The Washington times., 1931-01-12
WOMAN SILENT
ON SUICIDE
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troduced In the recent suit, de.
clined to comment on the suicide
Of Rev. Mr.. Reynolds.
The Rev. Mr.. Reynolds came
to this city a few years ago and
assumed the rectorship Of the
historic Grace Church, where
Thomas jefferson and numerous
other famous personages wor.
shipped.
While serving as rector, he in
duced Mrs. Lee, who had with.
drawn from membership Of the
church due to . rift with church
and social leaders, to return to
the church.
Modern Thought Banned
Finding his modern theology
and conduct failed to meet with
the approval Of the conservative
church leaders, the handsome
young rector resigned after a
three-month pastorate.
In 1928 the Rev. Mr.. Reynolds
undertook the healing mission at
st. Paul'S Church, which was
financed by Mrs. Lee. It was in
the parish house Of this church
that the sIander suit had its In
ceptiOn.
At the conclusion of one Of
the Rev. Mr.. Reynolds sermons,
the 69-year-old Mrs. Lee strode
up the aisle Of the house Of wor-
ship and pointing at Mrs. Ford,
accused:
"That woman got the rector
drunk"
Disorder followed and out of
it grew two suits alleging slander
against Mrs. Lee.
The rector instituted one suit,
but later changed his mind and
withdrew the proceedings. Mrs.
Ford filed the other suit and
won it.
Letters Read to Jury
Last December, the allegations
against Mrs. Lee by Mrs. Ford
were tried before a District Su-
preme Court jury. The trial was
featured by the reading of ardent
letters written by the 69-year-old
Mrs. Lee to the handsome young
rector. One Of the letters read:
my own dearest and best
friend:
"And have not you and /, un-
der different stars, with differ
ent ideals, leading different
lives, been brought together;
not as helpless pawns on the
chesSbOard of life only to be
thrust apart again?
I'VE are warm, pulSing human
beings; conSecrated and cOur-
ageOus in our devotion to each
other; not simply struggling
helplessly in the rip of forces
far mightier than we.
This Is love! You've heard
the call to curse as the Balaam
Of old. As answer, your arms
closed about the stormy petrol.
"LOve, dear heart, from your
stormy petrel."
Visited by Sisters
Without funds and respondent
over his position in life, the Rev.
Mr.. Reynolds applied to Thomas
j. Williamson, keeper Of a Sew
enty-fourth Street rooming house
in New York, for a room about a
week ago.
He informed the keeper that he
would be unable to pay for .
room until he received money
from relatives and Williamson
permitted him . room.
Drab and Squalid the room
was in decided contrast to the
lodging Of the handsome young
clergyman while he resided in
this city.
His dependency appeared to
wane during the week, william
son told authorities after he was
visited by his two sisters, Mrs.
Lewis A. Seitz and Mrs. Charles
Lang, Of Baltimore.
He had been promised money
and clothing by them. They also
told him they would arrange to
take him to Baltimore.
Sought Missionary Work
Throughout the week he had
cOrrespOnded with the Rev. C. ].
Hartman, Of st. James the Less
Episcopal Church, Philadelphia.
This correspondence, 1t is be
lieved, was for aid. The Rev.
Mr.. Reynolds was seeking mis-
sionary work.