The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1908-08-13

Church, and Miss Bovine usually LEI
the choir singing at the week-nigh
prayer services.
After meeting on Tuesday evening
May II, 1904, Elder George FAIR de
tected the pair spooning in a lionel.
spot near the village cemetery.
He hurried to the home of the gir
and appraised Deacon Bovine, the father
of the escapade.
The blacksmith FASTENED to the spo
and roundly scored the pastor for hi
lack of moral decorum. The pair wer'
so frightened by the exposure that tn
girl was loath to return home.
Cordova also realized that he hat
reached the end of the pastoral rope
He proposed that they elope and tn
couple fled. on foot, from the scene t
New Brunswick, seven miles distant
fearing to board a trolley car. Then TIT
trail was lost. In searching the par
sonage for clues it transpired that Cor
doya had had secret bell wires placed
in his library to enable him to carry
on his loye-making without the knowl'
edge of his wife.
Used secret Wires.
He had slept for months in the IL
brary, and by the aid of the concealed
wires Miss Bovine could secretly meet
him there without %arousing Mrs. Cor
dova. whose sleeping rooms were To-
Gated on the floor above.
On July ! Cordova. sent a missive
from Brooklyn to his wife seeking for
giveness for his indiscretion. She re
fused to deal with him. A few days
later she packed her household goods,
and with a purse of $3.50. taken up by
popular subscription in the town, re-
moved to the home of her father,
Charles Emery, at Oceanic. N. j.
Shortly after the departure of Mrs
Cordova Miss Bovine surprised the VII
layers by suddenly appearing.
The blacksmith and his wife had To-
Gated their daughter at the Hotel st.
Denis. New York city, where she had
been masouerading as Miss Clark"
She was accompanied by a man
known to rave been Cordova. The lat
ter also paid the hotel bill after the de-
parture of the girl and her parents.
Canada for Honeymoon.
Cordova and his soul twin" had been
''honeymooning'' in Canada n other
places.
Miss Bovine on her return home was
ostracized by the younger set and given
a most frigid reception by their elders.
Mrs. Cordoya met her husband again
In New York city ct this time, where
an effort was made to effect a recon-
Citation, on account of the children,
but the conference proved a failure. On
IA Cordova sent his resignation to
the church board, and the paper was
read by Professor Jesse Selover, a pub
lie school instructor, who, at one time,
it is alleged, was engaged to marry
Miss Bovine. Cordova at this time
threatened to get a divorce if his wife
persisted In refusing to forgive HIM.
Nevertheless, the Icy reception that
was accorded both Cordova and the
Bovine girl caused the town to be
startled by a second elopement of the
pair, which occurred on August 3. 1904,
three months after the first disappear
ance.
Traced to Washington.
They tramped to Dayton, near Prince
ton, and taking q. trolley car FASTENED
to Trenton, where they boarded a train
for Jersey City.
AS Mrs. Cordova had tired of their
fitting performances she made a charge
of desertion and assault against the
pastor.
Sleuths were placed on their trial.
and by tracing their trunk from Jer-
sey City to Washington, D.. c., the
couple we're apprehended in the capital
city, where they were occupying
furnished rooms. The pair were brought
back to New Brunswick, and after a
most sensational trial Cordova was
found guilty, and Judge Woodbridge
Strong sentenced the rmfrocked pastor
to State prison for o years.
The Rev. J. f.. Lawn, of New Bruins
wick, attorney for the Methodist M. e.
district conference, investigated the
charges brought against Cordova, and
the evidence was submitted to a board
consisting of. four pastors, the Rev.
James Moore, of Long Branch; the
Rev. d. B. Harris, OF West Grove; the
Rev. s. K. Hickman, of Keyport, and
the Rev. DIR. Ogden.
He was suspended from his charge at
South River. and in March, 1905, ex-
PEELED from the conference.
Was n College Professor.
J. Frank Cordova is a Mexican of
Spanish extraction. and a graduate of
Drew Theological Seminary. While a
student at the Institution he met and
married Miss Elizabeth Emery, of
Oceanic, daughter of Charles Emery.
This was in 1891. There are three chill
dren, two girls and a boy.
Cordova held pastorates at Camden,
Beach Haven, Blackwood and other
Jersey towns. Prior to entering the
ministry he held a professorship in the
Colorado College, at Denver. If he
should Renter the ministry, which is
doubtful. 1t is said that he would open
an Independent Free Methodist Episco-
pal Church in Colorado.
Julia Bovine is the oldest of six chill
dren. She is % years old. Cordova Is
43. Her father, j. Conover Bovine, is a
large property owner in South River,
and a man of considerable means.
Legal authorities contend that Cor
dova annot get a divorce within a
period of two years.