The New York herald., 1871-10-07
SANITY SEDUCTION.
Trial Of Libertine Presbyterian
Minister in Georgia.
ANOTHER CASE OF AFFINITIEs
1qin Of q Young Girl and an Increase Of Popu-
dissatisfaction Matter Of Prayer-De-
tails Of the Trial and tho Evidence
The Clerical Scoundrel Convicted.


rritenrs a.e5 ATLANTA, Sept. 80, 1871.
Decatur Is small town in Georgia, situated few
miles from this city. When 1t was decided to make
railroad centre IN this part Of the STATE Decatur
was selected the best point for the purpose but
the pious and godly Inhabitants thereof protested
against centring railroads In their Town. declaring
that these "modern impr0vementsn would be ac-
companied BY crowds Of bad Characters, apd that
their moral and upright community would be cons
verted into pandemcnium OF evil spirits. The
solemn protests Of the Decaturtes were heeded and
thus II happened that the city OF Atlanta came into
existence, ,
Exhausted by the energy OF their opposition to
become railroad centre, and satisfied with their
victory the people OF Decatur resumed their w0nted
dulness went to church regularly, attended camp
meetings punctually ana passed life generally like
30 many Rip Van Wrinkles. Except during the wal,
when they evacuated their premises n,asse, after
piously consigning the Yankees to perdtion, they
did not wake up thoroughly until a few weeks ago,
when IL was made known that o reverend brother
had iacn away, yielding to the wicked lusts OF the
nesh.
THE CLERICAL WOLF.
The manner IN which this alarming event oc-
CURED was made known In o trial held to-day.
There resides In Decatur sanity individual named
Myram D. Wood. who held the position OF pastor
of the Presby terian church of that town. He Is a
g0odlQoking person, with raven locks and pair
OF eyeS which often shone with remarkable brill
Nancy when the Rev. Myram was filed with reli-
gious enthusiasm. he is man Of ability, is an elo-
quent preacher, and was, until his peccadillo was
made public one OF the most popular divines in
Decatur. the members Of his church were numer.
ous and highly respectable, and believed that their
pastor was model OF purity. 1t must be here
stated that the Rev. Myram is married man, with
three daughters, the eldest OF whom Is q girl Of
fourteen just budding into womanhOod.
A BEAUTIFUL SHEEP IN THB FLOCK.
Among the members OF Mr.. Woods church was
Mrs. Thomas Holly Chivers and Miss Emma J.
Chivers, the wife and daughter of Dr.. T. Fl. Chvers
literary gentleman Of local repute, and at one time
planter Of wealth. He Is said to have been q very
cruel man to his famny-so cruel, in fact that on
one occasion he was treated 70 free ride on the
sharp edge Of rail for his brutal conduct In 1857
he moved to Decatur, and his wife and daughter at
once joined the church OF DR.. Wood. Miss Emma,
until few months ago, was regarded as an upright,
virtuous girl. She was, and still IS, decidedly
pretty, with an excellent figure, swelling bust and
neatly rounded ankles. Upon this young and In
serestng creature Myram placed his iecherous eyes
and doomed her for q victim. Her parents having
been made poor by the war, the clergyman
generously offered to educate her gratuitously.
Her mother accepted the offer and emma
became a pupil. she was eager TO learn,
and, being intelligent and quick, she soon became
proficient In the higher branches such as Latin,
algebra, mathematics nc, Some days she recited
her lessons at her tutors residence. other days he
called at her residence to hear her recite. SO I'M
pllcit was the confidence placed in him that not q
living soul imagined anything wrong. Quite to the
contrary people praised him for his Kindness and
attention to the Chivers family, and for this very
Kindness would have willingly voted him an extra
salary.
Time passed. During the latter part OF last year
people began making remarks concerning MISS
ChIvers. remarkable cnange was observed In her
personal appearance and one OF two OF the gosSips
hunted a. the PROBABILITY Of her being In the cond
nOn women ike to be who love their lords. Unhap
ply Miss Chivers had no lord, and the
was dropslca or something Of the KIND: Her former
friends hcld fast by her. and The whole, her rep
uta.lon suffered very tue she she was SUI regardgd
aSsy SssSaay as $"faa II aaoaSsy aSE9 as egSfs 3
You may imagine the excitement IN the moral little
community OF Decatur when this increase TO their
population was made known. Emma was the SUD
tect OF every bodY's conversation. Hardly charila.
BILE voice was heard in her behalf. She was loudly
Rpd universally condemned by The pious; all her
long In learning tnat the way OF the transgressor u
TELLING TriE NAME OF TIE FATHER.
SURPRISE excitement and Indignation had scarcely
subsided than the community set TO work speculat-
ing on VINO could be the father OF tile infant. Al
most every gentleman In whose company the loving
girl had been seen within twelve months was sus-
pected before 1t began 10 be whispered that the
i{cy, Myran was the most likely "dad.n Instantly
q row took place among the members Of the church.
which waXed fast and furious. Some believed him
guilty and others asserted his Innocence IN loud
terms Finally It was decided by has friends to set
Tie the matter 10y asking Information OF the girl her
relk committee OF gentlemen was aooofg,ngy ao ln,
had Kept her lips sealed rs TO who ner scducer was
II being surmised that she did not wish TO make
known his name the committee determined TO put
the question that she could as the gentlemen be-
heved she would, declare the innocence OF Kew.
Wood without exposing any person. they called at
Miss Chvcrs,n said the spokesman, bluntly,
'rumors are anoat anecrng the fair name and
rep utatlon OF our pastor. You alone can set them
NJ rest Win you candldly and honestly tell us II
child :"
The girl flushed in the face as the question was
answer. AT length she became composed, and the
answer came almost as buntly as the question was
II am sorry to tell you,n she replied, that Mr..
Wood Is the father OF my child"
Ine Co''Se, e n asanca ~ y,nanle 10 1cciIe
whether or not TO believe her.
ARREST OF w0OD-THE TRIAL.
Wnen the confession OF Miss Cblvers was made
pubic the social row waxed warmer. whole iaIni-
lies refused to believe her. Iney declared that she
was wicKed brazen-faced creature, who mad de"
libcrately slandercd their dearly beloved pastor.
Those who believed him woll In sleeps clothing
worked actively, and they got out warrant for his
arrest on charge Of seduction. Monday last was
the opening day Of the tra, but so difficult was II
10 procure unpreJudced jurors that 1t was not until
Yesterday that twelve good and true men" were
found These included such men as Colonel r. A.
Aston and others well known throughout the state:
Colonel G. Peoples and Solicitor General Howell
prosecuted the case, while Wood was defended by
MIR. George N. Lester. - -, FL
The only witnesses were Miss Emma Chivers ana
hcr mother. Tue testimony Of the latter was un-
important merely c0rroboratng that OF the former,
which lasted for eight hours Miss Chlvers an
Rwered every question with remaIkahe noncna
ancc case and uency. She stated that AFTER he had
hecn teaching ner some time he began 10 compll-
mcnt her on her personal beauty, hne figure, pretty
ankles and other charms. she thought these COM
pliments rather unusual, coming from minister,
kmt a. he was a preacher and "beyond suspiconn
she did not believe lie meant anything wrong. Sne
FIRST respected, then esteemed, and finally loved nun
10 abstraction. His hrst suggestive act was per
formed In 1867. She had been at his house reclung
Dne evening, and he asked permission TO accom-