The Washington times., 1922-07-08
WIFE SAYS
SHE WAS
BETRAYED
Minister Declared to Be Fathe
OF Child by Another
Woman.
By SARA MOORE EASTMAN.

~ cAtA MOOnE EAbImhNs
Cosmopolitan News Service.
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich, July
s.--,A complete scandal needs no
press agent.
This truth is being made OBJ
Hous to Grand Rapids, where
hundreds of women and a few
dozen men are crowding into a
small, hot courtroom to review
the testimony of the "Mep Trot-
ter divorce case.
Local papers have maintained
. patient silence about Mrs.
Trotter's charge that her preach
er husband is the father of an
other woman's child, but without
one line of publicity the case is,
in plain stage talk, playing to
capacity" The mob's keen scent
for the salacious is one of the
remarkable features Of the trial.
I Looks Like Congregation.
The gathering looks exactly like a
congregation assembled for revival
services. II Mel" Trotter, facing
his flock from the witness stand,
should suddenly announce a hymn,
the entire assembly would rise, from
force of habit, and burst into song.
At today's session, a grandmother
ly woman, who had combined the
business of going to the grocery with
the pleasure Of seeking shocks, sat
with q pound Of sugar clasped terse-
" to her breast. While she strained
to catch a particularly erotic bit OF
testimony, the brown bag sprung
tiny leak, and a trickle OF white
spread unheeded over the black folds
OF her Sunday silk dress.
Many Of the crowd who surveyed
Mr.. Trotter with the faith-gaze which
the sex reserves for doctors who save
them from pain and preachers who
rescue their souls, were women OF
the housewifely type.
Most of the sympathy In the tan:
carrying contingent was expressed
for the man in the case. Mrs. Trot-
ter's hearty supporters are men.
Three of the board of trustees OF the
mission where Mr.. Trotter Is super
intendent are in constant attendance
on Mrs. Trotter at the trial.
Gospel Types In Lead.
The attendance has not been
modified by the unpleasantness OF
much Of the testimony. Day after
day the same young women OF the
type who are active at gospel work,
play the organ or lead the singing
at meetings or teach Sunday schooi
classes appear in the same seats they
he frfo
Once there was a tense moment
when an attorney forced such
situation. It was noticeable that he
flushed as he put the question, and
both he and the man to whom 1t was
addressed looked embarrassed and
lowered their eyes. Every pencil at
the, press table halted for a shocked
section, and men and women in
stinctively looked away, into space
anywhere to cover the momentary
confusion.
But there was no trace Of shock
on most of the faces peacefully turn
ed toward the witness. Wide-eyed
placidity marked the expression. 1t
might have been a Wednesday eve
ming prayer meeting testimonial.
The beautiful face of one young
woman, whose parted hair and
serene features gave her the appear
ance Of a storied New England
virgin, stood out against back
ground Of less spiritual beings. The
incident passed over her as II 1t had
never happened. Her eyes gaZed
placidly at the embarrassed witness,
and her ears evidently caught every
word of the sordid revelation. But
no ripple Of shock thawed her express
sion.