The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1867-06-25
[From the Troy Times, the 1lth,]
A Methodist Minister Elopes with
a Girl of sIxteen--He Leaves 8,
Wife and Nine ChiIdren--A WOlr
in Sleeps Clothing.

The quiet village Of North Adams was
thrown into the widest excitement on
Sunday last by the discovery that Rev.
S. A. Merrill the late pastor of the Meth
odist Church at that place, had eloped
with a beautiful and interesting young
lady named Houghton, leaving wife and
nine children. 1t seems that both par
ties had been absent from the village
since Wednesday last, but as the young
lady had told her parents that she was
going to visit friend in the neighbor-
hood. and Mr.. Merrill had lately been
appointed to another charge rendering
his absence from home necessary con-
siderable portion Of the time, no sus-
lpicions were aroused until Sunday, when
the failure of either party to appear, ia
ken in connection with the remembrance
that there had been some former scandal
in relation to them, suggested that there
must be something wrong.
Accordingly. on Monday mornings the
friends of the young lady came to this
city, and found that on Wednesday night
last, Mr.. Merrill had put up at the Troy
House, registering his name as s. A. Mer-
rill, of New York, and that on Thursday
night he had stopped at the American
From this it appears that the young lady
did not reach Troy until Friday, when
lit is supposed that he met her at the de.
pot,put her aboard the Troy House coach
and that they stopped together at thai
house for short time, but left for the
West on the same day. During Thurs
day, Mr.. Merrill made one or two at
tempts to borrow money, and was refused
1880 being the sum that he desired
Whether lie finally succeeded in "raisine
the wind,". we did not'learn, but repor
received from Utica yesterday states tina
he had stopped in that city, and wa
| again trying to borrow money. lie pro
cured ticket on the Central Railroad
from a conductor on the Troy and Bos
ten road, with whom he was acquainted
telling him that, he did not know whethe
he would 60 to Utica or farther West,ant
would pay for it when he returned. Th
brother and brother-in-law of Mis-
Houghton were in the city this morning
and intend to give Ithe reverend villail
pursuit and warm greeting when the,
overtake him. The young lady is bu
Isixteen years of age, and in addition t.
! being one Of the most beautiful and ac
complished young ladies Of North Ad
ans is most respectfully connected.
Mr.. Merrill is we'll known throughou
the Troy Conference as preacher of re
markable eloquence and power, and ha
. occupied some of the most importan
stations within its limits. He was EN-
lploysd during a revival at the State stree
Methodist Church last winter, and hi
ability and zeal as reviyalist was mar
, ked and very effective. Previous to th
events connected with his terrible down
! fall, no whisper Of scandal has bee
breathed against his name. That such
man, high in influence, honored and be
loved in all the relations of life, can dc
cend to infamy SO deep and damning seem
almost incredible. But he has robbed
most promising young woman of all thu
is valuable in life to her, plunged wor
thy and respectable family into the deer
est despair, dishonored the cause whic
he represented, and forever ruined him
self and family. Certainly his crime
without excuse, and no one will regrete
E pity, should his punishment be CON
mensurately severe.