Richmond Indiana palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1837-1839, 1838-06-09

Impositions are 50 frequently practiced upon
the community, by tales Of shipwreck captivity,
RESOLUTIONS by earthquakes, volcanic eruptions,
&c. that strong duty seems to dcvslvc upon
the press to place the public on their guard, by
exposing the impostors. On Saturday last, We
transferred into this paper article which or
iginally appeared in the Massi!lon (Oho) Ga
Zcttc, detaiin. the circumstances attending the
impressment and long captivity Of JOHN
WOOD, who is stated to have been at the COM
mencemcnt Of the Of 1879, ~ Young and in
dustrious farmer of Bracken county, On Thurs
day, after that tale of captivity, well calcu,ed
to enlist the public sympathy, was put i.::o the
hams OF the compos;or, no less a parsonage
than JOSH Wood, the vertbie capfirc HIMSELF
appeared in our city, and attracted crowds 10 see
him. and TO hear from his own lips detail Of his
wrongs and suierings in British prison ships and
on board Of British men OF war. Some heard
his narrative without suspicion of imposture-
others, more increduuOus, believed that his lam
guagc was too chaste, and his department too re-
fined, for British sailor. and occasionally insn-
uated a doubt as to the truth of his statements.
On FriGav the impression became general that
he was an impostor, and to one of the citizens
who had ques toned him pretty closely, he finally
acknowledged the fact, and Immediately express
ed a wish to see the resident minister of the
Methodist Episcopal church. Upon arriving at
the residence Of that gentleman he unexpected
~ met. and was soon recognized by venerable
clergyman OF the same denomination late of o.
hio. As soon as Wood beheld this venerable
minister of the cross, he burst into tears and de-
clared that he had come to acknowledge the fact
that he WIS m impostor. The history Of Wood,
as far as known together with his disclosures, are
in substance as follows:
lie is a native Of Vermont. between 80 and sc
wears of age, about the ordinary size. Of rather
pleasant countenance. and agreeable Manners
Abou, IL or l years since, he came TO Moscow,
Ohio in feeble health, and repeated substantially,
the same tale which he has told at Massl!on and
other places, with this difference in the version,
that he left Mother and two sisters in Vermont
instead of a wife and two children in Kentucky
and that his capture took place at different times
and under other circumstances from that now re
lated His tale was readily credited. and he OBJ
tanned employ mcnt a wood chopper for the glas:
works then in operation at Moscow. He remain
cd in that stua tior for two years. and by his IN
dustry and morality gained the respect ant. conn
dence Of the neighborhood. He subsequently,
became member Of the Methodist Episcopa
church-and shortly after was licensed to preach
1 the Gospel He was assigned by the presiding
Elder. to the St. Mary's mission; and after dis
charging his duties for some time to all human
appearances. with the utmost fidelity, he was 8
unfortunate. when absent from home to be
come intoxicated, and feeling himself disgraced
he abandoned his station. and no trace was after
wards heard Of him. His subsequent history
related bv himself He states that after leavin
his charge he first wandered to New Orleans