The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1857-09-26
Young Girl Seduccd by a Clergyman
in Burlington. N. J..
(From the Trenton Gazette, August 3t.)

The citizens of Burlington were thrown in
to a state of intense excitement on Friday
last, by the circu atl"n of a rumOr that Rev.
William B. Sutherland, OF that city had been
guilty Of the crime of selucing the daughter
# Il member of his church, who was just
turned Of fifteen years o! age. An investiga-
tion Of the rumOr led to the painful concu-
sion that it was, in all its enormlty, too true
to he disbeleved. Itappears that on Wednes-
day afternoon last sutherland went to the
house OF the girls father for is intended
victim to come and Assist soma other girls in
a ranging some books i'm his library, il being
previously understood that several were to
meet for that purpose. The girl not respond
ng t" the invitation, Sutherland sent again,
ami thus S. cOnd invitation she un.or'u'sicly
obeyed. On reaching Surherland's house he
invited her into the library, when she was
surprised to find herself the only female pres
ent He Immediately commenced his ad-
vanccs and familiarities with her, drew her
into chamber, and there succeeded in over
coming her 1t is very remarkable that as
the young victim of this mans seductons was
leaving the house she encountered Suther-
lands wife, who was just at that moment re-
turning home after an absence of some DAYS.
The wife noticed the flushed and excited ap-
pearance Of the girls countenance, and in
quired the cause why she had been crying,
&c. to which evasve answers were returned,
and the outraged child fastened home to the
house of her parents. On Thursday she re-
lated to her mother the particulars of the
shame that had been practiced upon her, and
the mother Immediately waited upon one of
the dea 'ons of Sutherland's church and relat-
ed the circumstances. He Immediately call
ed in brother deacon, and the two went d.
rectly to Sutherland's house, where they in.
formed him of the charge made against him.
Sutherland admitted that he had taken many
liberties with the child, but deiied the charge
of seduction. His whole conduct and man.
ner however, was such as to convince the two
that be was guilty, and they informed him at
once that all further intercourse with him,
as pastor OF their church, was at an end.
In the meantime the father of the girl who
had been made acquainted with the atrocious
crime, which had been perpetrated on his
child. His evaporation became uncontroll-
able, and arming himself for the purpose of
taking summary vengeance on the destroyer,
he started in pursuit of him. But an intima-
ton. to Sutherland that his life was in danger,
enabled him to escape over the back fence of
his garden, only few minutes in advance of
his justly indignant pursuer.
This clerical hypocrite is about thirty years
of age, and has been in charge of church at
Burlington since last year. He went there
from Lodi, near Jersey City, but where he is
now one no one can tell. The victim of his
arts is barely fifteen years of age, and has
borne an unblcmished character Her family
also are of unimpeached standing, and enjoy
the respect and esteem of all who knew
thop,