mr. Tomson marry Samuel Sneed
Mrs. KenWorthys brother and a prominent bust
ness man here called on the minister and
stormy interview followed. in which the brother
objected the marriage. AT meeting Of the
congregation of Mr.. Tomson's church last Wednes-
day Miss Helen Moore, the daughter of lawyer
of Woodbury.. employed a stenographer by a
Philadelphia commission firm asked for the floor
She declared before the minister and the cOrgre-
cation that MI Tomson had promised to marry
her before his engagement to Mrs kenworthy-
Il wish 10 tender my resignation, said Miss
Moore THE pastor has broken his promise TO
me; I will leave this church. but he viii never
marry Mrs kenwortly. He is a hypocrite He
owes me all the love and duty belonging to a wife
and shall not permit him to desert me-
Immediately the congregation became divided,
and. although Miss Moore was supported by a
number OF the members, the greater number de-
clared in favor OF the popular preacher. Several
women OF the congregation called on Miss Moore at
the Hotel Newton where she has lived since her
parents left here for the Pacific Coast, and de
manded that she leave Woodbury. She agreed TO
this. and after another stormy with members
of the congregation she went to Philadelphia.
where she is making her home temporarily.
After the meeting Mr.. Tomson became greatly
affected. and he passed through the hallway
the stairs leading the cellar of the church
he was seized with an attack Of vertigo and fell
headong down the stairs, striking his head on the
cement floor OF the cellar. He taken to the
Hotel Newton in a daZed condition. and acted
Following Miss MoOre's startling allegaton Mrs
Elizabeth Johnson. a nurse who cared for Mr.. Tom
sons first wife before her death year and half
ago, announced yesterday that the dead preacher
had also promised marry her. and had given her
valuable presents. He became eTamoured Of
her. she SAYS. during his wife's Illness and after
ard paid marked attention her.
Despite these accusations. many members of the
congregation refuse to consider that the young and
popular minister all to blame. Mrs. Ken
worthy and her eighteeny ear-old daughter. who is
we'll known in Woodbury.. were Frustrated at their
home In Hunter yesterday.
Miss Moore is about thirty-f1ve years old. She
is the daughter Of family formerly prominent in
Woodbury. When told of Mr.. Tomsons death at
her employers office yesterday she greatly af-
focted and went home Immediately.
Mr. Tomsou came to Woodbury. ten years ago
lie built up the congregation of the First Presby
Church until it became of the largest and
most prosperous in South Jersey. Since the death
his wife he made his home in the Hotel Newton,
where he was found dead yesterday.
Mrs. Kenvorthy recently elected secretary
for young peoples work Of the Womens Home and
Foreign Missionary Societies of the West Jersey
PresbyteTy-