Year: 1870




We published yesterday short account of
some startling facts which have come to light in
regard to Rev. James Debois, pastor of the Bapt-
ist church at Schuyerville, Saratoga county,
New York. Our sources of information were
then not very full, and the account was inaccu-
rate in many respects From information gath
cred "on the spot" we are now able to give the
following true history of the scandal


The reverend gentleman claims to have been
q very wicked and dissipated man during the
earlier part of his life. The history of bis first
marriage is involved in great obscurity In fact
all that is known about it is from his own con-
fesson to his third wife, which is to the effect
that he became weary of his first spouse and sent
her off with tin peddler, who kindly took her
off his hands. 1t has not yet appeared whether
he received any exchange in tin or not Soon
l>after he married his second wife, very estm-
able lady and the daughter of judge in the
western part of this State. By her he had son,
who is still living with his mothers relatives.
According to his own confession he soon killed
his second wife by drunkenness, neglect and
hard usage.


Again our hero sought consolation at the hy-
menial altar. The third wife very worthy
woman, and he lived with her seventeen years,
and by her had eight children. During this
time he became converted and entered upon the
ministry in the Baptist church. Henceforth his
walk seems to have been "slantingdicular. At
Wellsville, Allegany county, he was accused of
an intrigue with Mrs. Jones, with whom he
was once caught fagrante deLictu. This place
became too torrid for him, and he went from
there to a charge in Canada. A wife and family
were too great restraint upon his restless
spirit, so he left them at Wellsvile to shift for
themselves. In Canada, his warmth of tempera-
ment was not abated, Notwithstanding the lati-
| tude. He was soon accused OF indscreet con-
duct with different females, and after getting his
charge into perfect boil of dissention, he left
and took another charge at Hudson, Wisconsin.
There he had troubles of the same sort, and left.
Next we find him in charge of a church at
! Conneaue, Ohio. Here he was accused of i'm
proper intimacy with Miss Helen Weller, had a
church trial, very decidedly non-eXOnerated
and dismissed from his charge. He then en-
listed in the army. In the meantime his third
wife, being unable to maintain herself at Wells
Vile, New York, moved to Coldwater, Michigan,
where she had several relations. Soon after
joining the army, ravshing thoughts of sweet
Helen Weller led him to seek divorce from his
abandoned wife, and q divorce-broker lawyer in
New York was set at work to secure it. During
the pendency of the proceedings Debois says he
received a letter from his attorney stating that
he had received letter from a brother of the
wife announcing her death. This was great
blow for him, of course, but he found early con-
ISOLATION in marriage with Helen Weller Not
long after he was settled over the Sixth-street
Baptist church Of New York city. Rumors of
these peccadlllos followed MN there, ana ne
was induced thereby to peaceably resign that
charge. He then came to the present "seat of
war'-Schuy uylerville. His black record soon
leaked out here also, and affairs finally culmin-
ated in his trial by council of four Baptist cler-
gymen, which is now in progress, The aban-
doned wife (who did not die after all) and his
oldest son by her, now twenty-six years old, are
both present. ready to confront him and swear
to the injuries which he has done them. Full
proof of most of the facts here stated will be ad
duced on trial. Debois is bold and defiant, and
claims that he can put to rout all his accuse-s.
Eminent counsel have been retained on each
side, and most extraordinary church trial will
probably be laid The village is in perfect
ferment over it. The church is sadly divided
over the matter, although the friends of the ac-
cused very few notwithstanding his great
ability and the ingenuity of his defense. A
criminal prosecution for bgamy seems imminent.
| Troy (N. ~ Times, March 26M.