The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1870-01-14
WOLF IN SEIEEPS'
CLOTHING.

Methodist Church, with Miss Mar
tina Johnson creates intense excite
mcnt amongst the Church circles
of this city. Mr.. Cook was, for
about eight years. pastor OF q church
in Wortchcstor county and came 70
this city only eight motifs ago,
when he Immediately gained nu-
mcrou5 friends by bis kind man
ners, cloquoneo, and loarAinR. Ho
had been married about siEtcCE
years to most devoted vify, and has
Il son named Baldwin, fifteen years
ofage--a most promising lad.
Mr.. Johnson, the father OF Mar.
tha, is one Of tho trustees oE the
church, wealthy and highly ryspcc-
ted: Martha was only n school
girl, sixteen years Of age, and was
about to graduate in the Twelfth
Ward Public School. Sho was
highly accomplished, beloved by
her parents and tro.hors, and cs-
terued by her teachors. A more
than ordinary interest had been
noticed between hor and the pastor
Of the church TO which she had on
ly recently been converted, but the
girl was always 80 rnrocont that
no particular suspicion was arrous
cd.
The whole Of last week Rev.
Horace fcIgnsd sickness. On
Thursday no sent his family to
church to attcnd n lecture, and cv-
en- sent the servants. He excused
himself from attending by stating
his sickness. II was true, 900, that
he sent his trunk ont OF tho parson-
ago. On Fukny be left his house
empty handed, and told his wife he
would be at homo at the evening
service;sinc that time, however,
ho has not been seen.
On tho samo FRIDAY, evening,
Miss Johnson said TO her friend,
Miss nevoe, on leaving school.
"Como homo with mo, I am afraid"
"Thero," said Miss Devoe, "is not
that your pastor standing thore?'
"Oh, yes" SAID Martha; saying
that sho joined Mr.. Cook. Since
then nothing has been seen Of ciths
or party, but tho parents Of the girl
arc convinced that sho dld not
willingly go with hun, for all her
clothes wero at home, as woro also
her trinkets. She went of, or was
taken of, in her school dress with
a change of clothing,
The charge is now openly brought
against him that he has abducted
the girl against her own wish and
desire.
On Saturday Miss Nartha's faith
or received the following letter;
~ love Matte; I will care Tor her
tonderIy, kindly, lovingly. Incon-
sistent as 1T may npdoar with my
present canduct, ask for no mercy,
hut am ready TO part with my life
for the possession Of the woman !
adore. PooR Cock"
Mrs. Cook received the sAmo af
ternoon n letter from the miscroant
in which he says: II am on the
lost plank; you will never SEQ my
face again. hope Baldwin will
he n better mtn than his father
The poor woman IA go distressed
that the physicians fear thnt BRAN
fcver will set IN. Miss Martha
brothers threaten toshoot the pas
tor at sight.
Sale tho father to-day: "If a
midnight assassin had come INTO
my house, I could have defended
myself, but the pastor ofn,y church,
tho minister of the gospel, to steal
my child, is moro than l can
stand"
The affair creates immense ez
citement in Methodist circles,
which is heightened by tho reports
that he has committed suicide in
Canada. This, however, ;s not
confirmed. On the contrary, it is
more than probable that both left
on the European steamer on Satur-
day, as the letters above mentioned
wero posted IN this city on ycstcr.
day morning.
Wen bet new hat that this
fellow, Cook, is a r0nting, buster
ing Rodical; and has occasionally
prayed, in an assembly of christ
lans OF all politics, for the success
oil tho Radical party IN all its me-
farious measures, rs we have been
creditably Informed has been done
lately hereabouls.
a.. a-....n. I.unnaA InAl