The David Darling Scandal

The David Darling Scandal in Owego

During 1831 and 1832, a local preacher named David Darling served the Methodist Episcopal Church in Owego Village, Tioga County, New York. In November 1832, during the Quarterly Conference with Rev. Horace Agard presiding, Brother Darling was expelled from the Methodist church for "unchristian conduct" on what appears, in retrospect, to be the flimsiest of evidence. The following minutes were recorded by Hiram Warner and are now housed in the University Archives at Syracuse University.

Owego, Nov. 23 1832

Minutes of the trial. Rev. Morgan Sherman, Plaintiff in favour of the church & David Darling, defendant.

The committee consisting of Rev. Nathaniel Billings, William Dobson, & Alanson Benjamin.

David Darling, defendant, not present. Hiram G. Warner, Council for defendant.

I. Charge unchristian conduct

(1) In having been unbecomingly intimate with Mrs. Sally Thompson spending much time with her in the absence of her husband.

(2) Specification – Hugging & kissing her

(3) In making use of expressions bord[er]ing on profanity & unbecoming a Preacher of the Gospel.

II. By Lying

(1) In denying that he had acknowledged to Br. Jonathan Vangorden that he had hugged Mrs. Thompson.

(2) In denying that he either hugged or kissed Mrs. Thompson.

Testimony in support of the first charge.

Br. Jonathan Vangorden saith that defendant was frequently at Mr. Thompson’s House with Mrs. Thompson in the absence of Mr. Thompson, that defendant frequently enquired whether Mr. Thompson was at home, and when told he was not, he notwithstanding would go and frequently staid two or three hours at a time, and witness further saith that defendant in going to & from meetings frequently walked with Mrs. Thompson.

Br. Ansel Butler called and saith, at a camp meeting 1 year last fall that defendant waited on Mrs. Thompson very much and that his conduct was such as to cause him to suspect them guilty of improper conduct. And in June or July last that defendant spent much time at Mrs. Thompson’s in the absence of Mr. Thompson, & since that time has frequently been at Mr. Thompson’s and some times gone into the back door & staid one to two hours and the children were sent to his house on those occasions on errands and that they frequently staid some time at his house & if they returned before defendant was gone, they would immediately be out the door playing or at the neighbors. Witness further saith that Mr. Thompson according to appearance would in expectation of defendant’s visits would prepare her clothes & hair to receive him, and when disappointed by his not coming would some times come down to their house and express surprise that Mr. Darling had not been at his work.

Sister Butler’s testimony was in accordance with her husband’s with the exception of the Camp meeting at which she did not go & in addition to her husband’s testimony saith that on seeing Mrs. Thompson after defendant’s visits the hair of her head would be in a disordered state, which before was arranged in good order, and on seeing her, her face would be unusually red which had the appearance of being made so by a man’s beard, and further saith at a certain time after defendant had been at Mr. Thompson’s some time, Mr. Thompson was seen coming home and when he arrived at the door was prevented coming in by Mrs. Thompson and shortly after defendant was seen in the woods back of the house going towards home with his hat turned in such a manner as to prevent being known, & witness further saith that at a meeting at Br. Archibald’s, defendant seated Mrs. Thompson in the corner of the house by the cupboard and shortly after took his seat by her and that after defendant had prayed while they were yet kneeled down, defendant whisper[ed] to her, and soon after defendant withdrew from the meeting and after about fifteen minutes Mrs. Thompson went out, and after staying about ten minutes Mrs. Thompson came back, and whispered to Caroline Cunningham & his [Mr. Butler’s] daughter Mary and told them that defendant was waiting for them to have them go home.

Sister Electa Higgins called and her testimony was in agreement with the above, altho not as much passed under her observation but saith further that while she was sick, she sent some two or three times to have defendant come and visit her, but could not obtain a visit from him; his excuse was want of time and yet each day that she made the request saw defendant go past her house and was informed that defendant was at Mrs. Thompson’s and spent some time.

Sister Poucher’s testimony corroborated the testimony before given as regards defendant’s particular and fond attention to Mrs. Thompson.

Sister Caroline Cunningham [was asked the following] question, Did you see defendant soon after these reports came out? Answer, “I did at Mr. [David] Pease’s & Mrs. Pease said, ‘you are quite a stranger.’ Defendant answered, “yes, & I should be more so had not hell broke loose.”

Br. [Jonathan] Vangorden being called up the second time saith he called at Mr. Thompson’s and saw Mrs. Thompson before the Looking Glass fixing her in fashionable state, and said to Mrs. Thompson, “shall I speak to Mr. Thompson to come to tea? She said “No, tea is not ready.” She then asked witness if he had seen Mr. Darling that day. He said no. Shortly after saw Mr. Darling go to Mr. Thompson’s (sun being about one hour & a half hour high) and after sun down defendant left Mr. Thompson’s house and soon after this Mrs. Thompson came to Mr. Butler’s with her hair down in a confused or snarled state and requested witness to call Mr. Thompson to tea. Witness further saith that he has seen similar occurrences in relation to Mrs. Thompson’s hair before & after defendant’s visits, and witness further saith that after unfavourable reports had gone out against defendant, he (defendant) was very inquisitive to know what those reports were that he might put a stop to them. Witness said he could not put a stop to them, they had gone too far, and after being repeatedly pressed and urged, defendant said to him I will tell you one thing if you will not tell of it, and then told witness that he (defendant) had hugged Mrs. Thompson and showed him how he done it.

Br. Almon Archibald’s testimony saith Mrs. Thompson, on being interrogated, admitted that defendant had hugged and kissed her, but denied that they had ever had any criminal intercourse together.

Charge [of] Lying

Br. Almon Archibald saith that defendant, on being asked whether he had hugged & kissed Mrs. Thompson, said he had not, but when he was told that Mrs. Thompson had confessed it, he (defendant) confessed that he had done so.

Hiram G. Warner, Secretary

The committee report that the charges which have been preferred against defendant have been fully sustained.

[signatures]

Nathaniel Billings

Alanson Benjamin

William Dobson

At the Quarterly Meeting Conference held at Owego on the 19th of January 1833, the trial of David Darling came on, who was a Local Preacher in said Station, whereupon the Rev. C. W. Harris was appointed Secretary and the following charges preferred. See Document No. A.

At six o’clock P.M. Conference adjourned until eight o’clock the same evening.

Eight o’clock Conference met according to adjournment, the former Secretary not being present, Hiram G. Warner was appointed, and the case of David Darling resumed. The first charge being considered he was on all the specifications adjudged Guilty.

The second charge considered, found Guilty.

It was then moved and seconded that David Darling be appraised of his affair and suspended from all church privileges for three months. Lost.

Moved and seconded that David Darling be expelled carried by a majority of nine against two.

Mr. Darling being called, he was informed by the chair that he was expelled on which he gave notice that it was his intention to appeal.

Morgan Sherman

Alanson Benjamin

Eleazer Dana, 2d

William Barnes

Henry Weed

Daniel Farnham

Francis Donlevy

Joseph A. Ketchum

Hiram G. Warner, Secretary

[Rev.] Horace Agard, President