New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-10-16
PASTOR FOUND GUILTY
OF GIVING GIRLS WINE.
Supposedly Unfermented, It
Made Them Partially lntOx-
iCated, Declare ACCuSerS.
RESIGNATION ACCEPTED
Twelve Fishermen Try Case at
Red Bank-Young New York
Women Had Been Camp
ing on Raritan.

Red Bank, n. j., oct. 15.-The Rev.
john A. Oakes, pastor Of the Methodist
Episcopal Church here. was found
guilty tonight by the twelve fisher
men members Of the official board Of
the church of indiscrcet conduct with
two young New York girls on August
10 The trial was held tonight IN the
sunday school room. and was the first
of it's kind ever conducted in the
church
The Rev Dr. John u. Handley. Of
Ocean Grove, district superintendent Of
the New Brunswick district Of the New
Jersey Conference. presided. The con
gregation is made up entirely of fisher
men. Before the trial began almost
the entire village gathered outside the
building. eagerly awaiting the decision
of the board.
After finding the pastor guilty, the
board unanimously voted 10 accept his
resignation, which was rendered few
days ago, and TO allow him two months
salary for the fiscal year.
The Rev. Mr.. Oakes, who is fifty
six years old, had been pastor Of the
church since March. His wife and
daughter were overcome when they
first heard some months ago Of the
charges against the minister. and as a
result Mrs. Oakes had been i'll ever
since. The minister said tonight that
he would leave here with his family as
soon as he could pack up. and would
make his home at Pittman Grove.
The girls who figure in the case are
Anna Fitzel, fifteen years old. and
Blanche Destephona, sixteen. They
charged that the pastor invited them
into his home, while his wife was alb
sent, and piled them with wine until
they were partially intoxicated. They
both made affidavits that his manner
toward them was unbecOming TO "A
minister of the Gospel and gentle
man.
The girls were visitors at Camp Wolf,
a summer camp for girls on the
Raritan Bay shore, near here con-
Quoted by the Rev. DIR. f. l.. Fox VINO
also conducts mission on the East
Side in New York
The girls alleged that on the day In
question they visited the Rev. Mr..
Oakes in the parsonage to bid him good
by. as they were about TO return TO
New York, and that while sitting with
them in the parlor he gave them grapes
TO eat, after which the conversation LED
IN homemade wine. They declared the
minister then led them TO the cellar
where he gave them wine supposed TO
be unfermented, and then they became
partially intoxicated.
The girls further asserted that they
tried TO leave the house by the front
door, but were ordered by the pastor to
usa the rear door, which they did. lie
,,,,ou,ed them across a back lot, they
also alleged.
The trial was a secret one but one
NJ those present said the pastor ad-
noitted when on the stand IN his own
defence that he had been imprudent
hut had no wrongful intention toward
the girls. He said that when he went
TO the cellar the girls followed him
without any request on his part ana
that he did not know they were down
there until one of them touched MN
on the back and began to talk to him.
All through the trial the pastor sat
as II in a trance When asked ques-
ton he would give violent start as IL
awakening from deep thought Al the
beginning he remarked that ne eX-
pected to be vindicated. on preVi-
Gus occasion when charge was haue
against him in another parish ne was
yindicated, he said, and since that time
he had accomplished much good along
religious lines.