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NOT SHAKEN.Ida Downs’ Story in To-day’s In vestigation.Dr. Bristor Cross Examines His Accuser Before the Comlnitteo of Clergymen in the Centenary M. E« Church, Jersey City. The Girl Adheres Closely to the Charges She Originally Made—The Defense.The Committee of Investigation, called byPresiding Elder Iiov. Alexander Craig to consider the charges made by Miss Ida Downs against Rev. Georgo K. Bristol*, of Spring Valley, N. \\, met this morning In the Centenary Methodist Church, Fa-vonia avenue, Jersey City. Thoro were proaont of the committee Rev. Alexander Craig, who acted as Moderator; Rev. Mr. George, secretary; Rev. 0. A. Brown, of Hoboken; Kov. L. R. Dunn, Rev. J. B. Brady, Rev. R. Van Horn and Rev. Howard Honder-son, all of Jersey City; Kev. \V. S. MeCowau, Hackensack, and Henry Simpson, of Bayonne;Rev. Dr. Atkinson appoarod for the defense. Rev. Mr. Bristor was on hand when the investigation was called at ten o’clock. Ho seated himself at a small writing table and with a smiling coun-tenaco scanned the pages of blank paper ho had before him. The meeting opened with pray or, after which Rev. Dr. Fitzgerald, Secretary of Missions of New York, read the charges against Mr. Bristor, accusing him of having three times committed the offense with which Ida Downs charged him. Mr. Bristor threw himself back in his chair and in a scornful manner said: 411 pioad not guilty.”At this point Mr. Craig asked if Ida Downs wore prosout. She had not yet arrived but soatod in the librayy room of tho.Sunday school were friends of the accused from Spring Valloy. They wore Mrs. W. II. Seaman, Mrs. J. C. Wood, Miss Jcnnlo Rupple, Mrs. Scott, Mrs. Ella A. Snodeckor, Mrs. W. II. Seaman, Jr., Schuyler Wcstorvclt, L. A. Weed on and Mr. Stephen II. Burr. The last named ia the gentleman who Insisted on an investigation being made and who refused to sign tho document circulated among Mr. Briator's par-ishiouors, which expressed belief in his iimocenco.The members of the official board of tho Spring Valloy M. E. Church were also present. They were Theodore F, Reod, J. 0. Woo a and W. II. Seaman.At half-past eleven Alisa Ida Downs, accompanied by Mr. and Mrs. Wyckott and 31 re. Fields, of the Brooklyn Orphan Asylum, arrived. They wore immediately ushered into the lecture room of the church, whore tho examination took place. Ida Downs was put on the ataud, and after telling the same story as sho had told in Spring Valley, tho details of which were published lu tho Eagle, she becamo hysterical and sobbed for fully five minutes. Mrs. Wyokoff and Mrs. Fields did much to reassure her, and then Rev. Mr. Bristor bogan his cross examination. Ida was evidently frightoned at the loud tone and menacing frown with which Mr. Bristor confronted her. Sho falterod several times in her answers and Mr. Bristow’s brother, a young man from Baltimore, who came on to attend tho trial, said as he listened at the door, uBy gosh, she’s breaking down.” She did not break down, however, but adhorod to hor story closely.At tho conclusion of Ida Downs’ testimony an adjournment was taken until 2:30, Mrs. Wyckoff aud Mrs. Fields left with Ida for this city. The investigation, it is expected, will bo finished this evonlng. Rev. Mr. Bristor and his friends express themselves as very much dissatisfied at tho manner in which tho inquiry is boing eouductcd.“They would not,” said Mr. Bristor to an Eagj/k reporter, “allow mo to Introduce any of the committees from tho church, nor would they receive tho petition which my congregation has gotten up in my behalf; and when I protested the moderator told me that tho people had nothing to do with the matter and should not have any voice as to the eommitteo’s conclusion. It is sufficient, he told mo, for tho people to hear tho conclusions of this body.However, I am not at all afraid of the result.”It is thought that no definite action will be taken by tho Investigating Committee until after Mr. Briator's trial on tho criminal charge. Tho accused clergyman's defenso is a general denial, an attackon the purity of tho girl and an attempt to provo tho gonuinouess of the first retraction.
Newspaper Details
Brooklyn Daily Eagle
Brooklyn, New York, US
Tue, Jan 12, 1886
Page 9
Full Page
Clipped by
Las V.
NV, USA 20 Apr 2021
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