Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1915-10-22
At SEA WHEN
CHURCH BURNED.
SAYS PATMONT
Minister Accused of Arson De-
MES He Was in Newark
at Time of Fire.

That Rev. Louis r.. Patmont was
on the high seas ON April 10, 1918, the
day he Is alleged TO have set fire to
the Polish Christian Church, at 30
Richmond street, was the declaration
OF Edward Schoen, his counsel, to the
jury today at the opening of Pat
mont's defense to the charge OF arson
upon which he is being tried before
Judge Osborne in the Court of
Quarter Sessions.
The defense viii prove, according
to Mr.. Schoen, that Patmont was a
passenger in the steerage of the
steamship Noordam, of the Holland
American line, which sailed on April
3, two days before the fire. .Patmont
sailed under an assumed name, he
asserted, because of his fear of being
caught by spies of Russia, from where
he fed after the Russo Japanese war.
In his opening to the jury. Mr.
Schoen made frequent references to
the Interests that have been fight
ing Patmont since he has been en-
gagged in missionary work in the west
These same interests. represented by
a Chicago detective, are now prose-
cutting him, his counsel said.
Patmont, according to the story out
lined to the jury, resigned from the
pastorate of the Richmond street
church about March 1, to go to
Europe with II General Sweeney, who
was engaged in missionary work in
the west, and who wished to get in
formation regarding conditions in
Europe. Patmont was to go as an
interpreter because he could speak
fourteen different languages.
Prompted by his fear of the Russian
spy system, he assumed u Russian
name before sailing and bought a
ticket for the Noordam. Mr.. Sweeney
did not sail until afterWard.e e Patmont
went on the cheaper and slower vessel
because he did not have the funds to
travel In company with his employer,
MIR. Schoen said.
Several members of the board of
trustees of the church testified that
Patmont resigned about March / to
go to Europe and that he was not
seen around the church after that
date. Samuel S. Lapin, editor OF the
Christian Standard, testified to the
business arrangement between the
paper and Patmont, whereby the min
lister was to receive ten dollars a
week for a weekly letter from abroad.
He also testified that by the diree-
tions Of Patmont his salary checks
we're mailed to his wife In this city.
The Cancelled checks were produced.
This was to contravert testimony put
In by the State yesterday that Pat
mont had not supported his wife
while he was away. A number of
letters referring TO Patmont's trip
were also put In evidence.
Rev. Zachary r. Sweeney, consul
general OF the United States in Tur-
key in 1899. 1900 and 1901, and Judge
Of the United States court there
during that time, was called as wit
ness in Patmont's behalf. He identi-
fed q letter he wrote to Patmont be-
fore he sailed suggesting that he had
better travel inoognito 1t was with
Mr.. Sweeney that Patmont says he
Travelled In Europe.
Patmont is now the dean OF the
International Bible College, OF Min
neapolis, Mimi, having been selected
according to his counsel, after an in
vestigatlon into the charges against
him had been made.