The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1872-09-20
A Minister from Andrew County
Pleads Guilty Of Forgery,

The ottawa (kansas) journal saws:
1t has transpired that this gentleman,
who is known here as the Rev. Mr..
Hopkins, having been . resident of
Ottawa for more than q year, and the
respected preacher Of the Christian
congregation of the city and country,
became inspired with the idea Of
making an addition to his salary with
out INJECTING the burden upon his
congregation. He therefore selected
the latest member Of his flock, and
proceeded to fleece him by . process
not laid down among the rules of
church discipline. Accordingly, on
the 18th of June last, ha drew 3 note
of $40O, at ninety days, payable to the
order of Isaiah Pile, whose name he
endorsed upon the back and negotia-
ted it at the Peoples National Bank.
On the 25th of June he drew . like
instrument which he transferred to
the First National Bank. On the LIST
Of August he executed one Of the
same sort for $50, and on the 9Th of
August one for $125, which he nego-
tiated to the Ottawa Bank. The last
one found was dated September, Sd,
for $50, which he disposed of to Mr..
E. w. Walton, . merchant of our city.
It 50 happened that in . very few
hours after Mr.. Walton received the
note OH Tuesday, Mr.. Pile, the prima
facia endOrser, appeared on the street
and was INTERCEPTED by the holder
in reference to the said "prOmise to
pay" Mr.. Pile knew Of no such
transaction with the preacher. He
positively denied having endorsed
any such note to Rev. John W. Hop
kins. The supreme surprise and vir-
tuous indignation Of Mr.. Walton
found vent in . search for Aarshal
Lemon, and o warrant, procured from
Police Judge Jones, put in his hands
to arrest the pious reprobate. To-
wards evening the Marshal came in
contact with the reverend gentleman
and invited him to accept his compa-
ny to the Judges Office and tell the
court what he knows about forgery.
The Rev. John W. Hopkins accepted
the invitation and they two, accord
ingly, perambulated into the Police
court room. His honor, Judge Jones,
received his visitor kindly, and pro-
ceeded to read to him the affidavit of
MIR. Walton, charging him with the
crime of forgery and wishing to know
the style of his plea thereto. The de-
PENDANT thereupon answered for reply
to said charge, equity" Simulta-
neously with this days doings," affi-
dsyits reciting the same ofense were
filed against the accused by b. G..
McQuestan and Horace J.. Smith,
cashiers, respectively Of the Peoples
National and the Ottawa banks.
In consideration of the aforesaid
evidence guilty" the Judge fixed the
defendants bail at $500. Failing to
obtain which, he was placed in the
county Jail to awEit o further hearing
at the bar of the District Court.
This 10 the end Of the story to date.
The career eff the accused prior to this
occurrence, is but little known to the
Ottawa public. We have learned
that he came here from northern Mis-
souri, q little over q year ago, bring.
ing his family. Since then he has
been preaching q little, trading . little
and farming a little. He ingratiated
himself into the good favors Of Dr.
Pile, Q very high esteemed citizen,
and an honored member of the Chris
tian Church and of the community.
The Doctor has frequently befriended
him, by neighborly acts Of kindness,
and by loans of money, amounting
sometimes to $500 and $500; and in
many other ways impossible to men,
ton.