Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1871-04-26
A Superior Scoundrel--The Career Of
q Reverend Rascal.
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The indianapolis journal says
Some time during the summer of
1868, u man calling himself Charles
Williams came to Monravin, Morgan
county, with horse and buggy and
put up ut hotel. In the eyening he
proposed accompany the landlord TO
church, and on the way stated thathe
was minister Of the gospel, and would
like TO preach that evening As the
pulpit happened to be vacant his offer
was accepted, and he preached an ac-
coptable sermon, which soon brought
him into favorable notice, and gained
tho confidence of the people. He soon
disposed ofhis horse and buggy bought
some good clothes with the money, and
went TO preaching regularly, and ex-
ceeded in working himself into the
favor of every one. The day before the
Presidential election he borrowed
horse OF an unsuspecting friend to ride
to meeting, promising to be back in
time to vote for Grant the next day.
Next day came and the next came
without bringing either preacher or
horse. A week passed before suspi-
cion was aroused, and the next heard
from him was that he had appeared
in Franklin, johnson county, as Henry
Wilson, sold the horse for trifiDg
sum, and deeamped for parts unknown.
Further inquiry revealed the fact that
be had been married, and had wife
and three children at Greencastle, In
diana; that he had leftthem and went
TO fishersburg, in Madison county,
presenting onedentis!s as u minister;
that while there he courted Gad mar
ried a worthy young woman, whom
be deserted and came to Monrovia-
Nothing more was heard from him til
last Christmas, when the Monrovians
heard that he was holding forth with
great success as a reyivalist at Rens-
selaer, 10 Jasper county, Indiana
After some consideration they (the
citizens of Monrovia) decided to bring
him to justice. A justice warrant was
issued and purse made up TO defray
expenses Mr.. Charles Ballard vol
unteered to go after him. On arriv-
ing at Rensselaer,, Mr. Ballard at once
secured the assistance of the sheriff,
and proceeded TO arrest him. They
found the seoundrel spending the
evening with young lady to whom
he was engaged to be married in a few
days. When called upon by the off,
GERS, he pretended not to recognize
Mr. Ballard, and demanded their bust
ness; and when Mr.. Ballard intro
duced himself, and stated what be
wanted, he denied ever being at Mon
rovia, but said he had twin brother
who bore almost an exact resemblance
to him. Ballard told him that the re-
semblance was so close that be would
answer the purpose, and without more
ado snapped the handouts upon his
wrists.
AS soon as ho found himself fairly
bagged, he at once threw of his hyp-
ocritical mask, and has ever since been
one of the most blasphemous wretches
that ever cursed the earth 1t should
be stated here that on his arrival at
Rensselaer,, he presented credentials
as minister ofthe NJ Il church, from
Martinsburg, Blair county, Ponnsyl-
vania, giving his name as Robert Nc
Williams. Inquiries at that place
olicited the fact that he had married
there and deserted his wife, but not
her money. On the way down he
got somewhat intoxicated, and was
very communicative; told Ballard that
"a Methodist preacher could live the
easiest, and have the best times Of
anybody. While passing through La
fayette and indianapolis, he pointed
out number of houses of prostitution
which he had visited, and related
sundry adventures in which "wine
and women" were at the bottom.
lie was brought to Monrovia on the
morning of the Bird, and after a pre-
iminary examination in the afternoon,
was taken to the Mariinsvile jail next
morning On arriving in the Jail next
morning he informed the "birds" that
he was a minister of the Gospel, and
producing pint of whisky bade them
get down on their knees aud receive
the sacrament, which they obeyed,
and the horrible mockery was gone
through with.
In person he is rather above medium,
face little oval, dark curly hair,
pleasant blue eyes, aquilne nose, but
rather sensual lips.