The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1870-01-14

his manner, and never desiTous Of
prolongirg conversations. His walks
With Miss Johnston were noticed,
and he was once seen carrying her
books as she left school. But no sus-
picion was excited at the time She
was a teacher In the Church Sunday
School. and his means of meeting her
there, and at class and prayer meet
ings wero frequent.
On finally determining to elope, Mr..
Cook privately packed a trunk on
Thursday last, after sending his wife
and son TO a lecture of Milhuru. the
blind preacher, aud on Friday desired
his wife to carry message for him.
While she was on the errand he pro-
cured the removal Of the trunk to o
point where he probably Afterwards
called for it. On Friday afternoon he
Informed his wife that be was going out
for short time. She said, Be sure and
be back in time for the prayer meet
ing" and he replied that he would.
The absence of the couple was at
first kept secret. but Mrs. Cook in
formed Mr. Fl. F. Pease, the Presid-
ing Elder, Of the facts on Sunday
morning. Mr.. Pease oficiated in the
pulpit. and the congregation were
given to understand that Cook was
troubled with neuralgia No sur
misses were iudulged in, but at the
evening meeting it was noticed that
Mr.. Pease did not pray for the sick
pastor, as was customary. Inquiries
were made Of him regarding this, and
the truth finally revealed.
NaTious reports have arisen regard
ing the antecedents OF Mr.. Cook
since his departure. He Is said to
have been seen leaving the New York
/ Hotel on Thursday, IN an unclerlcal
1 pair of Corn-c0lored kios, and with a
! cigar in his mouth at an angle OF for
/ ty-fve degrees, Others say that ne
| has been a victim to panel thieves
during nightly indiscretions and that
these have perpetually blackmailed
him.
The correspondent Of the Cincin-
natl ERquire, says that on the Satur-
day following the elopement, the girls
father received the following letter:
love Matte; | will care for her
tenderly, kindly, lovingly. Inconsist-
ent as it may appear with my present
conduct, ask for no mercy, but am
ready to part with my life for the pos
session Of the woman l adore.
Poor Cook.
Mrs. Cook received the same after
noon a letter from the miscreant. 10
which he says. / am on the LOST
plank; you will never see my face
again. l hope Baldwin will be a
better man than his father"
The poor woman is so distressed
that the physicians fear that brain
fever may set 10. Miss Martha s
brothers threaten to shoot the pastor
at sight.
Said the father to day: If mid
night assassin had come into my
! house, | could have defended myself,
bat the pastor Of my Church, the
minister OF the gospel, to steal my
child, is more than can stand"
a subsequent dispatch states that
nothing further has been heard from
| Cook, the absconded clerical liber.
tine, and the young lady who fec
/ with him. The impression Of the
friends of Miss Johnston Is that thl
parties have gone South. Circum
, stances also point to England as
favorable place OF refuge. Cook i
heir to q large eatailed property il
that Kingdom, and viii becom'
wealthy upon the death Of an uucl'
there 1t mas been assertained tha
he spent the week before his flight il
borrowing money from his parishiOn
ers, and that he secured from then
many thousands Of dollars. The ac
counts of Cook, taken in connection
with his recent ViliaiDV, leave M
doubt that he il q deliberate, cold
blOodea scoundFel, and that no pal
,, liatiom Of his offense on the score o
mental affection, or use of liquor, o.
opium, can be urged.