The Daily empire. (Dayton, Ohio) 1865-1867, 1867-07-05
THE DAILY EMPIRE.
The Rev. DIR. Merrill-A Curiou
Case-ishe Dead or Alive?

Tie heV. OF. meErIlI-A curious
Case-ishe Dead or Alive?
A statement appeared In the Troy papers
yesterday morning to the effect that Rev.
5. NJ. Merrill, pastor of the Methodist
Church at Plattsburg, was drowned In the |
Saranac River. The story runs thai he
and his sons Charles and John, accompan-
led by young man named Brown, had
been fishing in that river, and as they were
about to return, Mr.. Merrill went to the
bow of the boat to haul In the anchor. In
doing so, he lost his balance, fell In the
river and was drowned. His body had not
been recovered up to Thursday evening.
There are some circumstances connected
with this affair which lead the public to
doObt the statement that the reverend gem
tleman has been drowned. 1t will be re-
membered that a few weeks ago his name
was mixed up with that Of young lady
Nho, II was asserted, had come up from
New England village to meet Mr.. Merrill
IN Troy. 1t was stated then in the Troy
papers that an elopement had been planned
by the parties, but that the whole thing
had been frustrated through the discovery
of the girls friends. Merrill went on West,
and the Sunday succeeding the meeting
between himself and the young lady,
preached In one of the villages of the Mo-
hawk Valley. The article In the Troy pa
pers was Indignantly denied by Merrill aud
his friends, and suspension of public
opinion was asked concerning the case.
Nothing more was heard of the Rev. Mr.
Merrill until the startling announcement
that he had been accidentally drowned IN
the Saranac river, leaving wife and niue
children to mourn his loss. This, indeed,
appears like a sad case, and one well calcu-
lated upon It's flce TO excite the sympathy
of the public. But is it true that Mr., Mer-
rill has actually "shuifled off this mortal
- n.sh hal to In, ti,n Al
waters Of Lake Champlain, food for the
| fishes he sought to ensnare into his net on
"Wednesday night, or is 1t nesting beside q
warm young laly In Canada, beyond the
reach alike Of. grapples for dead bodies or
Sheriff's bracelets
| II is said that once before he arranged a
plan so that .it would be reported chat he
had been drowned in Lake Chanlplain.
This was at the time he had arranged to
meet the young lady at Troy. He left
home with the understanding that lie was
going West to visit his graudnlother--had
his trunk taken to his stateroom on the
Lake Champlain steamer, and was partic-
ular to have his name entered in full upon
the passenger list on the boat. In the
morning the gentleman was not to be
found--he had stealthily left the boat Mt
the Burlington landing, about three o'clock
In the morning, but, learning that the
flight OF the young lady had been inter-
cepted. he invented reasons for giving up
his visit to his grandmother. In the mean
time. he preached in several churches and
returned home. But when he crossed the
threshold of his own house his children
did not recognize him--his appearance had
undergone wonderful change.
For seven years he had worn full, long
beard, and long hair-now the beard wa,
gone and his locks were shorn, The dis
guise was almost complete. These circum.
stances were regarded by incredulous peo'
pie as suspicious. and they were slow to be
iieve that Rev Mr.. Merrill was as innocen
as his story would lead them to suppose
However, his guilt or innocence was to de-
pend upon his future conduct. 1t was be
ileved that he continued to hold intercours,
with the young lady, ad 1t was reported
her parents were about to commence sui
against Merrill for attempting to abduC
her. or for q worse crime.
1t appears that Merrill had secured an in
surance oil his life, in an accident Insurance.
company, for the sum of six thousand dol
lars. This was to expire on Thursday noon
On Wednesday he drew two hundred dol
lars on his salary, and toward evening tool
two of his own boys and another boy o
the village of Plattsburg, and went on
fishing on the Saranac River. If hi
accident insurance was TO be mad
vailable. his time was short, and tn
drowning that was thwarted on tn
lake nliist be accomplished on the river, o
his plans would avail him nothing. Whel
1t became dark, and while pulling In tn
boat anchor, he suddenly went overheard
The water was shallow, aud there was NJ
current, but instead Of coming toward tn
boat In which were his affrighted boys, h.
went away from them as rapidly as posi-
BILE. They pushed the boat after him, bu
he told them to never mind him, he wa
well enough. and the last seen of him h.
was under the river bridge, aud disappearet
In the darkness.
The boys gave the alarm, search wa
made for the father and companion, bu
no trace could be found of him. He ma.
be drowned, as the diHrateh to the newspa
per press asserts, but the circumstance
connected with. the case make 1t appea
very doubtful.