Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1874-11-27
A Clerical Impostor.

A correspondent of the Troy Times, writ
ing under date Of "Rutland, Nov. IL, 1874
gives startling disclosure of an irrepressi-
Bile impostor in clerical clothes, who has
been deceiving the brethren and sisters IN
Vermont, and has now fed to pastures
new. We give the substance of the cores
pondence
"Some time in August last well dressed,
fair appearing, clerical looking fellow;
claiming to be Methodist minister, called
on your correspondent, asked for an hour
conversation, and got, doubtless, what ne
more desired, parsonage dinner; he
gave his name as Rev. l.. l.. Copeland. HIS
own account Of acquaintance and personal
experiences was interesting and given WIN
apparent candor. The substance OF his
story was That he was native Of West
ern New York; converted young; studied
for the Methodist ministry; exercised his
gifts and graces as local preacher; be-
came acquainted with young lady, the
fair daughter of wealthy Missouri planter,
Col. -, 1.-THE name forgotten) followed
her to her home and married her; joined
the Georgia conference of the Southern
Ne odist church; preached several years
"a. lays a Northern man in his sympathles
aud sentiments, though silent upon pc
litical questions, but was tolerated in neu
trality because Of the social position and
political influence of his father-in-
law. lie said his wife died last Jam
uary; he located and left for his friends in
the North. He came to Vermont, being
so advised, as he said, by Bishop jesse L.
Peck. hoping to find some place where he
could preach till spring, and then join the
conference. Your correspondent directed
him to Presiding Elder Gregg at Brandon
To him said Copeland presented certificates
of location from the venerable Bishop Kav-
anaugh of the Southern Methodist Church,
and also letters from Bishop Jesse I. Peck
To other ministers he also showed these.
with letter of recommendation from
Bishop Peck. Elder Gregg sent him to
Panton, near Nergennes, to supply the pull
pit just then made vacant by the transfer of
Rev. c. II. Dunton to prOiessorship in the
Troy Conference Academy In Panton
Copeland at once made a sensation as a
wonderfully smart preacher he was a
modern Paul IN the pulpit-in fact he was
great gun" lie preached at Burling
ton, Montpelier and Spring Grove camp
meeting and other places, and with the
masses was "seven days wonder" of orig
inality and oratory.
Now this same Copeland, that cut such a
snobbish swell and made 50 many saints 20
wild with his vulgarisms, pulpit pedantics
and voluble periods, turns out to be an ire
preside impostor and one of the vilest vii
lains that goes unhung. Bishop Foster says
OF him: He Is one Of the biggest scOun-
drels there Is on this continent" OF this
there i more than presumptiye evidence
there l. proof positive. Certain parties IN
expectedly came in contact with him at
preacher 5 meeting in Pittsford the last Of
October, and recognized him as an
impOst0r who had previously created
sensation as camp meeting preacher and
as a lecturer on "SnObs and snobbery,' in
and about Clean, \. Y. There he went as
the Rev, Mr.. Warren, until the detectives,
who greatly desire his person, discovered
his whereabouts, and he fled for other fields
more fair and pastures green. lie was a9-
yertised IN the Buffalo and other papers as
an lmpOstor. About the time of the dis
cOvery OF his character at Pittsiord, pre-
siding elder Gregg had received letter of
inquiry a TO this Copeland, and was cor
responding with parties in Western New
York and Pennsylvania. The presiding e.
der of the Danyllle district, Central Penn
| sylyania, conference wrote particulars. and
| sent a photograph Of said Copeland. a
/ true a likeness as light can make Of him.
and had 1t not been for the too premature
| discovery at Pittsiord, and his consequent
| alarm, doubtless he would have been in the
/ keeping OF officers of the law before this
| writing, With a pathetic farewell sermon J..
! he left the people OF Panton in tears at ths
| severance of strong ties. and in great in
/ dignation that any one had. (as he charged
| on your correspondent especially,) injured
! J. 4 I'D 49,. 81
! by questioning his honesty and facing him
with the charge of unchristian conduct.
A. soon a. convenient be agaiu sought sale
~ il flight.
Here are few Of the unlawful SINS that
are everywhere finding him out BigamY
| instead Of being e sad whoever he has
two wives living. Forgery, in various
| places, and at sundry times and ways, at
Cedar Rapids. Iowa, where be had for a
time been preaching 10 the people with
great favor, he forged securities, drew ten
thousand dollars, and then fed with his
money and another mans vile. DR.. B. l.
Ives Of Auburn, who dedicated a new
church at Cedar Rapid soon after the
above crime, and while It was the sensation
of the place. Is personally the authority u
your correspondent FOR these facts. In In
dianap0lis, where for Il time he preached
for a Unitarian society and was the star
preacher OF the CITY. be attempted murder,
and h0tly pursU ed by detectives he He'd ioI
safety and ay0i ied arrest \ few months
after he was discovered preaching to a
Methodist congregation at Parkersburg
Penn, and was exceedingly popular as q
pulpit orator The detectives again sought
him, and said Bishop Foster to your CORES
pondent As the officers entered one dool
he departed from another and again hcc
from justice.
lie has preached for time at Fall River
Mass. in Delaware. etc. Ills real name /
) F Copeland, but it has been Rev. /. L
Copeland, alias Rev Copeland. alias Rev
Warren, Rev. Ware. and other aliases. Ill
l. about b or 80 years of age, says he la
preached nine years; has told some he ha
been been President Of Female Colleg
seven years, and says he has spent two year
, and hall in Europe and Oriental countries
In height he is about five feet and elgh
inches SANDY complexion, hair and whlsker
nearly red and quite curly, fall butnot lon
: beard, gray eyes, erect in carriage and ener
- getic step, and, with his smooth speech an
sanity smile, deceives the saints, an
would deceive the devil ifa stranger TO hlm
! lie Is a dangerous fellow and ought to be !
State Prison for his crimes. Let him 3
sure his sins will find him out. Let tn
saints entertaining strangers see 10 1t the
do not swallow them too soon; keep theI
ON sly months nrohatian -