New-York tribune., 1867-07-24
TIE CASE OF THE BEE. MR.. MERRILL

The Rev, Mr.. Merrill, whose recent disappear
anoe from Platsburgh, NewYork, after being charged
with most dsrespectul conduct In connection with
young lady In North Adams Mass led many to suppose
he had committed suiode-a suppostion strengthened
by the fact that portion of his clothes found by
tho banks of river IN the vicinity OF the townhas made
his appearance tho West and vritten letter TO Inc
7roy Times which he reoounts his experience from tho
time he entered tho ministry until the present He says
that ever since he commenced to preach in 1sS he has
been constantly In debt and to this act alone ne ehags
all his troubles. He says:
left school at tho request Of several minister's
and circuit 10 aid the preachers stationed
upon that field. The circuit comprised ak towns was
SPs PoOp oysg SS 500 TS' IN dobt Gentleman gave me cSO
oyercoat keep from suffering with the cold and an
other gave the OF horse for part OF the year
hoped TO able enough 20 my d0bts and get
cothes that year But the other two minstors
had families dependent upon them for support and tho
people for the most part were poo and took a thSy
SSd aSH yG Sa = and A. the close Of
the year sent TO another crouit whereI was com
sn into debt for these and also for clothes to At
the end Of this year found that my income nau D1eh
They began troubling me. I ought 70 have stopped
preaching then and gone into some other 81 %
an open acknowledgement that must stop presehrS
ssS ns sS 70 TGfH BS S p Ss4
cd got better Py n e .nd 1%iuns made % The S show
could for housekeeping the conference ., hoa s w
Washington
aud one child went 70 post There found nc house $50
live In and nothing to keep house with Lbere was no
GnrE With good heart but troubled with nay
every side. sold my horse 20 help me 70 I've AZ tho
new church finished and PAID for had received 700
salary. At this Conference ! was s removed hsS "a
not S sST Ssy to took pay %y 5 wife % babe but
gers we made our sad way Hero too, found ncd OF
ny TSeI n 70 have stopped peachnS hut ne gen
tenan trusted for ahorse and carriage; New was
Sof tSo pt timed advice Of friends Kept back win
and sickness and expense followed TwS years ss sn my
from which she has flever recovered. For days ana
months We carried h IN our arms we, We LETT n0.SS u ~
gain relief but oil In vain NOW | hAd net only
debts debts 1ysEwhemnS N Sssrts S sn th he protsundsst
sorrow. Oh. the anguish OF those days none
dens bowed so TO the very dust avpointed
the City Of Albany The g"om and horrors Of eivi
reformed the work Of my Ininistry faithfully as
knew how md at the same time devoted my
public meetings and securing volunteers iothe army IN
nsd @ o een,a STAYED as long Ss could sad did my
duty well as know how. had left my vile Win
thing for ny country in her Of trial and danger.
This service had Increased my financial emearas,-
At made several attempts 70 get inte business
to rsrs s saT %yss rSa Sna P d my y. pay them walked my
house open streets day after day, not knowing what
trials I many times even contemplated suicide. But
this my whole inOral nature recoiled Win horror
give tLsm ali bnd and promised them
could get ought to have laid asde ali PRIDE and APP
my family Would feeidgTaced and look upon themselves
panpers SO hoped for better days aud suffered on
NV meanwhile began 10 more ana moro
Indifferent TO duty. sought temporary Ielef IN travel
aud society sought the moro joyous ana worldly per
for mi taGl
AUS. Here found generous and good people tried
10 serve them faithfully and well; indeed WORKED , BE-
there was engaged as nights In succession NY neIyeus
overwhelmed me at times sought the society OF tho
young and where the most freedom aud gayey could be
for talk some scandal soon started IN connection with
my But God is true only sought this society
mind was proud and wilful, aud would not lscn to
the counsel Of friends Up 70 this time my reputation IA
minister had not materially suffered AZ the last year
drew TO close my reputation was suffering more than
s az the e me Sy 0 b SSm Ts y has bsea so so
sadly associated more frequently than ought to have
also But God knows did not intend TO njnrc any
Two or three Of the family were members OF the choir,
the gloom and darkness which had settled down
upon me-. always appeared cheerful But
When on my way West, I met the lady whose
namo has been unfortunately assocated with my own
and mprudent step This occasion for that awful
article which appeared in ne Times chsrgins Us with an
than miles apart, and swhen the paper
handed me and read tho article the last ray OF light
seemed 20 be extngllshed my way home. oh
GOdi my mind wandered and my brain was fire.
tried 10 pray. wept and walked the boat returned
70 Troy and secured retraetIon In the papers. But
whatever paper took my hands from distant parts Of
the country were Mortified with the most ektrava
| CANT and false statements in relation To me.
And here desire say, that part OF the blame
eensure belonging 10 for impudeDce wrong dong
In this whole should be upon tho young lady
involved In this sad affair am older, and on my
covered head let tho blows Of condemnation fall am
10 blame. Every fair.mnded person Will ace that what
say cannot be said 20 OF Ia any wny help
my further than truth will do IT, But 0od Is
m0 ludge pnd expect give strict account nt His
bar In the last great day for a speak and do and
hope for acQuittal when all men shall stand silent
before God any crime is concerned with me,
any other being on earth ss far as Know that young
lady pure the that shine overshcr head by
night, or the sun which lights her path by day.
He further says his troubles worried him so much he
resolved TO commit suicide, and actually made the at
tempt but when in the water he thought Of bis wife and
children and he rcpentsd Of his design. He then fed TO