The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1857-06-18
REV. JOSEPH RARCLAY

item from the OarrolltOn Dentccrdt about thu
case, and for doing so. we were most roundly
abused by one Of his freedom shrieking pOliti
cal pulpit preaching bruther reUerends of Cadiz
through the columns Of the Cadiz Republican.
The Carrollton Democrat has the following
account of the trial.
sharp VS.. Barclay.
The trial of this case, involving the character
of the very Rev. Mr.. Barclay; noticed in thi,
paper last winter as the black Republican prea
cher of Norristown, charged with seduction
came up last Friday noon, in the Court of Com.
mon Pleas, Judge Hoffman on the Bench. The
court house was packed almost to suffocation by
a multitude unprecedented in the history Of ju.
dicial proceedings in this county, thinned as il
was on that day by crowds, which, waiting from
time to time for the appearance Of the case, left
at last for their homes with the impression that
it was postponed until next term. Strange as
appears, it it is still true that, very great pro-
portion orthe people present were the friends,
religious and political, Of the accused, who, uT
to tie last hour of his trial, manifested their
predjudce in his behalf; but to their praise be il
said, when his guilt was no longer questionable,
their denunciation became as extreme as theil
former sympathy.
Nor was there vague shadow Of evidence be-
hind which the Rev gentleman, disrobed Of his
religious cloak could creep to HIDE from the con.
tempt ofany honest man. The testimony o.
his victim Miss Lizzie Sharp was irrefutable-
supported alone by her character, that OF mo-
dest, innocent girl-but it was corroborated by
correspondence and collateral testimony.
The story of her ruin as it fell from her own
lips, is in substance as follows;
In the year 1852, when but sixteen years Of
age, she became acquainted with the Rev. Bar
clay, who at that time was sent ''as supply
to the Seceder congregations of Norristown
Sharon and Clay Run. From the moment o.
their introduction the consecrated william culti-
waited an intimacy with ''Lizzie," which coun-
tenanced by her father Cher mother was dead)
and nurtured by the subtle influence of the Sc
ducer's position as spiritual adviser, by his ell
oquence and adroit approaches, grew in her
mind an imaginative attachment.
1t was his wont to make frequent calls at the
rural abode of the unsuspecting parent under
the guise Of religious visits, Mr.. Sharp being a
Seceder and an elder in the Church. At length
he succeeded in affectidg a residence beneath
his roof as boarder-to be cherished there un-
til the hearthstone desolated, and the sanctity
as Illc dSSYluHl vi
he should leave it, cursed by hearts blighted and
hopes withered.
Thus domciled in her own home he en-
braced many opportunities to plan insidious
wiles, for "Lizzie," in whose company he spent
much of his time assailing her heart, now with
pathetic prayers, now with amorous tlt-bits from
the rhymes of Byron Tom Moore ard Burns
Mtne 1t was not stated in evidence that the
Rev. gentleman ever quoted the following NOR
ceau from the last noble author, although the
"plow boy' seems to have the Rev. Mr.. Bar
clay, himself il view:
lis there in human form that bears heart,
wretch william! lost to love and truth!
That can with studied, sly, en-, naring art
Betray sweet "Lizzie's' unsuspecurg yonth!
Curses or his pe',ured arts assembling smooth!
Are honor, virtue, conscience allexlledf
Is there no pity, no re entins ruth.
Points to their pgrtnts tondling DER their child!
Then paints the ruined muiu and their distraction
wild.
Thus time progressed, he addressing himself
to his damned task with an angels grace, she,
implicitly confding in his specious promises,
every doubt put to flight by the character o
their utterer, "a chosen minister of the Most
High" In the summer of1856, "Lizzie," sent
to school at New Wilmington was accompanied
by the Rev. gentleman who found an excuse to
drive in that direction in his carriage, and un-
dertaking to secure her suitable boarding
house, also found an excuse TO take her back
with him, assuring her parent that there was no
place in Wilmington fit to receive his child. but
telling his victim he could not live without her
presence. 1t was during this trip the parties
contracted to marry, and shortly afterwards, the
Rev. gentleman accomplished her ruin, when, by
a cunning stratagem OF his own, she remained
the almost solitary occupant of her fathers
house.
From this period her story was the stereo
type tale Of neglect and final desertion.
In December of last year "Li2zie," then al
School, was returned by the matron of the es-
tablshment to Norristown, where the Rev. Lo-
thario was flourishing it as the friend of "bleed-
ing Kansas" and the enemy of bad whiskey.-
Her condition, the first development of theil
misfortune, fell with "a paralyzing blow upor
her family; and the father who had unwilling
ly introduced the devil to his domestic altar
sank into an untimely grave. The entire com
munity was thrown into commotion: but amid
the turmoil, the Rev. Mr. Barclay, the cause o
all bore his crest erect, with the easy confidence
of another Joseph, (his name) falsely accused
but firm in concious guiltlessness, and "trust
ing in the justice and mercy Of the Lord" In
fernal wretch! 1t was not hard for one who
when his work of ruin was accomplished, coulC
sink upon his knees with his victim in his arms
and offer as he did petition to God-the Faith
er of the Orphan-for pardon to play before the
public the part of prosecuted Christian. 81
we'll acted was this character and so desir0u'
were the deceived to remain such, that he actu'
ally continued to preach and break the bread o
abolitionism wet with their sisters tears anC
their brothers. blood.
In February this action then commenced, was
called from the docket, but, the proseeutrx be
ing unable attend, the case was adjourned unit
the June term. At some period since, the Rev
erend gentleman's child was ushered into exis
tence and also ushered out Of it, sickening, j
seemed in the atmosphere of the planet which
contained demon such as its mothers betray.
or Thus tripiy guilty-guilty Of the ru
in of one fellow being and the death o.
two others-our black republican disciple Of thu
pure and holy Christ, confronted the court.
The evidence Of Miss Sharp was accompan
led by his correspondence, as ardrous, fe:ven
and passionate, spiced withal by many pertin
ent transcripts from the scriptures and the
psalm book, as the most fevered imitator of Sa
pho could desire. The remaining members O
her family exclusive Of a juvenile, also delivered
their evidence and some other witnesses for thu
prosecution were heard, when it rested. Al
effort was made here--altogether nugatory---to
nonsuit the plaintiff. The onus of the plea was
that she had never after the development Of hel
misfortune formally requested the defendant tt
marry her. The Judge decided that this step
on her part would have been gratuitous, and
that the violation OF the contract was evident ir
the defendant's refusing to keep it, appearing in
court, denying every specification made by the
plaintiff, but if the Reverend would marry hel
then, and thus at last make the reparation in hi
power, the court would dismiss the case Du