Título: Charles Taze Russell
Seção: Allegation of immoral conduct
Background: Charles Taze Russell was born to Scottish-Irish parents, immigrant Joseph Lytel Russell  (d. December 17, 1897) and Ann Eliza Birney (d. January 25, 1861), on February 16, 1852 in Allegheny, Pennsylvania. Russell was the second of five children, of whom two survived into adulthood. His mother died when he was 9 years old. The Russells lived for a time in Philadelphia before moving to Pittsburgh, where they became members of the Presbyterian Church.

Conteúdo: In 1897 Russell's wife, Maria, left him after a disagreement over the management of Zion's Watch Tower magazine. According to Russell's successor Joseph Franklin Rutherford, she believed that, as his wife, she should have equal control over its administration and equal privilege in writing articles, preaching, and traveling abroad as his representative. In 1903 she filed for legal separation on the grounds of mental cruelty, referring to forced celibacy and frequent cold, indifferent treatment by him. The separation was granted in 1906, with Russell charged to pay alimony.  During the trial Mrs. Russell's attorney alleged that in 1894 Mr. Russell had engaged in "improper intimacy" with Rose Ball, by then a 25-year-old woman. The Russells had cared for her as a foster daughter said to be an orphan. Mrs. Russell alleged that Ball had told her Mr. Russell claimed to be an amorous "jellyfish floating around" to different women until someone responded to his advances. Mr. Russell denied the accusations and said he had never used such language to describe himself. When the judge asked Mrs. Russell if she was accusing her husband of adultery, she replied, "No".  The Washington Post and the Mission Friend of Chicago reprinted the "jellyfish" story while also accusing Russell of immoral conduct. Russell sued the papers for libel; the jury decided in his favor, awarding him one dollar. Following an appeal, Russell received a cash settlement of $15,000 (current value $409,000) plus cour

user: what were the allegations?

assistant: mental cruelty, referring to forced celibacy and frequent cold, indifferent treatment by him.

user: who did he subject to cruelty ?

assistant: Russell's wife, Maria,

user: who made these allegations?

assistant: Maria,

user: were the allegations true?

assistant: Mr. Russell denied the accusations

user: did maria do anything apart from making these allegations?

assistant: she filed for legal separation

user: was she granted?

assistant: The separation was granted in 1906, with Russell charged to pay alimony.

user: what other immoral conduct he was accused of?

assistant: "improper intimacy" with Rose Ball, by then a 25-year-old woman.

user: what more is known about this allegation?

assistant: When the judge asked Mrs. Russell if she was accusing her husband of adultery, she replied, "No".

user: how did the court proceedings progress on this issue?

assistant: Russell sued the papers for libel; the jury decided in his favor,

user: did he get any compensation for the libel they indulged in?

assistant: Russell received a cash settlement of $15,000 (current value $409,000) plus court costs, and an agreement