The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-01-12
THE CHURCH SCANDAL.
The Impious scoundrei, Cooixe-The Facts X,
luttye 20 the Elopcment-From the FOotiigh
IN 4 sre


,at,Se ,S e ., the Elopcment-From the Fooriishts
No news has yet been received as to the pre-
sent Whereabouts of the Rev. Horace Cooke, of
the Seventh Street Methodist Church., who
eloped from New York on Friday with Miss
Matte Johnston. He was last seen on Friday
evening leaving ferry boat at Jersey City, and
is thought to have left for Europe in the steamer
City of Brussels kilograms have been sent in
numerous directions by Mr.. Johnston, but as yet
without success. Mr.. Johnston is wealthy man,
s and win s,sp spare no expense to regain his mis-
Mr., Cooke received $4,000 a year salary, be-
sides rent and fuel. He had been paid up to the
1st of January. He took his clothing along with
him. but the young lady was entirely unpro-
the congregation for the bereaved wife and son
of Mr.. Cooke who have been left destitute of
funds. They will be duly cared for.
The painful news of Mr.. Cookies flight has ex-
cited regret not only on account of the young
lady and others concerned, but on his own. He
had become widely esteemed among those who
knew him. H
THE scOUNDREL's ANTEoEDENTs.
He was born in this city, and early in life con-
templated going on the stage, but became con-
verted to serious life at the prayer meetings
once held in Burtons Theatre and in the Forsyth
Street Church. He became minister in 1863
and Joined the New York Eastern Conference.
He was first appointed to the Methodist Church
of Astoria. From thence he went to Flushing
and Mamaroneck, and finally, in May last, to
his late field of labor. In Mamaroneck he is ac-
cused of having misled another young woman
under similar circumstances, with the exception
of the elopement e.
A: H MISS JOHNSTON. .
Miss Johnston Is pretty, rosy-cheeked girl OF
16, with a round, short figure, and black hair and
eyes. She was in the senior class of the Twelfth
Street Grammar School, under the tuition of
Miss Lydia f. Wadleigh, and the statements of
both that lady and her pupils testify to her good
scholarship and invariably amiable modest dis
position. Much grief is felt for her by them all.
She became probationer In the Seventh Street
Church soon after the advent of Mr.. Cooke, and
was quite open i'm her innocent expressions of
admiration concerning him. Upon his departure
for Europe she handed him note, which called
safety of his voyage. During his absence he
corresponded with her. His letters were seen
by the young lady's family, and were chiefly of
u religious character
PRKMoNIToRY LOVE SYMPTOMS.
On Mr.. Cookies return he was observed at
times to be distracted in his manner, and never
desirous of prolonging conversations His
walks with Miss Johnston were noticed, and he
was once seen carrying her books as she left
school, but no suspicion was excited at the
time. She was q teacher in the church Sunday
School, and his opportunities of meeting her
there and at class and prayer-meetings were
frequent.
z 60 ycin" THE ELoPEMENT. - t32
On finally determining to elope Mr.. Cooke
privately packed trunk on Thursday last, after
sending his wife and son to a lecture of Mlburn,
the blind preacher, and on Friday desired his
wife to carry message for him. While she
was on the errand he procured the removal OF
the trunk to a point where he probably after
wards called for it. On Friday afternoon he
informed his wife that he was going out for a
short time. She said, "Be sure and be back in
time for the prayer meeting" and he replied
that he would.
THUNDER CLAP.
The next day, while anxious at his absence
she received the following note:-
NEW YORK, Jan. Z, 1870.
am on my last plank. You will never see my
than his father. HORACE COOKE.
Mrs. Cooke had heard that Miss Johnston was
also missing, and at once realized the fact of the
elopement. Her affiiction may be imagined. She
told friend that for sixteen years she had beer
a slave to her husband, and that this cruel blow
utterly prostrated her.
LETTER TO Mr.. JOHNSTON.
At the same hour on Saturday morning Mr.
Johnston also received letter from Cooke, al
| follows
NEW YORK, Jan. I, 1slo-I love Matte. will car,
for her tendery, kindly lovingly. Inconsistent
| may appear with my present conduct, ask for M
| mercy, but am ready TO pay with my life for thu
| possession OF the woman adore.
A CIGAR AT FANCY ANGLE.
Various reports have arisen regarding thu
antecedents of Mr.. Cooke, since his departure
| He is said to have been seen leaving the New
York Hotel on Thursday, in an unclerical pai
of corn-colored kids, and with a cigar in hi
mouth at an angle of forty-fiye degrees. Other
| say that he had been victim to panel thieye
| during nightly indiscretions; that these hat
| learned his name by means of letters in hi
| pockets, and had perpetually blackmailed him.
L
While the authorities OF two towns in Main