The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1870-01-28
THE LATEST NEW YORK ELOPEMENT.
The Shepherd who Ran Away with q
Lamb Of the Flock.
dispatch to the Cincinnati Enquirer

dispatch to the Cincinnati Enquirerl
The elopement of Rev. Horace Cook,
pastor of the Seventh street Methodist
church, with Miss Martha Johnson, ere
ates intense excitement in the church
circles of the city. Mr.. Cook was, for
abont eight years, pastor of a church in
Westchester county, and came to this
city only eight months ago, when he i'm
mediately gained numerous friends by
his kind manners, eloquence and learn
ing. He has been married sixteen years
to most devoted wife, and has q son
named Baldwin, fifteen years of age-a
most promising lad.
Mr.. johnson, the father of Martha, is
one of the trustees of the church, wealthy
and highly respected. Martha was only
a schoolgirl, sixteen years of age, and
was about to graduate IN the Twelfth
ward public school. She was highly
accomplished, beloved by her parents
and brothers, and esteemed by her teach
ers. A more than ordinary intimacy
had been noticed between her and the
pastor of the church, to which she had
only been recently converted, but the
girl was always so innocent that no par
ticular suspicion was aroused.
The whole of last week Rev. Cook
feigned sickness. On Thursday he sent
his family to church to attend lecture,
and even sent the servants. He excused
himself from attending by stating his
sickness. 1t was true that he sent his
trunk out of the parsonage. On Friday
he left his house empty handed, and told
his wife he would be home at the even
ing service; since that time, however,
he has not been seen.
On the same Friday morning Miss
Johnson said to her friend, Miss Devoe,
on leaving school, "Come home with
me, am afraid" ''There," said Miss
DeVoe, '.is not that your pastor standing
there?" 'FOh, yes, said Martha saying
that she joined Mr.. Cook. Since then
nothing has been heard of either party,
but the parents of the girl are convinced
that she did not willingly go with him,
for all her clothes were at home, as were
also her trinkets. She went off in her
school dress, without change of cloth
ing.
The charge is now openly brought
against him that he has abducted the girl
against her own wish and desires.
On Saturday Miss Martha's father re-
ceived the following letter:
81 love Matte; L will care for her ten
derby, lovingly. Inconsistent as it may
appear with my present conduct, l ask
for no mercy, but am ready to part with
my life for the possession of the woman
adore. "PooR Cook"
Mrs. Cook received, the same after
noon, letter from the miscreant, in
which he says: 81 am on the lost plank /;
you will never see my face again. l
hope Baldwin will be better man than
his father"
The poor woman is so distressed that
the physicians fear that brain fever may
set in. Miss Martha's brothers threaten
to shoot the pastor at sight.
Said the father to-day: "If a midnight
assassin had come into my house could
have defended myself, but for the pastor
of my church, the minister of the Cos
pei, to steal my child, is more than can
stand"
The affair creates intense excitement
in Methodist circles, which is heighten-
ed by the reports that he has committed
suicide in Canada. This, however, is
not confirmed. On the contrary, it is
more than probable that both left on the
European steamer ON Saturday, as the
letters above m entioned were posted in
this city yesterday morning.