The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1867-05-17
CRIME,

RatrSsrdiaaSy Vfif6isy sf fas.at.
chssetis Radical Preacher and Leg
islaisr-Msre Of the "Merni Idea"
'OJo lspstih Di-pftTh tt the w%1d:' = AZ
,BosToS, Nay, l3.vThis, ,eitS has been
considerably excited to-day on account
of the scandalous conduct of person
formerly officiating as q Baptist clergy
man in the town of East Abingdon.
This persons name is Serene Howe. He
was q mefpber of the State Legislature,
a school committeeman, and a promi-i
nent Good Templar. He was settled over
the Baptis5 Church in East Abingdon.
five or six years ago, and has continued
its pastor until last Sunday By exem-
plary conduct he won the confidence of
the community, and apparently took
great interest in the welfare of children,
The present year he was elected q mem
Der of the Lower House of the Legisla-
ture, and was principal school commit
teeman in his town. Some months since
he buried his wife and several children.
Since that time there has been whisper.
ings OF his affection for girls and boys,
and that he, took improper liberties with
them, although parents felt perfect con-
fidence that when in company with Mr..
Howe their children were entirely out
of harms way and beyond the reach of
temptation. But on Saturday last the
community of East Abingdon was great.
ly shocked by the statements made, by a
little girl. Curiosity was excited; and
it came out that the minister had al
most daily exercised improper familiar
titles with children and young ladies.
This has con timed for q hong series of
weeks. Howe chose his dormitory for
committing these outrases; and in some
instances he engaged as bed-fellows,
young ladies n week or ten days in ad-
vance. The statements of the girls
were astounding and the unnatural
practices Of Howe were established be-
yond doubt. The citizens resolved to
investigate the matter and a council
was held on Sunday. A dozen citizens
waited upon Howe at his room, and
found that he had no response to make
to the charges preferred against him.
As the temper of the people would al
low of no ,dalliance, Howe, late in the
evening, was driven out of the town i'll
q carriage by a friend. He stopped
over night in Weymouth. and came to
this city incog this morning, and sent in
his resignation as member of the House
of Representatives. The people of East
Abingdon are naturally in great state
of excitement and Indignation at the
conduct of Howe, who, it is said, even
attempted to poison the minds of the
yonng pages in the Legislature. This
afternoon the Legislature held a secret
session and discussed the conduct of
Howe. A member presented Howe's
letter of resignation. Many members
sat with their heads hung down at the
disgrace hns entailed upon that body,
but several proved themselves equal to
the occasion, and demanded a commit
tee of investigation. But the subject
proved too disgusting, and so, instead
of expelling Howe, his letter of resigna-
tin was accepted. Howe is a man of
alout forty years of age, and is called
smart, but is idiotic in appearance, and
is What VI. Du Chaillu would call Il
sinian. His father resides in this city.
Th, exemplar of "moral ideas" left for
New York this afternoon, and intimate
4 that he was going South.