Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1870-08-24
A PIOUS SWINDLER AND IMPOSTER
CAUGHT.

A PI0US SWINDLER AND lMP0STER
CAUGHT.
On Saturday, July 2, a man on two
crulches, calling himself the Rev. F.
Whitcomb, appeared in Springfield,
Mass, and inquired for the pastor OF
the largest Methodist church, and
learning that he was out of town for
the day, awaited his return in the
evening. After introducing himself
as a Methodist preacher from Water.
vile, Kansas; he stated that be was
on his way to Vermont, on a vacation
for bis health, and, while obtaining a
luncheon in the depot, be was crowded
by two men and robbed Of all bis
money; and appealed to the sympa-
thies of the pastor to do as he would
be done by. As proof of bis statement
he showed some railroad passes made
out to Rev f. Whitcomb; also some
letters addressed in the same way
and letter dated some two years
ago ut Jonesvillc, n. Y, written by
Mr.. T. IL. Kimpton, now teacher OF
the High School at Chlcopee, -four
miles from Springfield, introducing
Whitcomb to C. d. Hills, who was at
that time and is now pastor Of a
Methodist church in that city. As
the man claimed to be simply travel
ing on q vacation, il was not reason.
able that be should have in his posses
sion any positive proofs fhis identity,
and it being Saturday night, there
seemed to be no other Christian way
but to believe the man to bo as be
represented, and to treat him accord,
ingly; hence he was provided for at a
hotel He appeared at church the
next morning, and took q short hand
report Of the entire sermon, and at
noon addressed the children of the
Sunday-school. In the meantime he
was invited TO preach in the evening
prayer meeting, aud at the appointed
hour presented himself, taking as his
text, "Why stand ye here idle 2" from
which he preached very effective
and practical sermon; showing con.
siderable talent, and weaving in his
Andersonville experience to illustrate
his points so effectively as to make
the use of handkerchiefs very popular
throughout the audience.
Although his stories, whom measured
and tested by subsequent events, seem
exaggerated and unreasonable, yet
such was his earnestncss and apparent
sincerity that probably not a dozen
in the whole congregation had well
defined doubt of his honesty. Iii.
story, as told in his sermon and else
where is substantially this; Born il
Vermont, bis father, who was a Meth
odist preacher and a chaplain in the
army, died at Nashville early in the
war. At this time he and brother
Charles were left in the army, anc
after having received bullet wound
in the body, he was captured anc
thrown into Andersonvile prison. -
Describing the horrors of Anderson
willie in a most vivid and awful man
ner, be said he was shot 10 the left lel
by Wirz for going over the dead lin,
for drink Of water Soon nfter THE
Wirz beat him aud kicked him ill
nearly dead, and robbed him Of hii
clothes and Bible, tho last and only
gilt of his dying father; and, Will,
lying on the ground unable TO move
because of his wounds aud abuses, h,
saw his brother Charles brought il
and hung up by his thumbs till dead
Such was the nature of the exporicnc,
that was given with an earnestnes'
and dramatic effect sufficient under
the circumstances TO hold the cage
audience in almost brcathless silence
throughou. the entire time occupied
in its delivery. From Andersonvill,
he went TO the soldiers home a
Augusta, Ne, having lost his reason
SO that for six weeks he did not know
his own mother, who attended hin
there. After a time he recovered hi
senses somewhat, but was obliged {,
learn his alphabet entirely new.
few months later his mother died. an,
he was on his way to visit her gray,
when robbed in the dcpot-havin.
with him the root of n shrub, brought
all the way from Kansas, to plant OF
her grave. lIo was the pastor of
church in Watervilc, which commen
ced in tent and had just erected
house of worship. Last winter n,
did picket duty all night, in a driving
snow storm, to protect the building
from the Indians.
At the close Of the meeting, man,
OF the congregation gathered around
him, and gave him various sums 0
money, amounting in all to abou
seventy.fivc dollars. Also a free pas
was provided for him TO 20 north lh,
next morning, which was July A.
For some reason be did not leave towi