The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-02-05

AFFINITY
WINS WIFE DECREE
Rev. W. P. McCIaskey's .Disap=
pearance Reveals Secret
Divorce and Scandal

-
OAKLAND. Feb. fl am gone. To-
Rev William p McClaskey. former
pastor OF the Santa Clara avenue Meth
odist Episcopal church of Alameda.
writing this line from Sacramento. has
enveloped his whereabouts in mystery
that has led to the belief that he has
committed suicide. This line, creating
one mystery. tore a legal cloak from
a scandal which affected his pulpit
and exposed a divorce secured by Me-
Claskev's wife in which Mrs. Elinor
Bross OF Alameda figured as an affinity.
to conceal which every artifiee of the
law was employed by her attorneys.
It also revealed the fact that Nicolas
KEYS resignation three months ago
had been brought about by committee
of brethren of the cloth.
CLERGYMAN DISAPPEARS
ATTORNEYS Dibert and Stiefvater. rep
resenting Mrs. McClaskey. received the
brief line from the clergyman after Mrs
McClaskey's complaint of unpaid ali
mony had been brought to their atten-
ton. Investigation which they made
showed that the clergymen had disap
pSafeG from business circles INTO WHICH
he had entered after vacating his pull
pit. and that no one knew where he
had gone.
Records at the county clerks Office
buried deep in the files. yielded up a
startling story of straying love which
broke the heart of the minister's wife
and centered round a widow in the
congregation
Conditions reached such a point that
members of the official board of the
church demonstrated with McClaskey
and brother clergymen from churches
of the neighboring cities We're called
into conference.
At first McCIaskey pleaded for an
other chance; then he took refuge be-
hind the assertion that he must pro-
tect the woman at all odds, and finally
three months ago Hints of scandal at
the time We're carefully suppressed by
the church authorities.
HOLD SECRET SESSIONS
Mrs. McClaskey told her troubles be-
hind the closed doors Of the superior
court commissioner.
Ny husband suddenly began prais-
ing Mrs. Elinor Bross TO me- she said.
He said he worshiped her and that to
him she was the most beautiful woman
on earth. He told me that he did not
love me any more
Then he began calling her I'D on the
telephone two or three times a day
from our own house. Ny son Philip
came TO me and told me that he heard
his father speak of me to Mrs Bross
over the telephone and say, Never
mind. Nellie dear, we will get rid of
the old thing pretty soon.
hen demonstrated he said I was
an old tyrant and that he would do as
ne pleased about going with Mrs.
Bross. Then he told me that a fortune
teller had told him that Mrs. Bross was
his affinity and that he loved her very
much
Byron L Lick. chairman of the board
of trustees of the Santa Clara avenue
Methodist church, followed as a wit
ness He said:
4 talked with Mr. McClaskev about
Mrs Bross and he said that If we would
allow him 10 retain the pastorate for
another year that he would treat Mrs
Bress exactly IS any other woman in
the congregation. When l insisted on
details he said. I must protect the
women Charges We're prepared
against him on the ground that his
conouct was unbecoming TO a minister
Of the gospel. In preparing these
charges We had the assistance of Rev.
Willsie Martin, pastor of the First
Methodist church of Alameda, and Rev.
;. D. Hutsinpiller. pastor of Trinity
Methodist church of Berkeley"
EARLY MORNING VISIT
Rev. Mr.. Martin was a witness and
he said that the specific charges
against McClaskey was that he baf
visited Mrs. Bross at an unseemlv hou,
IN the morning while she was sick a,
the White Cross hospital. His visits
attracted the attention of the hospita
management and We're criticised by at.
tendants.
Knowland Lick testified that he hae
seen McClaskey and Mrs. Bross on tn.
street together at early hours in tn,
morning and that he called TO them Il
desist from hugging and holding hand:
in public
Superior Judge Harris January 4. Mrs
/ McClaskey left recently fop the hom,
Of her parents in Ohio. She took witt
F her their five children-Philip. aged /.
years; Walter. aged y; Catherine ane
/ Austin. twins. aged 1e. and Grace
/ aged s.
The McClaskeys were married a.
Cramer Hill. y. J.. in 1893. McClaske,
was serving his second year as pastol
OF the church. and after resigning hi.
pulpit engaged in soliciting for print
( ing business for a time, saying that the
returns were greater. Mrs. Bross is !
widow, engaged in conducting a print
/ ing plant left by her husband, Georg,
Bross. She lives at e29 Taylor street.
STUDENT OF OCCULT