The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1920-04-15
JURY OF NEIGHB0RS DEGREES
SEPARATION OF PASTOR AND WIFE
Preachers ParlOr Is "COurt" and
Children Are Wit
neSSeS .
eY HAL COCHRAN,
N. e. A. Staff Correspondent.

Liverpool. n Y, April 15 - A
selected Jury" of three neighbors has
decided that Rev. w. w. Brunk, pas
tor of the First Methodist church.
and his wife, whom he married %
years ago, shall separate.
AS was agreed before the meeting
was called, the pastor and his wife
signed the decision and have separat-
ed.
Unable to settle their domestic
troubles themselves. and not wishing
an airing in the divorce court, Rev.
Brunk and his wife went together
to Justice OF the Peace Jolsen for
advice. He suggested that the
Brunks own neighbors- settle ihe
problem
1t was decided that three friends
should sit on the Jury" hear both
sides OF the case and hand down a
decision which both ,Brunk and his
wife agreed to abide by.
60 Pastors Parlor Is Court
The hearing took place in the
parlor of the clergyman's home. While
the three children of the Brunk
family. Lillian 20, sophomore at
Syracuse University; Alfred. 16, a stu
dent in high school. and Clifford 7,
were waiting in the dining room. Rev.
and Mrs. Brunk told their stories.
First they were questioned separat
! ely and then joint hearing was
held.
Lillian was called to testify. Daddy
and mother cannot seem to agree on
some things" was Nall she would say.
Then the neighbors deliberated
alone and pronounced their decision:
that the couple would be--for the
time being, at least-better off apart
The next day Mr.. and Mrs. Brunk
called together at the Office of George
B. Dolsen and signed an agreement
upon the terms of their situation The
paper read that Mrs. Brunk should
take their youngest son. Clifford, and
90 to live with her bachelor brother,
John Battle of Pensacola, Fla. a,
Her husband was to pay her $200O
$500 to be raised by placing q
mortgage on the Brunk homestead
and $500 in cash at once
-. Prepare Last Supper.
After signing, the agreement the
couple returned to the 'Brunk home
where Mrs. Brunk prepared the sup.
per, She ,straighteped up their little
home and then left. on the midnight
train, accompanied by her little SON
and her brother slst
II believe that our neighbOrs ar.
rived at the right decision-at least
for the time being" says Rev. Brunk
1T is probably the best and most
sensible way out of misunderstood
ings."
When | arrived the pastor was
cooking his own dinner.
Rev. Brunk called attention to Il
life-sized painting of his wife on the
wall of their living room.
"That is good picture of her.
| he said, as he sat and gazed on It
thoughtfully.
Alfred, the 16-year-old son, explains
that he is ready to help dad keep
house.
There is one thing I would like
to be understood" said theta THAT
is that there is not one breath of
scandal on either side. believe
they will be back together soon
they are very fond of each other
The three jurors have virtually the
same comment to make, regarding
their service.
1--WE have done what we thought
right. We have tried to be friends
and neighbors' in more than just
name.'
During the war Rev. Brunk served
with the Y. NJ. C. A. in France
And the little town of Liverpool,
with its 1900 people, huns approval
over the Brunks' way out of family
trouble that only the Brunks can real.
ly understand. /