Reward for Stolen Clothing.

New York, 1895

John Quincy Adams, of Riverhead, whose daughters, Nettie and Sadie, aged 19 and 16, respectively, had their clothes stolen while bathing at Wildwood lake, posted the following notice:

$100 reward is offered for evidence that will lead to the arrest and conviction of the party who stole clothing belonging to my children while in bathing at the great pond, Riverhead, June 1895. JOHN Q. ADAMS.

The theft is believed to have been the work of a practical joker. The clothes have not been recovered.

—The Long Island Farmer, Jamaica, NY, July 5, 1895, p. 1.

Stole the Girls' Clothing.

New York, 1895

Three young and pretty girls went out to Wildwood lake, Riverhead, Tuesday afternoon to bathe. After they had taken their dip they found that some person had stolen their clothing. After waiting until dark they walked through the woods in their bathing suits to the house of Benjamin Terrell, about a mile and a quarter distant. As Mr. Terrell has no girls in his family the unfortunates had to keep on to the next neighbor, who fitted them out with temporary costumes, and they returned home.


Held Up a Telephone Girl.

Michael Hardy of Port Jefferson held up Miss Lizzie C. Lawrence, the Western Union operator, on Monday and frightened her into giving him money. When the follow repeated his demands the terrified girl succeeded in attracting the attention of a passerby and Hardy was made a prisoner. He was sent up for thirty days.

—The Long Island Farmer, Jamaica, NY, June 28, 1895, p. 8.

Fashion Changes — Women Drift From Womanly Ideals

1910

By Stella B. Ames

The advent of the immodest gown came with the appearance of the peekaboo waists some five years ago and since then women have been vying with each other, seemingly, to see to what extent they could go in displaying their forms. Evening gowns have been opened clear down the back and down as low in front as is possible. The display in New York during the grand opera season, for instance, is absolutely horrifying.

The directoire gown came into style, and although it was not carried out to the letter, yet the spirit of the gown was carried out shamefully. Even though the slit up the side has not been worn open, the skirts have been so disposed that the entire outline of the body has been shown plainly.

The Dutch necks carried the peekaboo waists one step farther and the short skirts which have been worn the last two years have been affected by middle aged women who are willing to show a good portion of their ankles.

Even the bathing suits have been becoming more and more immodest. Fifty years ago the bloomers were worn clear down to the ankles and the skirts came way below the knees. Now neither the bloomer or the skirt quite reaches the knee.

I do not believe that most women consciously set out to dress immodestly. Most of them just blindly follow the fashions. A little honest thought, however, will show that women as a class have drifted very far away from the womanly ideals which should prompt all women. I believe that we should combine to bring about a common sense revolution in dress.

Frog Jumps Inside Woman's Bathing Suit

1910

Interrupts Lesson, Causes Commotion

New York. — It is written in the philosophy of Capt. James Fitzgerald, instructor at Piasa Pool, that there is always a way — that is, nearly always. But there was no way that he could suggest when a bullfrog jumped inside of a woman's bathing suit.

Captain Fitzgerald was giving a swimming lesson when a bullfrog sat in a crevice at the edge of the pool and watched the proceedings with interest. "One, two, three," chanted Captain Fitzgerald, and just as he said "three," a boy running by on the brink of the pool, startled the frog and he leaped wildly into the pool.

The woman pupil wore a low-cut bathing suit, a trifle loose at the neck. The frog landed inside and both tried to get out. While Fitzgerald hesitated and stammered, another woman swam to the one in need of help, reached inside of her bathing suit and caught the frog and withdrew it and thereby earned the gratitude of the woman — and the frog.


Made Sure of Death

A student of a school in Shinshu, Japan, recently committed suicide by jumping into the crater of Asamayama. The tragedy was not discovered until three days afterward, when some documents left by the suicide near the crater were picked up.

Pastor Marries Couple In Bathing Suit, May or May Not Have Involved a Mud-Hole

Lawton, Oklahoma, 1922
----------
["Saturday" was April 29, 1922]

ABDUCTION OF LAWTON MINISTER STILL UNEXPLAINED; VICTIM FOUND BOUND AND GAGGED IN MUD-HOLE, BUT IS NOT HURT

Associated Press Dispatch.

LAWTON, Ok., May 1. - Both factions of his congregation here today were discussing the abduction Saturday night of Rev. Thomas J. Irwin, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, who was found lying in a mud-filled ditch twelve miles east of here shortly after midnight Saturday, bound and gagged and in a semi-conscious condition. There was much speculation as to what action Rev. Mr. Irwin would take in the matter, for beyond saying that he recognized none of the three men who felled with a blow on the head on a street here and then took him in an automobile to the place where he was found, the pastor has not made a statement as to what he intended doing about it.

Faction Sought His Removal

Rev. Mr. Irwin, whose removal is being sought by a portion of his flock because he married a couple in a public bathing pool, exhibited moving pictures in his church and preached the funeral sermon over Jake L. Hamon more than a year ago, is to be tried by his presbytery on charges of conduct unbecoming of a minister on May 9. Recently he announced that certain persons were trying to intimidate him and force him to leave town.

Threatened Once Before

Saturday night was the second time within two months that he has been approached by three men. The first time, he said, he was confronted by a trio as he was leaving his church one Sunday night and at the point of guns warned to leave town.

Rev. Mr. Irwin lay in the mud-hole approximately three and a half hours before five persons in an automobile bound for Medicine Park, a resort near here, picked him up and took him to the residence of Senator J. E. Thomas nearby, where first aid was administered.

Escaped Uninjured

Irwin today reiterated his belief that the men had chloroformed him after rendering him unconscious. He was not injured by the men, he said, and today appeared none the worse for his experience.


Associated Press Dispatch.

LAWTON, Ok., May 1. -Resignation of the session, the executive body of the First Presbyterian church here, with the announcement that it would complain to the Oklahoma Synod against what it termed the "persecution" of the pastor, the Rev. Thomas J. Irwin, and a statement by the minister that members of a church faction were responsible for his abduction by three unidentified men late Saturday night, were developments today in the attempt of a part of the church membership to have Irwin removed. The judicial commission of the governing presbytery will hear on May 3 charges against Irwin, alleged misconduct unbecoming a minister.

Charges Against Presbytery

The session, which has supported Irwin thruout unanimously adopted a resolution, before resigning, declaring that the El Reno Presbytery, which has jurisdiction over the local church has "been unfair, unchristian, unpresbyterian and irregular in all its proceedings against the pastor and the session." The resolution further charged that the action of the Presbytery constituted "the darkest chapter in the annals of Presbyterianism in the United States, more cruel than the Spanish inquisition."

--Denton Record-Chronicle, Denton, Texas, May 1, 1922, page 1.



STARTS PROBE OF LAWTON KIDNAPING

Abduction of Minister Outside Hands of Church — County Steps In.

(Associated Press.)

LAWTON, Okla., May 2.—The Lawton Presbyterian church controversy got outside the confines of the church today, when county authorities took a hand.

A civil court of inquiry was under way, directed by County Attorney Riley who has undertaken to determine the identity of three men who last Saturday night abducted the pastor, the Rev. Thomas J. Irwin and threw him into a ditch outside Lawton, half conscious and tied and gagged.

Filing of criminal charges, the county attorney said, would depend on the outcome of the investigation. The county attorney today prepared subpoenaes for about thirty persons who had been ousted from Pastor Irwin's church by the church session or executive board, with the sanction of Mr. Irwin and who have joined the movement to have him expelled from the Lawton pulpit.

Mr. Riley said all the suspended members or anti-Irwin factionists would be interrogated about abduction and asked to explain their whereabouts on the night the alleged slugging and kidnapping took place.

Pastor Irwin and three members of the church session were called in last night and questioned at length when the county attorney decided to convene the Inquiry court.

--The Lincoln Star, Lincoln, Nebraska, May 2, 1922, page 7.



LAWTON PASTOR CALLED BEFORE PROBERS TODAY

Scandalized Minister Will Explain Conduct To Judicial Board.

RESIGNATION HINTED

Irwin Announces He May Quit Church That Put Fire On His Head.

(By the Associated Press)

LAWTON, May 9. -The judicial commission of the El Reno Presbytery, which has jurisdiction in this territory, met here this morning to hear charges of "conduct unbecoming a minister of the Presbyterian church" against the Rev. Thomas J. Irwin, pastor of the First Presbyterian church of Lawton.

Mr. Irwin announced recently that he would resign from the church and his request for dissolution of his pastoral relations with the local church was to be presented to the commission this morning. This action, in the opinion of the Presbytery, will eliminate the necessity of a trial.

When Jake L. Hamon was buried at Ardmore more than two years ago, the Rev. Mr. Irwin preached the funeral services, eulogizing the former republican national committeeman. The pastor had been a constant supporter of Hamon and this with the funeral service brought dismay to his congregation, split the church, and resulted in part of the congregation leaving. Then last summer the minister married a couple in a bathing pool at a summer resort here, and more withdrawals from the church followed.

Who Fired Church?

Recent fires were discovered in that portion of the church built by Mr. Hamon and arrangements were made to destroy the motion picture booth placed in the church by Hamon. Then later, on Saturday night, the pastor was abducted by three unidentified persons, and he was found several hours later in a mud-hole near a summer resort near this place.

An investigation by county authorities followed, the result being that charges of arson were filed against the pastor and a member of the church board of session, which had resigned. Arraignment on this charge is scheduled for tomorrow. The county attorney announced that his investigation of the alleged abduction led him to believe that it had been arranged and the matter was dropped.

--The Ada Evening News, Ada, Oklahoma, May 9, 1922, page 1.



MINISTER'S FROCK TORN FROM IRWIN

LAWTON PASTOR HELD GUILTY IN THREE CHARGES

Rigid Secrecy Is Followed in Hearing Before Presbytery.

IS DENIED COUNSEL

Defendant Is Silent On Trial But Announces He Will Appeal.

LAWTON, July 28.—By his conviction at the secret trial on the widely heralded bathing suit charge, and allegations of perjury and high handed discipline of members of his flock, the Rev. Thomas J. Irwin former pastor of the Lawton Presbyterian church, was unfrocked as a minister of the Presbyterian church in the United States of America early today by the judiciary commission of the El Reno presbytery. "You are indefinitely suspended as a minister of the Presbyterian church in the United States of America and may the Lord have mercy upon you," read the verdict of the trial body.

The expulsion of Irwin from the ministry came as a close of the episode growing out of the bitter controversy in the Lawton church. The convicted minister gave notice to the trial commission of an appeal to the synod of Oklahoma, the next highest body in the church. The synod is scheduled to meet in October.

Mr. Irwin was found guilty of conduct unbecoming a minister in performing a marriage ceremony last summer in Medicine Park, a resort near here, in which the principals, including the minister, wore bathing suits. It is alleged that the wedding was conducted in a spirit of revelry, bringing disrepute upon the church.

He was convicted of having sworn a false affidavit to obtain a district court injunction restraining interference with his conduct of the affairs of the Lawton church.

Undue Discipline Charged

The third count upon which the jury voted guilty was disciplining of members of his congregation without due process provided by church regulations.

Rigid secrecy was maintained as to the trial procedure although it was known that a number of members and former members of the Lawton church were called to testify.

Mr. Irwin refused to comment on the verdict. He had previously announced, however, that he would carry the issue even to the general assembly of the Presbyterian church if the outcome of the trial should be adverse.

Mr. Irwin conducted his own defense at the trial having been denied the right of counsel.

It was announced that he filed a motion during the proceedings asking disqualification of two members of the commission, J. E. McQueen and J. H. Webb, alleging bias and unfairness. The motion was overruled.

Weight to Represent Irwin in Appeal

OKLAHOMA CITY, July 28. — Rev. Thomas J. Irwin, former pastor of the first Presbyterian church at Lawton, today suspended as a minister, will be represented by Rev. C. C. Weigh of Ardmore in his appeal to the Oklahoma synod from his conviction yesterday at his secret trial before the El Reno presbytery on three counts of ecclesiastical charges.

This announcement was made here by the Eugene Hamilton of Chickasha, Irwin's attorney, who arrived today from Lawton after a conference with the former pastor. Hamilton was not allowed to appear in Irwin's behalf at the trial and the minister conducted his own defense.

In a statement to newspaper men Attorney Hamilton emphasized that Irwin was suspended from the ministry and not from the church, and that he can be reinstated at any time the presbytery sees fit.

--The Ada Evening News, Ada, Oklahoma, July 28, 1922, page 1.



PASTOR LOSES SYNOD APPEAL

Bathing Pool Marriage Ceremony Origin of Rev. Irwin's Troubles

TULSA, Okla., Oct. 13.—The conviction of the Rev. Thomas J. Irwin, of Lawton, on charges of conduct unbecoming to a minister, and his indefinite suspension from the ministry was upheld early today by the judicial commission of the Presbyterian synod of Oklahoma, after a review of the findings of the El Reno presbytery before which Mr. Irwin was recently tried.

Counsel for the suspended minister gave notice that the case would be appealed to the general assembly or the Presbyterian church which meets next May in Indianapolis.

THREE CHARGES ADVANCED.

The Rev. Irwin was convicted on three counts. He was found guilty of having brought disrepute on the church by marrying a couple in a bathing pool at a summer resort near Lawton. The bride and groom and the minister wore bathing suits. The other charges were that he swore to a false affidavit to obtain an injunction in district court to prevent members of his congregation in Lawton from interfering with his conduct of the affairs of the church, and that he had disciplined members of the congregation without due process.

Mr. Irwin faces trial in district court at Lawton on a charge of arson in connection with an alleged incendiary fire at his former church.

"ATTACKS" DISCREDITED.

The fire occurred while he was still pastor. The minister was found outside Lawton on two occasions, this summer suffering from attacks he attributed to men who, he charged were trying to drive him out of Lawton.

The county attorney, after an investigation, declared that the abductions were "framed by the minister himself."

Charges have been made repeatedly by friends and counsel for Mr. Irwin that the whole controversy at Lawton grew out of the pastor's friendship for the late Jake Hamon, Republican national committeeman of Oklahoma, for whose death Clara Smith Hamon. was tried at Ardmore for murder.

The Ogden Standard-Examiner, Ogden City, Utah, October 13, 1922, page 7.



From an account of the Presbyterian Church of the United States of America's general assembly, May 24, 1923:

The only case of wide importance reviewed was the appeal of the Rev. Thomas J. Irwin, of Lawton, Okla., from the verdict of the El Reno Presbytery and the Oklahoma Presbytery, indefinitely suspending him from the ministry on charges of conduct unbecoming a minister, violation of his ordination vows and violation of church laws. The Rev. Mr. Irwin came into prominence when he preached a sermon defending the private life of one of his former parishoners, the late Jake Hamon, former Republican national committeeman, who was shot to death by a woman relative. Later he was charged with having married a couple while he and the other principals were dressed in bathing suits, and his troubles with the Presbytery growing out of that affair included civil and criminal court actions, an attempt to burn his church, charges that he had set the fire, two assaults in which he was badly beaten by masked men, and other occurrences.

The judicial commission found that the sentence of indefinite suspension which, the report said "is the ecclesiastical capital punishment," was too severe, and that a reprimand or very limited suspension would have been sufficient. It therefore, recommended, and the Assembly approved, that Mr. Irwin should be restored to membership in the El Reno Presbytery and given a letter to any Presbytery to which he might choose to transfer.

--The Landmark, Statesville, North Carolina, May 28, 1923, page 2.