The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-07-30

Says Calls on Comcly Widow
BabcOck We're All OccasiCned
BY Work of Church
DISCLAIMS KNOWLEDGE
OF "MUSHY" LETTERS
Judge Murphy Conducts Inquiry
Into Story That Munster OBJ
tanned Divorce Improperly

Sllas 5. Main, former pastor OF the
First Christian church OF Britton
Mich. who was granted a divorce
from his wife, Jennie A., ii fortnight
ago. In decree which since has been
set aside by Judge Murphy pending al
investigation into the MINISTER'S al
legged relations with Mrs. Addie Bah
cock, comely widow OF his congrega
ton. was called 10 the stand when the
case was reopened. tuesday, morning
He denied ali allegations OF improper
conduct, and accounted for the numer
GUS visits he paid to the home OF Mrs
Babcock as official business In connec
ton with her work Us leader OF the
church choir.
Mr.. Main was on the stand about O
halt hour, while he was given thor
ough cross-examination by the Judge
When letters purporting 20 have pass
ed between him and Mrs. Babcock
were read he denied emphatically tina,
he had ever seen or heard OF them be
fore.
These notes in each cas- began with
the salutation "Dearie" and ended
OF an investigation conducted in Brit
ton In the last two weeks by County
Detective Coffin. upon the order OF the
y court, five witnesses were summoned
TO appear for the hearing, and about
dozen others came along as visitors
because OF the great interest the case
has aroused there.
George W. Smith, a member OF the
board OF trustees OF the Britton
church. and his wife. who was on the
stand when the noon recess was
taken, were the only ones In addition
10 Mr. Main to testify Tuesday morn
ing.
Mr.. Smith told Of talking to the
minister about the gossip relative to
him, but said that at the time he did
not credit IT, In fact, the witness de
clared that his knowledge about the
whole case was only that of village
gossip.
Mrs Smith unidentified two letters
READ IN court as copies OF some which
had been brought 10 her By Mrs. Main
with the assertion that one OF them
was written by her husband TO Mrs
Babcock, and the other by the latter
Ito him.
In the latter missive. Mrs. Babcock
Is represented as asking IL 1t is true
that Mrs. Main had got hold Of her
letters othe minister and suggesting
that after the latter had gone to Hart
wig, n. Y, 80 II was then planned, he
should go. tie two should correspond
and escape detection by sending their
letters TO her son to be remaied.
If 1t Is cloudy tonight, III meet
NJ o. LOT ~ h.
sentences of the letter.
These epistles. Mr.. Main denied
having any knowledge Of Mrs Smith
also told OF one occasion when the
minister's wife came runying to hei
home with a part OF letter purpor
saying she had entered her husban s
study when he was writing II and
wrested It from him in violent
struggle.
while we were talking over the
matter, said Mrs. Smith, we saw
Mr. Main approaching, and she asked
me to take the letter and keep it.
didn't want TO get mixed up in the
affair, however. but suggested that
II she wanted to she could hide It.
So she lifted up the corner of the
rug and put the letter under IL.
tCOupIe lUtU ndu some WOrOS
and as Mr. Main will bear me out,
advised them to go back home, and
that II they could not live together
happily then to sacrifice thems selves
for the sake Of their child-en 4"
At this. Main who wa sitting near
by listening to tho testimony, nod led
his head.
While the minister was en- the
stand he explaine dthe 7tatement that
he had been seen coming out Of Mrs
Babcock's home at O'Clock in the
morning with the assertion that II was
the day of his departure from Brit
ton, when he and his family took an
early breakfast with one OF his
friends, Charles Brown, that lmmedi-
ately after that he had gone to feed
his horse and on the way stopped al
several houses TO bid different per
sons good bye, and that Mrs. Bah
cocks was among the number.
Main was corroborated by Mr.
Smith in a statement taht a month OIL
more before his leaving Britton, he
rendered HIS resignation In board
meeting, In which the gossip was dis
cussed, but that the resignation was
not accepted.
Main is not now in charge OF a
church, but does considerable lectur
ing. making DetrOi' his 10
His wife and family are living In
Hastings. n. Y.