Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1854-04-26
DAILY EVENING STAR.
From the Saugerties Telegraph, April Is.
AREvERRND SCOUNDREL.

From the Saugerties Telegraph, April Is.
REVEREND SC0UNDREL.
1t will be seen in another column that
the council of the Bishop Church, held
m this village on Wednesday last, has
deposed Rev. j. r. johnson from the
Gospel ministry and membership in the
Church. He was pastor of the Baptist
congregation here for several years, and
during the former part of that connection
exerted good influence and was much
esteemed, On the fourth day of last
August, himself, wife, and two small chill
dred took sail up the creek, and before
their return she and the youngest child
were drowned. He stated that having
landed on the shore to pick some berries
they again embarked, his wife stepping
into the boat with the youngest child in
her arms that he pushed the boat from
shore and stepped in himself, when she
stumbled and fell overheard, and in en-
deavoring to save her he too fell into the
water, and that after some struggling
there they became separated that he
finally reached bottom where he could
stand, and then discovered his wife some
eight feet from him in deep water, and
the infant further off. He ran for help
to the nearest house, over half mile dis
tant, andreturned in about thirty minutes,
when she was found dead and floating near
the shore. Great sympathy was mani
tested for him on account of this afflic-
ton
Shortly afterwards various rumors were
atioat questioning the truth of his state
ment in regard to the death eff his wife.
which were caused by bis own subsequent
misconduct. Whether she came to her
death as he allegedis is matter upon which
people may form their own opinions,
taken in connection with his conduct be.
fore and afterward, but upon which no
direct testimony can be produced, as no
one except himself was witness.
After the death of his wife, certain in
timacies with young woman in this
village caused considerable talk, and it
was discovered that last summer, before
his wife's decease, they had visited Sarato-
60 Springs together, which, however, was
not discovered until afterwards. He had
formerly been pastor of Baptist Church
IN Henderson, Jefferson County, and dur
ing the winter and spring it was found
that while there he was on terms too in
innate with one or two young women.
which facts were communicated to the
Baptist Church here, and an investiga.
tion called for in Henderson at which he
was invited to be present. This was
accepted and he appeared in his defence,
but SO stubborn were the facts presented,
that he only entangled himself by talk
ing, and was advised to sit down by one
of the council and call it all badI bad
bad.!! This evidence was communicated
to the Church here, and Council con-
vened to act in the matter. He was no.
titled, but did not appear, and gave some
excuse, whereupon the Council proceeded.
The evidence from the Church at Hen
derson was read, but not being present,
we had to learn from others what in con.
sisted of, the substance of which is given
above. 1t tended, if it did not directly,
to prove him guilty Of adultery.
In the afternoon we were present. when
the Rev. Mr.. Hughes, of Lansingburgh
informed the council that within few
months the young woman referred to from
this village attended the Seminary in that
place, and that one day, during the alb.
sence of Mr.. Hatch, the Principal, She
requested of his daughter, the preceptress, :,
to be absent, saying that Mr.. johnson.
who was then at a Seminary, wished to
accompany her to Troy, where he had
left two cousins who were desirous of
seeing her. Miss Hatch refused to let
her go, but she left without permission,
and did not return until the next
day. She was brought to account by
the Principal, who inquired where she
had stayed during the night, but she said
she did not know. Inquiry was made in
Troy without avail, and the truth was
finally obtained by stratagem. The
young woman was induced to believe that
she had been detected, and acknowledged
that they had lodged together at the Man.
sion House in Troy, where Illicit inter-
course had transpired between them. She
was dismissed from the Seminary. and
returned home.
The Council was composed of seven
ministers and large number of laymen.
and when the question was put equity "
or &c not guilty" ofthe hefornication charged,
there was unanimous vote in the affirm
ative. We deeply regret that the facts
warrant this conclusion, and that a man
so capable of usefulness should be found
so corrupt and hardened in iniquity.
That he should have the hardihood to
occupy the pulpit and preach the pure
doctrines of the Gospel, and at the same
time be engaged in concocting licentious
schemes, shows him to be villain of no
ordinary stamp, and as such we feel JUS
titled in publishing him to the world.