Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1870-08-24

various toasts. During the forenoon,
a minister from New York State gave
notice TO interested parties that Whit
comb had been unceremoniously kick.
ed out Of Round Lake camp-meeting,
a week before, as an imposter. As
Whitcomb claimed to have preached
in the Rev. Mr. Fowler's church in
Chicago, the previous Sunday, this
one fact proved him liar; and the
pastor, who had been so swindled, at
once went to Mr.. Kimpton, already
mentioned, who stated that soon af-
ter giving Vhifeamh Tho i~..-- =,
ssss Iiils at Jonesville, he received a
letter of inquiry from parties in
Poughkeepsie which led him to be.
iove Whitcomb a humbug. With
this information, the swindlcd pastor
returned TO Springfield, and finding
Whitcomb visiting the Armory
grounds, very forcibly invited him to
ride down town in his carriage, which
he reluctantly did, and soon was safe
y lodged in the police station.
When arruigned the next morning
in the court, on the charge of obtain
ing money under false pretenses, the
counsel for the defendant claimed that
'although his client had done all that
was charged in the warrant, the laws
did not apply TO cases where money
was given for charitable purposes In
view Of the argument thus presented,
the Judge reserved his decision until
July 8, at which time he decided that
the laws were intended 10 apply in
such cases, and held the prisoner for
trial before the supreme court in De-
cember next
Upon an examination of the effects
of the prisoner, contained q small
leather bag, small vaise aud a bun
die, many things of interest were
found In the bag were several porte
monnaies, containing various sums Of
money in the different compartments;
also New York draft, made by a
Saratoga bank, for one hundred and
tfty dollars, and some baggage checks,
marked "P. q Il. r. r., local" In an
envelope, securely sealed, were found
two one thousand dollar greenbacks,
two one hundred dollars, and several
Of smaller denominations In the
bundle of clothing, number Of hotel
towels were found, bearing the names
of Congress Hall, Delevan House, ETC.,
also napkins-several articles were
marked Wiihrow. Among those
who examined the articles, the i'm.
preston was very general that the
porte monnaies were stolen, and many
think the money in the envelope was
taken at one haul from some pocket
or from some house.
Ii seems that, about week ago,
Whitcomb appeared in Saratoga as a
Presbyterian minister from Kansas,
on visit east, and had been robbed
Of his money. His story deceived a
prominent Presbyterian clergyman,
who gave him an introduction to the
landlord of Congress Hall, and thro'
him to the guests who made up a
purse of about two hundred dollars -
Reports Of similar swindling opera
tions come from Troy, Albany, Pough-
kcepsie, Trenton, Newark, New York
city, and even from rs far as Iowa.
The Rev. DR.. Todd Of Pittsfield says
in letter, after stating that he had re-
eeived lettors Of inquiry from the West
respecting this fellow, who represen.
ted himself as the doctors nephew :
"Thc sum of what ! feel duty to say
is, that ! never saw him nor bis moth
er; that he is no relative of mine, aud
if he was ! should grieve to have such
a relationship raise the slightest bar
rier between him and the State pris-
on" A young man writes from Troy
that Whitcomb is not lamo and can
walk as well as any one but this
seems hardly possible as his limb has
been examined by competent physi.
clans, some of whom give it as an opin-
ion that be has been cripple from
infancy.
A gentleman in this city, who Wis
tied At Spring Lake, near Shakopee,
Nina, about year ago, is confident
that he saw this man there in the
character of a school teacher, and the
cause of his lameness was the rheuma-
tism, and his name is Brown or Bow
en-. Other than this, we have no
knowledge that he has ever assumed
any other name than the one he now
claims.
As the case now rests there may be
serious doubts whether he can be con-
victed under our laws of any ofiense
that will imprison him, and we believe
il to he the duty Of all friends of true
Christianity, TO do all in their power
to bring to just punishment this sacri-
legious and blasphemous offender As
vel bat little is known Of his whore.
abouts since his appearance in Pough-
keopsic and Jonesvile, about two
years ago, until quite recently, neither
is anything known of his previous
history. We shall be thankful for
any information on these points as a
matter of curiosity, even though il
may be Of no legal value. Since his
arrest efforts have been made TO ob.
tain a Photographic likeness, but he
refuses 10 give sitting A very
snail ferrcotype of the man, in a
group of three, was found in his valsc
but it was evidently taken some years
since, and has moustache which
greatly changes his appearance.
Tho following is perhaps as correct
q description as can be given Of the
"lcverend' gentleman;
Medium hight, (about 8 feet inch
ESD rather slight, aud sickly looking
Hair light with auburn shade. Beard
/ light brown, shading on the red
Eyes mild greyish blue. Nose promi-
nent and sharp. His whole face wears
sanctimonious, sick, resigned ox.
preston, the perfect picture of injured
innocence His dress consists of a
black suit, black silk hat, small white
nock.tie and cloth CATERS.
An apothecary's boy was sent to
leave at one house a box of pills,