The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1908-04-18
PASTOR DIES
BY OWN HAND
EntangIedin Rivalry Of Three
Women
REV. GEO. W. THOMSON
Shoots Himself His Easter Sermon on
Table Town Of Woodbury. Shocked by
Tragedy and by Scandal Which Over
whelmed an Eloquent Preacher.

| Woodbury., M j, April 1s.--The Rev.
George w. Thomson, pastor Of the Wood
bury Presbyterian church one OF the
most brilliant ministers Of that denomi-
ration in the state-was found dead
| yesterday with a bullet hole through
DIS head in his room at the Newton no.
q. He had committed suicide driven
to the act, it is believed, by the rival
claims Of three women upon him. The
suicide followed gossip about the town
and sensational outbreak of two Of
the women at a church meeting We'd
ntSlay evening
! The whole OF Gloucester county and
large part of south Jersey has been
aroused by the case. MIR. Thomson's con-
glcgation was the largest and most
fashionable in this part Of the state, and
Iiis eloquence and learning had drawn
many prominent people about him.
The body WAS found behind the bed,
where Il had been hidden from the view
Of several friends who called - See him
list night. His hand held 4 revolye,,
and on the table was his Easter SCI.
mon, which he was TO have delivered
next Sunday before one Of the largest
congregations that would gather in any
part Of New Jersey.
The climax Of the minister's troubles
approached week ago, when IL was
officially announced That he would wed
sic Of the wealthiest women III Wood.
bury, a member Of his congregation am
leader in the fashionable Set. For
Ing time he had known Mrs. Fannie
kenworthy, who Is about forty years
ef age and whose husband died some
years ago, lie had courted her, ard
they had come to the conclusion thut
they would be married in June. Mr..
Thomson had been Il wiiowcr for some
time.
While all the town looked on in ap-
rroval Of the match the storm broke On
Wednesday night the minister led 4
prayer meeting in his church, and after
this there was a church meeting IN an
other ROOM With large crowd present
Miss Helen Moore, daughter Of once
II wish TO protest against the wed
ding Of Mrs. kenworthv and Aif.
Thomson she cried; and those present
looked vt her III alarm She was al
r.ost historical, but she managed 10 re,
main firm.
DIR. Thomson must marry me- she
continued, Il have his promise ans.
don't propose TO let Mrs. Kcaworthy
nave him. Ele owes me all tie love be-
longing 10 Wife,
Confusion spread through the crowd
Men and women jumped up, and some
Gt them ran to the young woman. They
demanded that she should sit down
Mrs. Kenworthy almost tainted, but ~,
covered herself, and in the midst Of the
uproar rose.
You shall not marry him. cried the
widow. u propose to marry him.
Miss Moore tried to say something
further, but was surrounded by crowd
and pushed into her seat, Then che
broke down, began to wee.p, and finally
left the meeting ana went to her hotel
the same at which Thomson lived.
Mrs, KenwoTthy, who up to this time
Rad held herself d9aantly, became al
most hysterical and was led to her home
by friends.
During all this Mr. Thomson, who had
led the meeting, booked on -peechle4s
He could say nothing, * suddenly mad
the attack come Most III those at tte
meeting were friends of Mrs. kenwortby
and himself They were shocked at the
charge of Miss Moore, and nearly all
Of them believed the statement she had
made waA untrue The meeting broke
up in excitement Mr.. Thomson was 80
that he hardly knew what he
was doing After most Of those who
Lad attended the meeting left he start
ed for tho basement Of the church, ana.
slipping on the stairway, fell to the bot
tom. Ire was badly bruised, and had To
be assisted to his hotel
50 wrought TIP were the women Of his
by the dramatic conflict
the two women who claimed
tie minister that they could not rest
without more information about the
case. a dozen Or more decided to 20 to |
the hotel to talk with Miss Moore They /
u ere her avowed enemies for they went |
to tell her that she must give up MIR. |
Thomson.
A stormy scene followed Miss Moore
broke down, and finally consented 10
give up the preacher. She even promis
ed TO leave town and to 60 to Califor- /
MIA.
After Wednesday night the minister
was very nervous. and was almost |
broken down He got around as usual, /
but was much changed. Yesterday he at
tended d missionary society meeting /
and delivered an address. In the even, |
j Mrs. Kenwerthy, on whom he was
10 call. became anxious when he failed |
to appear She telephoned to various |
places where she thought he might be, I
but could learn nothing of him. Then i
she called NJ several friends, who de. /
oidea that they would look up the min
ister at once.
They called at the hotel and went up +
TO his room. He was not visible, and no
ane about The place had seen him for an
hour or more.
But while the visitors wese in his
room the deal body Of the minister Law
behind The bed-botween it and tine wall.
rhev had not thought TO look there.
md went away leaving him in a pool a
blood with bullet wound through his
bead.
Third Woman in Case.
A chambcrmaid Knocked at toe door
Yesterday morning. he should have been
ip early. and when he failed TO appear
+ was thought better to arouse hin.
When she received no response she ne
lifed the hotel manager. the door was