Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1870-01-18
The Last Sensation in New York.

| schoolgirl OF 16, a new MEMBER Oh HIS
church. Cook sent letter to his wife, say
ing he was on his last plank, and she would
never see him again; and another to the girls
father saying II love Matte, and am ready
to pay with my life for the possession Of the
woman | adore" These epistles, delivered
the morning after the disappearance, gave the
first information of what had occurred. Great
was the commotion in church circles, and
among the friends of the young lady, who pro-
tested that she was not consenting party, but
had been abducted.
1t was not known whittier they had gone
some supposed to England-some to Boston
some to Canada.
P. Son last Wednesday in the afternoon,
Mr.. johnson received anonymous information
that his daughter was in the city and was at
one of the principal hotels, and together with
his son he at once instituted diligent search
and succeeded in finding her at one Of the lead
ing uptown establishments. She Immediately
repaired home with him. Shortly afterwards
| the fact of her return was announced at meet
ing held in the Seventh Street Methodist
| first class revival.
| She stated to her father that Mr.. Cook went
to the school house on Friday afternoon
and made arrangements with her to leave i'm
mediately. She obeyed, and they left that
evening for Philadelphia Having arrived
there her 'fighty companion went to hotel
and hired room, to which he escorted his
youthful charge, and instantly took his depar-
ture, since which time, until twelve o'clock
Tuesday night, she had neither seen or heard
anything Of him. 1t may also be matter of
interest to the inquisitive to know that there is
not the slightest reason to suppose that Miss
johnson is not as chaste young lady as when
she left her parents home; on the contrary, it
is asserted that she is in no wise harmed save
in the matter of unenviable and unfortunate
notoriety.
The n Y. Herald says that the general be-
lief is now that Miss johnson was a young re-
ligious enthusiast, and that Mr.. Cook had ac-
quired that singular spell power over her which,
as is we'll known, often results from the develop
ment of an almost fanatical degree of so-called
| religious ardor. There is also reason to sus-
pect that the young girl had the misfortune not
| to have concealed from him the existence of
this fascination which he exercised over her
acts, and that in a moment Of standardization,
or, perhaps, Of slight insanity, brought on by
great mental agitation, he requested her to fly
with him and she blindy assented.
| The first that was learned of the whereabouts
Of Cook was when, about ten o'clock, as the
reporters Of the World were closing up their
reports, violent kick was heard at the edto-
rial room door. ''Come in, - exclaimed one
The door opened, and in strobe tall man,
dressed in clerical suit of black He wore
his hat low over his eyes, and this, added to
the whiskers about his face and his moustache,
completely hid his face from view. Shutting
the door behind him with bang that resounded
throughout the room, he walked up to the first
desk at which he saw gentleman writing
''Is the editor INF" he inquired in loud
tone.
"What is your business, sir? '' was the ques-
ton he received in lieu of an answer.
''My business, sir, is this Il am DR.. Cook,
aEu COiuc UeTC tO SGI 6dtiSldctiOu iOr the Slau-
derous article published in your paper this
morning concerning me-
| He then became extremely violent in his
manner and action, and SO threatening in his
language that the editor sent out for police
man, who with some difficulty took him in
charge.
Cook acts like deranged man. He was
greatly excited seems very penitent, and AYERS
that Miss johnson is as pure as when she left
home.
NEGROES LEAVING.-One hundred and
twenty-five negroes from the Southside coun-
ties, left on Thursday last, on the Virginia &
Tennessee Railroad They included families,
of both sexes and all sizes and had been en-
ployed to work on sugar plantations in Louis
lana.
Over 500 colored persons passed over the
Danville railroad Wednesday, and 1000 over
the Southside railroad Tuesday, en- route to the
South and Southwest.