The New York herald., 1870-12-11
4he Land Of Steady Habits in
.0n Disgrace. o
n Clerical Convict-A Talk With the Rev.
James 8. Grsen-Crime and Its Retrt-
bution-A Strange Story Of
asaa Strange Life A'
IGreensburg (Ind.) correspondence Of the Cincin-
natl r., azetta1

matt Gazettel
The readers OF the Gazette win remember that
months ago there was published IN its columns
m account OF the arrest OF the Rev. James s. Green
at Milvlle, Conn, charged with having obtained sig
natures 10 certain bills OF exchange by false pre-
tences and having uttered certain forged notes to
the amount Of s22 ooo during his ministerial career
ut this place. The particulars are as follows-Some
lime in the munth Of January, 1870 Mr. Green came
70 this place, br nging with him letters Of introduc
tion and recommendation from responsible parties
In Elkhart, Ind., addressed to certain iniluenta
members OF the Baptist Church, stating that no
Green) had filled with ability the pulpit OF the Bap
tst church there, ana was an eloquent and success
fu minister Of the Gospel.
TIE church here was without pastor. as 1t had
been for some time. or course the doors were
thrown open and he preached several trial sermons
and beauty Of dictisn, which, coupled with an
easy and graceful delivery rendered ms Hs
WsS urepossesslnS IN appearance and ne CONVEX
nationalist, and 10 look at him you wouid LINK tat
IN him o osnea any aa ~ a,s nSnee eonareraon thousS
that this man sent to them In their time OF need
shepherd 10 gather again into the Ioid the scat
Mr. Green was at snce Installed as minister OF the
Baptist church and taken into the favor OF his nock
At the time OF his coming the congregation was
considerably diminished, but under his charge 1t
soon showed signs OF increase and the pews which
had long been vacant were hned with attentive LIS
He won golden opinions, and with them he won
About this time he stated that he owned valuable
property in Baltimore, Nd, which he was anxious
TO dispose Of He bought property here @ and oor- M
rowed money to the amount OF 81 800 from the
banKs but did not apply It in payment on the pro-
perty. He, accompanied by his family. went on
visit to Baltimore, and took with them several
trunks ana boxes which, IN any other case, would
have excited suspicion. His visit was prolonged
hs 70 s nd Sold his
Baltimore property, and would be home soon to make
things all right He left his family somewhere in the
East, and came back bringing with him as evidence
OF the sale $l4 900 In notes, secured by mortgage
on property sold, but no money. He showed
them, order to settle with his endorsers; but no
one would buy them. Suspicion attached TO Them
on account Of their being stamped, which is not re-
A meeting or his creditors was called at which he
admitted that things locked dark against him, but
wsiHedass Mccoys station. ' four miles les east st
unknown A effective was put upon his track, but
for some time his efforts to capture the fugitive
foreman in a Japanning factory in Millvle. Conn,
brought here for trial and arraigned on two indict
menis for obtaining signatures by false pretence
He pleaded guilty, and was sentenced to two years.
imprisonment In the state Prison and to pay fine
OF one dollar. He leaves tomorrow for Jefferson
vllle
Your reporter interviewed Mr.. Green this after.
1t to you IN hts own words 1t Is, indeed,
A STRANGE STORY.
was born In Monroe county, State Of New York,
"a lne year 1915. NY parents were members OF the
Methodist Episcopal Church. my father being local
preacher before my BIRTH and continuing sucn until
his DEATH IN the year 1864. At the age Of ten years
] connected myself with the same Church as pro-
bationer and in due time was admitted TO full men,
nership: When l was IN my twentieth year was
licensed as an exhUrter, and The day / was
twenty-one received license as local
preacher. I was educated for the ministry OF
hot ana hnxtt y1l,afn cd af fhn
November following l LETT my fathers house,
preacher and saddle bags from another, to fill a
vacancy, under the presiding elder, in the Seneca
Lake district Genesee Conference. Atshat time the
question OF lay representation was agltating the
Methodist EPISCOPAL Church, ana had already re-
suited In the withdrawal from its communion OF a
large body OF ministers and laymcn aud the or
ganization Of the Methodist Protestant Church. My
father had early favored the movement; and, TO-
ward the close OF my frst year as q travelling
preacher, he connected himself with the new
Church. continued with the Old body
pressions of regret on The part Of minister's and
laymen and the utterance OF kindly wishes for my
future welfare, 1 severed my connection with the
mother Church and united with the Methodist Pro-
tesants. AS look back over these long intervening
years have no hesitation in saying that this was
my first great ministerial error. will not now dis
cuss It. Ipreached in various places for that people,
until period OF about twenty years ago. when be-
came entangled In an lmproper alliance with a
member OF my congregation, lost my standing in
the ministry and connection with the Church. and,
with these, my wife. VINO obtained q divorce Here
II seemed had lost all for which 1t was worth
living. ! went TO Europe, spent nearly two
Islands, and then returned to America Having
considerable skill In drawing and coloring, OBJ
tanned empoymens as an % nan & PAINTER aa
ways get employment, and at remunerative wages,
when my ability became known. again connected
myself with the Church. beginning on the .ground
noor," and advancing in the usual way until again
, entered what may dtJ be termed the "sancsun'
About eleven years ago I married my present
y 'ire, by whom | have had one child, daughter,
M wv in her eighth year. Soon after our mar
] mgaged in business, ana where ! continued
UNI ii some little time after the rebellion
70 ,k active part in the canvass for stephen A.
Dou glas against Mr.. Lincoln, for President. AS is
frlen Is lived In Maryland and Virginia, and were
almo. it to man, fer John G. Brecknridge, and d.
rectIy after for secession. The first caused cool
ness b etween u.s. the second almost an open rup
ture At that time a pro-slavery man, was not
howeu r. a rebel. ! advocated "peaceable seccs
nonvl nut II that could not be accomplished, then
was In favor OF cessation OF hostlties until tht
North &C aid be educated up TO the truth, as deemed
happy n rpetuatlon Of the Union Of all the States
with the Institution OF slavery still intact, ! was
sasnedc ould not exist; but the abolition OF slavery
was to me thing impossible.
The war commenced / denounced the South
erners--hrs I, Tor their madness In not having a.
viewed it. Exhausted every available means for
subject and next denounced the government at
Washingtopi or the tungng manner in which IL At
tempted to co srce the SOuth. thought it was doing
nothing right, and never would. and THEN sighed
for such mai as Stephen A. Douglas ! said many
hard things "a alnst Inc government; tried to pre-
vent eniistme Its: found myself getung into
trouble; ned TO chicago; was arrested there
nv order Of Mr.. Stanton; was released
through the In reference Of friends found nay
way Ia Csnaaa ana became acquainted with
many s0ufhern sympathizers like myself. Mr..
IIncoin in the meantime cut the Gordian knot.
HIS emancipation proclamation was the Damascus
D!ade So thcn FL avery could be abolished and the
Union preserved. Glory Halelujah Sick Of the
Canadians; for hat ed to hear ministers In the pull
pit pray Tor the access Of the confederacy1I
thought 1t was none tneir ngnt ana none OF tnelr
States. adopted the name OF brother-in-law to
ayo,d detection. went TO Connecticut and obtained
e,nplogInent there. came back "conyereu
man.I 1 was won o YER, body and seul, to the
faith of repnblcah the .,sal emancipation ihion
that ever saw the sum- as Mr.. Wesley callsd 1t, and
save the Union. This was my doctrine preached