The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-07-28
FALLEN FROM GRACE.
Tho Reported Grimes Of the Rev. Gilbert Il. Rob.
ertson-Dsmaging Array Of Facts, Incidents
and Evidencs-Pandering to Passion.
From the Louisville Courier.JournaI. !,

IRON the LOUISVILLE Courier Journal
We would have been content for Baltimore and
st. Louis to enjoy their clerical Scandals. Al this
safe distance we could have morazed and looked
time finding something new In 1t. In our pride
and feeling that skirts had cllnging to them
fran clergyman, we might have grown severely
virtuous, and spoken Of the causes which might
lead to such dsgraceful exposures and thank good
ness that we were not as other cities were
But we strongly resemble Baltimore In this very
matter OF scandal preacher oil the Gospel shocks
the community by falling from his high estate to
the common level Of gross drunkard and SEN
sualist.
The Rev. Gilbert Fl. Robertson was called to the
charge OF the Presbyterian church. corner OF Fourth
and Chestnut, last September, and removed here
from Springfield, III. He was about forty years OF
age, In the full vigor OF manhood and decidedly ct
tractive In his personal appearance. His Burnside
whiskers, tinged with gray his ready speech ana
expressive eye made him favOrite with all VINO
were susceptible to mental or physical attractions
in preacher.
Mr. Robertson was married, his wife being an ex-
tremey intelligent and charming daughter OF .
dren had cemented their union. Mr.. Robertson
seemed TO adore his wife, and appeared to be sus-
Ceptible to her gentest influence. His devotion TO
his wife had been noticeable since his residence IN
this city.
He was a brilliant preacher, q clear, logical
reasoner and man possessed OF superior inteilec.
tuai powers. His naturally excitable nature had
drawn around him the warm admiration OF con.
gregation who regarded him as an extremely HAPPY
Christian.
In ali Justice to Mr. Robertson we will say thas
nothing derOgatory to his fair fame had ever been
whispered In the city until he himself drew the at
tention of the public toward him.
:. Scores Of rumors are flying about nom which Il
base defence Of the mans conduct. From tho
best sources we compile the following facts:-
MIR. RObertson's family about two weeks ago ieft
the city for visit to Ohio, and Mr.. Robertson left
on Monday, at thrty-nve minutes past ten +. NJ.
for Toledo, Ohio, where he proposed meeting them.
But he went to Chicago, that pace where so
many naughty things take place..
Mr.. r. came aboard the Louisville Bound train At
Chicago with lady heavily yelled, and wanted
''cO0l BERTH" The conductor OF the car knew MIN
personally, and spoke to and was recognized Dy
him. He was then under the influence or liquor,
and betrayed his condition to all present In the car
His reckless desire for beer prompted the rever'
end gentleman to go out and bring In glass OF the
amber fluid and drink 1t, after the lady had refused
it on the plea OF indispOsitop. He was not pleased
with the accommodations the conductor agreed to
give him, and yielded reluctant assent TO all
apologies made him by those whom he imagined
We wish we could stop at this beer-drinking bust
ness, but we can't. He occupied the same berth
with his companion, and this companion was not
his wife. This was decidedly bad conduct ON Mr..
KobertsOn's part.
During the afternoon the reverend gentleman
spent most of his time in playful dallance with his
companion and attracted the attention of the pas
sengers by the freedom of his conduct He got into
the berth with the woman with his boots on show
ing an utter disregard for the propretes and was
compelled to take his boots Off by the conductor in.
sSting upon 1t.
Arriving at Lafayette, Mr.. Robertson manifested
great chagrtn 1T missing the connecting train, 80
much so as to occasion remark: His disappoint-
ment due mainly to the fact that the next train
along would land him in Louisville In daylight, when
he had calculated on a friendly night coaking his
arrival.
Mr.. Robertson was very attentive to his COM
panOn, and had her breakfast sent to her, which
she ate with her veil lifted to the bridge OF her nose
She seemed to be careful to avoid exposing her
countenance. AS far as could be seen, the yelled
lady was handsome brunette OF thirty years OF
age, dressed elegantly, and wearing three diamond
clusters on one hand. After their arrival In In
dianapolis, Mr.. Robertson and his companion dis
appeared Tor several hours, but returned in time
to take the quarter-past-six train for Louisville,
which reached here about eleven O'Clock. inc
woman was driven to a house on Ninth street, per
agreement with Mr.. Robertson, who went to
friends house on Second street, reaching there In
short time after his arrival.
Friday afternoon Mr.. Robertson called on Mr.:
Miller, one Of his parishioners, and complained OF
suffering from attack OF acute diarrhpa he
said he had received note from q cousin or MS,
a Mrs. Jones' who in passing through the city, had
asked him to call on her at the bridge depot before
she went home to Chicago Mr.. Miller advised nun
severe illness OF some character, ana even volun-
teered to see the cousin for him, which 01er was
declined by Mr.. Robertson who, however, invited
him to accompany him. He took the street cars
and went to the depot about three O'Clock. Mr.
Robertson was seen coming out OF the sitting
room with satchel in his hand, followed by wo-
man closely yelled. .
A passenger agent who knew him personally no
ticed that he was acting strangely, and accostcd
him, but Mr.. Robertson seemed DESTROYS OF evading
HIM. Following him up, he asked C,, a,
"Mr. Robertson, are you going to chicago 7"
'Yes, sir, am going to Chicago" replied Mr.
Robertson CURLY.
ger man, who knew Mrs. Robertson personally.
"Yes sir, my wife is going with me-" was the curt
The passenger agent, seeing his condition, led
him into the car and showed him to seat. AS he
entered the car the Rev. Stuart Robinson at this
moment entered the depot, walked into the car
and took seat a short distance from his erring
brother.
Mr. Robertson at this time went out on the plat
form and attracted everyb0dy's attention by shout
ing for ice water. He would have been quoted
down in q summary manner by Slater, the watch
ma
wretched condition, and he was permitted to yell
to his content.
water, and in attempting TO carry 1t to his COM
paniOn Mr.. Robertson stumbled and spilled the
water on the car floor. He picked up the ice, how
ever, saying it was the best he could do, and she
put 1t in her mouth. He seemed alarmed, probably
fearing detection.
to be trying to evade recognition by DR.. Stuart
Robinson and even had the blinds pulled about
them. At Franklin he parted from the woman,
conductor and left the train taking return train
for Louisville.
ductOr to get her some supper, and declined to
show her lace He referred her to the sleeping car
conductor, who procured her what she wanted
Here the yelled woman disappears, and Mr..
RODertsOn's course Is narrated ON Saturday he
complained, very naturally, OF feeling unwell but
on Sunday preached his farewell sermon, which L.
remembered as an eloquent and powerful effort.
or course bad news travels fast, and Mr.: Robert.
sons dlsgraceful conduct became the theme OF
many -tongued rumor, and reached the officers OF
his church. who were deeply shocked, but doubted
the truth OF the grave charges. On Monday night
church meeting held for the consideration Of
important business, at which Mr. Robertson pre-.
sided with a calmness and trmness which surprised
those who knew the dark charges hanging over
him. The rumors were not touched upon at the
meeting, but its close some OF the members
spoke to Mr.. Robertson regarding them, and re-
ceived nat denial OF their truth. He explained his
appearance on Friday by saying that he mad taken
laudanum as an antdote to acute diarrhGa; that
the drug and liquor had affected his head
to such extent that he was not conscious OF
what transpired at the depot He explained and de-
MED so pausbly that the gentlemen were satsned
OF his innocence and aterward begged that all men,
ton Of the AFFAIR should be suppressed In the morn
ing papers. He denied having been to Chicago;
said that he had been to Toledo to make arrange
ments for boarding his family during his months
vacation. His story, told to the officers OF the