The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1870-05-10
Letter from Richmond.
THE KINNAN CASE.

RICHMOND, IND. MAY g.
The kinnan case, which for some
months in this locality has been q matter
OF very considerable interest as well
as notoriety, has lately been famed in
to blaze by the action of the North
ern Indiana Conference in declining,
under the circumstances, TO hear case
they regarded beyond their jurisdiction.
The larger number appear to have ia
ken sides in regard to Mr. Kinnan's
guilt. Some say they know nothing
about it, and have all the knowledge
concerning this scandle they desire
They regard it bliss to be in ignorance
of case, which, on the one side or the
other, exhibits human nature not in its
best aspect. Others want light, and
while they are noncommittal, are anx-
iously awaiting the approach of the
time when the whole matter, in all its
mystery and shame, may be published
to the world through q legal examin-
alton.
The readers Of the GAZETTE have
been pretty we'll posted in regard to the
nature of the case, but there is very
great deal they have to learn concerning
it. 1t is certainly one of the most mys
terious affairs that has lately come above
the horizon of the church to furnish
food for scoffers and alment for those
who hate the church and seek to impair
its usefulness.
Mr.. Kinnan had been q successful
minister of the Methodist Episcopal
Church for eighteen years. II e had en-
tered the ministry at Fort Wayne, where
he been received at the age of twenty
years. He had preached successfully
In knightstown, Williamsburg, Peru,
Fort Wayne, Huntington, Kokomo, An
derson, Noblesville and Richmond In
the latter city he had preached during
the years lo63-64 then in 1865 -66-67
he had been pastor of Roberts Chapel,
in Indianapolis. Finally he returned to
Richmond and preached in Grace Church
in '6S and part of 80, when the dark
cloud came upon him that has destroyed
his usefulness, ruined his hopes and Of
course brought the whole church into
more or less disgrace, for the world is
too willing to hold the latter to rigid
responsibility for the acts of its repre-
senatives. In indianapolis and Rich
mond his labors had been singularly
blessed. Throughout his ministery he
had admitted to the church about $500
converts. If such a man should be
proved guilty. it would be a remark
able case Of the Lord using a very bad
instrument to serve His purposes. If
1t should yet appear that he is an inno-
cent person, it would exhibit man
elandered; hunted down; surrounded by
untoward circumstances that only grew
more unfr iendly by the effort to escape
from their embrace; foiled at every step
in his efforts to relieve himself of his
n n rouy onto 10 nh
only come after the heart had grown
sick waiting tor relief Notwithstanding
much is professed to be known, still
there is not a little that is wrapped in
mystery sufficient to draw large audi
ence whenever it is proposed to max all
exposition of unknown features Of this
remarkable case 1t is not strange then
that the announcement that Mr.. Kinnan
would make an expose of Matchmaking
to which he alleges he has been subject
ed brought a large audience to Phillips
Hall last night. He had been unsuccess
full in his effort to get a hearing before
the conference; he failed in the attempt
to secure hearing by joining Roberts
Chapal, that his case might be inquired
into before admission. He was admit
ted without any investigation Now,
there was but one course left, and that
to patiently await the trial ofthe charge
of slander he had made against Isaac D
Dunn, In which damages were claimed
to the amount, we believe, of $4,000,
unless he should choose the alternative
OF going before the public with his com
plant and documentary evidence. The
latter he determined on doing contrary
to the wishes of his attorney, his friends
in Richmond, and, indeed, to sound
discretion. But the people nevertheless
came. The room was well filled with
gentlemen alone for the ladies had been
admonlshed not to attend. The report
ers of Richmond, Indianapolis and Gin
cinnati, with pencils sharpened and
paper ready, were on hand to hear the
declarations that were to dissolve the
doubts that men have with reference to
this matter.
But Mr.. Kinnan did not come. In
his place appeared his attorney, Col, w
A Bickle, one of the most reputable
lawyers of Richmond. Col Bickle said
his client had made this appointment in
accordance with the advice of some Of
his friends in indianapolis, but contrary
to the wishes of bis friends here, and in
opposition to his wishes as attorney
He could well understand how his Client
smarting under the wrong he had sus-
tanned, and goaded by the manner he
had been foiled in his attempts to relieve
himself from his troubles, should want
to appear before the people to plead
his cause. He (Col. Bickle), however
mad never thought it right or proper
that he should do it. He believed be-
for God and man that Mr.. Kinnan was
entirely innocent of the charges made
against him; that when the case came
up he would be exculpated. He conse-
quently thought it improper to make an
exposition of the testimony before the
matter was judieially inquired into,
which would be done at the next term
of Court Of Wayne county. Every fair
minded man would, he thought, not
think it unreasonable that Mr.. Kinnan
should want to free himself from the
charges that were chafiny him almost to