The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-06-09
A CLERICAL SWIyDLEa.
The Adulteries. Forssries. SwindIes, &C.,
oil a Prominent Methodist Minister in

The Adulteries. Forssries. SwindIes, &C.,
oil Prominent Methodist Minister in
Iowa.
From the Dubuque 1owaj Herald, June ~
motion and the Methodist church Of that
in an uproar over the sudden disap-
w. Copeland, who turps out to bean be an adut lutte
torger a swindler, thief and big rascal gene
y dc rPS n wnS haze
proach upon the church OF which he
should have been the delight and honor. He is a
merry from the vicinity Of Rochester, n. " and edu-
| Gated, If we mistake not, at the Genesee Wesleyan
Seminary at Lima, In that state. HIS first appear
ance In thus State was at Iowa City, where he mar
rled lady, Of whom every one who knows her
speaks IN the highest terms. Joining the Upper
Iowa Conference, ne was for year or two stationed
at Davenport. In September, 1869, he was APP
pleasing address, GOOD speaker, OF more than or
binary ability always well dressed and presentable
He became very popular In his own church and
made many friends among the outside world. In the
winter or ls6s-70 great religious interest mani
Tested at Cedar Rapids, which took the usual form
churches. Brother copeland Was sharp enough 10
take advantage OF this, and drew into The Methodist
cnurch the larger part OF those newly awakened,
and among them many well known and influential
citizens.
Before the end OF his first ministerial year, now
ever rnmor was busy with report that he was not
an lceoer2, at least in hs virtue, the Of
two OF the sisters being used In this connection
much oitener than was necessary IN a Well Tegu-
lated community. AS consequence. at the
sion Of the Conference last september at Cedar
FAILS, he was rather under cloud, but
the matter was husned up, and he was
returned again to Cedar Rapids TO his
0 yeaa OF @ user o. few
and aduiteries became current and the name OF his
guilty eomlanioni openly gwen SO open had be-
covered up or wlnked at and the churcn over which
he presided notified hun that his resignation would
he at once accepted and he made haste send 1t in.
Copeland, however, with tine cheek OF the devil,
publicly stated that ne should not be driven out OF
Cedar Rapids. but would make II his home. He
sought and by his ability and address found no
dllfcuity IN obtaining lucrative and honorable
attorney for the Northwestern Mutual Lie Lie
Insurance Company OF Milwaukee, for Iowa
and Nebraska. The result has been that
! he has Just succeeded in swlndling the COM
pany out Of $4,000 TO $4,000 ana has lett for
paris unknown. HIS neodus opeIdhdt OF perpetrat-
ing the swinole is related IN most par. by the Cedar
| Rapids obserter, as foilows:
| The company's plan of utilizing their premiums
| was by loan.ng on bond and mortgage. Copeland
| entered into arrangements with certain citizens
| for loans on this basis. OF several appi-
cations that ne procured, 1t is necessary
| 10 race the history OF only one to show
| how tins reverend swndler and forger proceeded
He applied 10 the company for loan OF $4,000, to
| be made 70 prominent railroad manager Of Cedar
| Rapids. The application was granted by the COM
rany. and the gentleman concluded ne would take
May, executed bona ana mortgage on
certain property delivering 1t up TO Cone
the evening To 20 to the county seat at Marion,
I'VE miles away, and get II recorded would occupy,a
day. and he wanted 10 take The Pacific express on
Monday morning for Chicago; so, TO obviate 1t he
endorsed on the outside, "Receved for record the
18Th DAY Of Nay, a. d. 1871, twelve O'Clock noon, and
recorded IN vol. G. OF mortgages on pages l2S-9.
signed j. G. Daniels, Register Now 1t happened
that Mr.. Daniels' name is j. j., SO that
he was sharp enough to insert IN
place offJ 10 avoid forgery. Before leaving
Cedar Rapids he procured an order from the
applicant 10 'pay TO q. W. Copeland $4,000 IN
drafts, payable to the order OH the loaner. Cope.
land erased the words, payable 10 the ORDER and
inserted payable in current funds" thus making
OF the order demand for delivery OF the draft 10
himself for n:s own benefit. Armed with the bond
and mortgage WIN the forged entry for record and
with the ORDER Tor the money also partly forged lie
presented himself AZ the companys Office In NIL
waukee on Tuesday. Some delay occurred with
the company but not on account OF any suspicious,
rs draft for $4,000 was given him. payable 10
himself, on the Union National Bank OF Chicago.
He TOOK himself TO Chicago iast as the cars would
take lim, found some one To identify MIN at the
bank, got MS money. and since that day. May IL,
Rev. G. w. Copeland mas not been heard from. IL
IL not known where ne went bnt IL supposed TO
luNG EnIAnn-