Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-07-14
A PASTOR ARRAIGNED FOR sEDUC
rION.

were put In our possession tending to prove, al
most beyond u doubt, that minister Of Cum
berland Presbyterian church of Allegheny city
was guilty of having seduced young girl from
Missouri who had been placed under his care
by her parents to educate. We therefore pub
lishsd the bare fact, leaving out all names how
ever A day or two after, the Rev gentleman
called upon US and entered into long and de-
tailed statement endeavOring to establish his
innocence of the charge; but as the explanation
WAS not deemed sufficient by US to warrant a
contradiction, We declined complying with his
request to recall what had been previously
stated.
Since that time, corroborative testimony of
guilt has almost daily been pouring in. but we
have refrained from making an expose, or even
further mention OF the matter; both for the sake
OF The girl aad her relations and also the pastor
and his congregation, hoping that it would be
arranged and justice done without the necessity
for such proceeding. But as the case will
undergo investigation by the Presbytery of Al
leghany of the Cumberland Presbyterian
church, which meets to-day, July s, at or near
rreeport, Armstrong county, for the purpose of
trying their suspected brother, and deciding
upon his guilt or innocence. and as afidayits
were yesterday made before Alderman Steele.
of this city, by the persons who saw the two in
the same bed together on board the steamboat
Iowa we feel called upon no longer to shrink
from laying before the public the facts in our
possession, and the names of all the parties
Concerned and we do so without any comment,
although the just sense of indignation which we
feel at the recital of such cOnsummate hypocri-
sy, deceitfulness, yillany and wrong makes this
rather hard task.
The injured girls name is Sallie Henderson,
aged about l6 years, and her father o. C.. Hen.
derson) with the remainder of his family are
now residing in Lexington Missouri. but were
formerly of this city. Rev T. j. Simpson is
the minister, and he has been pastor of the
Cumberland Presbyterian church in Allegheny
city Tor number of years-in fact he built it
up lie also holds several other responsible Do
slt0ns In the Cumberland Presbyterian church,
Mr.. ;. is considered to be an eloquent preacber
and good theOlOgist, but has always borne a
reputation for indiscreetness in associatiny with
the ladies, and il i, said he promised to marry
several of them, but as yet be remains bache-
lor of some thirty years.
Miss henderson was placed under his guar
dIanShlp by her parents to educate he kindly
offering to defray the expenses of tuition. She
has been attending the Wsynesburg PA. Fe-
male College long time, but Mr. Simpson
went out to her in the month of May, to go with
him To pay a visit to her relations as he had To
attend the General Assembly at St. Louis, Mo.
The gentleman went to Capt. Deyenny, of
the Arctic, at this port, two days before she was
advertised to start out, and represented where
he was going, and asked the privilege of com
ing on board at that time as staying at the
Mononsaheia House was very expensive The
AciuCSl was granted. MT. - told the clerk to
register the name as Rev. Simpson and lady
which was DONE and the couple occupied one
state room two nights before the boat left the
wharf Before leaving, on some pretence we
forget what, Mr.. 5. got another state room. and
had young lady quartered with Miss Hender-
son+ VI course nothing wrong was suspected.
rs NJ was believed that they were lawful man
and.wife. At Cincinnati they shipped on an
other boat Tor St. Louis, and we heard no more
Of them until the Rev. Simpson applies at the
81 Louis wharf, to M Daniel Moore, clerk Of
the seeamer Iowa, aud engages passage for him.
sell, Ms henderson, and Revs. Hudson and
Mulersof Waynesburg to come to this place
ThssuspiciOns of Capt Moore and his broth
or, the first clerk, became aroused by several
scnonsgon the part of Mr.. Simpson and his
young ghdy. For instance, they would be near
ly always out of sight, he in her state room or
sne ~ MS, except at meal times, and when in
the cabin would carry on very foolishly and
indlrreetly- Having been told by the cham
bermeld that Mr.. Simpson had been alone in
Miss Henderson ; state room several times the
captain and clerk determined to satisfy them
selves IT any improper connection really ex-
isseDoetWeen them Accordingly, the steward
ordered that two little girls Occupying the next
state toOm to Miss HendersOn's 3, should be re-
mosu lie then had 81 inlet hole bored in the
belkhead, by which a view could be obtained
ot everything IN the LADY, apartment
That night, about teff or eleven o'clock he
went INTO the adjoining room, and on looking
through the hole some three or four minutes
Was enabled to distinguish, by the light shed
from lamp burning Ill the cabin, that two per-
sons were occupying the lower berth as three
feet were distinctly visible, and also an arm
thrown from the far side over the top of the
covering, with gold chain button clasping the
wrist Ihe steward then went and informed
the captain and clerks and Rev Hudson of
what he had seen, and all soon became convinced
Of the truth Of the statement by Occular demon
stratlon Captain Moore then knocked at the
state room door and demanded admittance
mere was no answer Tor few moments, when
Miss Henderson cried out - Yes, captain I
Will open the door, If you will wait a moment -
Mr. Simpson was found lying on the bed with
his pantaloOns on, and endeavored To make a
transparent defence by pleading that the lady
would not allow him to leave her, as she was
afraid TO stay by herself. The captain was in
dlgnant, and ordered the two to get ready TO
be put on shore Immediately. However, Rev.
Hudson had conversation with Mr. Simpson,
and afterwards prevailed upon the captain to
take them to Wheeling, VIE, g all four REV.
elmPson, Miss Henderson, and Reys Hudson
and Mlllerl left the boat and pursued their way
10 Waynesburg Female College where the girl
was left, but from which, we believe, she has
been since expelled.
10 the above statement Of things which oc-
Cured on the Iowa, Captain Moore and his
brother, the first clerk, Daniel Moore together
with v. Y. bunting, the second clerk, and L.
r Oberlln, the steward, have qualified them
Ives before Alderman Steele, which afiadayits
will be offered as evidence again Mr. Simpson
In the Presbytery. He was notified To attend
at the squiTes office, but did not 60 1t is
said that to shield himself somewhat the rev.
erend seducer has circulated the report that
the clerks on the Iowa threatened TO force an
entrance into Miss Henderson, state room. and
that he was there TO defend her But this he
pronounced ialse himself when accused of hay-
ing done so by Mr. Moore last Thursday.
The issue of the trial Of Mr. Simpson by the
Presbytery of Allegheny will be looked for with
painful interest Ii is most probable that he
will be expelled from the church. Atleast this
should be DONE unless he establishes his limo.
cence beyond reasonable doubt, which would
seem almost impossible in the face Of such
damning evidence.
- The IoniS hoaStinO Of hayInO