The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1870-02-10
ANOTHER CLERICAL SCANDAL.
From the Richmond Ind.) Telegram, JAN IS

From the Richmond Qnd) Telegram, Jan. 2S.l
Another canting villain who has used the
liv cry of Heaven to serve the devil in, has
com to grief and now looks through the
bars of Balengers jail, at Centeryille, await
ing trial for the murder of the victim of his
lusts. Without friends to find excuses for his
yillainy, and evidently not familiar with the
modern means of lodging justice, he does
not deny that he led an innocent girl to her
ruin. He does not even ask the church to
cover up his infamy, for fear that its exposure
will ''inure the cause of Christi" OF q Ia
Cooke put in the plea of insanity.
In the month of October last a man calling
himself Salmon came to Henry Gates, two
miles west of Centreville, near Pin Hook,
and with him was woman apparently fifteen
or twenty years his junior in age. They re-
presented themselves rs husband and wife,
and he repeatedly stated that he was United
Brethren preacher, and did preach several
sermons in the neighborhood. He further
stated that they were going West into Illinois,
to take the charge of a new circuit assigned
him, but owing to the feeble health Of his
wife he tarried at Gates and about three
weeks ago the woman was delivered Of q
child.
She and her child did we'll for the eight
days following, when the woman was taken
violently i'll, with strong symptoms of poison,
and fingered on until Friday night, the goth
inst. On the next day Mr.. Salmon express
ed the corpse to Piqua, going with it. From
Piqua he sent it to Bodkin, in Shelby county,
directed to Joseph and Elizabeth Lambert,
and Salmon came back on Monday evening
to Centrevlle, and on that night was arrested
at Henry Gates for the murder of his wife
On investigation Mr.. Salmon proves to be the
Rev s. S Walls Of Van Vert county, Ohio
and Mrs. Martha Salmon, his wife, proves to
be Miss Martha +. Lambert daughter of
Joseph and Elizabeth Lambert, Of Shelby
county, Ohio.
Walls is a man about thirty five Years of
age, a little above the medium height, black
hair and eyes, full beard, and dressed in a
suit of respectable black. He would pass
anywhere as an inerant preacher of more
than ordinary intelligence and culture. Al
though evidently anxious and depressed, he
talks freely about himself and his career. He
confesses the whole story of his wrong doing,
only denying that he is guilty of the crime
for which he is arrested-poisoning his vic
tim. He says that he made the acquaintance
Of Martha Lambert nearly three years ago,
while travelling his circuit, and that he Sc
duced her. Finding that their guilt must
soon become known, he planned an elope-
ment with her to the West, where they i'll
tended living together as man and wife.
About October Is he left home, telling his
wife and friends that he should make an ex-
tended trip west. A few days after Martha
left home, ostensibly to visit some friends,
and met Walls at Piqua, from which point
they started west in a carriage But the
poor girl was to sick too travel, and when
they reached the house Of Henry Gates, near
Pin Hook, in this county, they halted to
wait for her recovery. In few days she
thought she could endure travel, and they
started on, but on reaching indianapolis
were obliged to abandon the trip, and having
found Mr.. Gates family kind, they decided
to return there and await the girls approach
ing confinement.
While there he passed under the name of
Rev. Samuel Salmon, his full name being
Samuel Salmon Walls, and Martha passed as
his wife. During their stay at Mr.. Gates q
revival broke out in the neighborhood, and
Mr.. Salmon as 4 minister, was urged to take
part, and finally did conduct the meetings. as
he says, to prevent any suspicion from fall |
ing on him, feeling satisfied that he, though
a bad man, could give good advice and
give the Lord an opportunity to bless the
truth for the truths sake" No suspicion of
the real relation Of the parties seems to have
The qdictncss Of the place and tlc sacred
robe Of the priesthood seemed likely to pro-
tect them
Walls stated that he did not expect her to
survive, and that he frequently talked Of
near death with her, she advising him not to
90 home with her body, but to 90 to Piqul.
50 rs to send it safely to her parents, and
then 90 West until the storm Of indignation
had blown over; after which he promised to
return to his family and make such repara-
ton as WAS in his power. After taking her
body to Piqua he returned, intending to set
tie his affairs and start West; but the hand
OF the law was too quick for him, and, strip
ped Of his cloak of sanctity, he awaits in jail
the result of fresh investigations.
The reverend villain has been minister Of
the Gospel, United Brethren Church, for
many years, in good standing; left an eXcell
cnt wife and three or four children in Van
Vert county to run off with girl lie had
ruined and for whose death, whether she
died by disease or his hand, he is morally