The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1875-06-11
TIE kE.N.D.9LL RSG.7.uIST.
HE Makes a futiie .9itenipt to Escd

HE .Ha6es a futife .ftteDipt to Escape.
KALAMAZOO JUNE 5.-Wednesday evening
about dark the ministerial gentleman Merrill,
alias Eastman. whe was arrested and lodged in
jail here Tuesday On the charge of Digamy, at
tempted and nearly effected an escape. lie in
some manner pried apart two OF the iron bars
at window, and with the aid Of three sheets
and some Irvine let himself down to the ground.
The deputy sheriff was on hand to receive and
secured him as he touched the ground 1t is
believed that outside assistance was rendered
him, and that horse and carriage were in
waiting.
A kalamazoo correspondent writes the follow
Ing to the Detroit News concerning the at
tempted escape of the clerical bigamist, East
man, from the kalamazoo jail:
There are circumstances surrounding this
case which seem to reflect on the efficiency OF
the jail authorities and the good faith or two
ladies who were visiting him on Thursday from
9 TO o'clock in the afternoon. The trouble
with the jail authorities is the sin OF omission
in not properly guarding man OF his pretend
cd profession, charged, as he is, with the crime
OF blgamy.
And then again, It il unfortunate, not to say
suspicious, for the supposed wife Of this cleri-
cal =" Jack Sheppaerd" aud the slster-in-law
who attended her, that they should be closeted
for three hours Thursday, undsturbed by the
too credulous sheriff. changing the clothes OF
the prisoner, and giving him an easy disguise,
and carrying away the better suit.
Then the ominoUs presence OF confederate
10 III open buggy close by the jail just as East
man leaps from the prison walls. All these
! thilgs being considered, together with the
ample opportunity offered for escape, reflects
severely upon the efficiency of the sheriff.
AL a0tf. L.
ii the prosecuting attorney is doing his duty in
this matter. Here is an undoubted scoundrel,
who comes into our midst under forged per-
NIT to preach the gospel, officiates In that ca
paclty, lnarfies a respectable girl, ane all at
once i. is learned that he has a wife and child
living from whom he is not divorced. The
public prosecutor may be almighty vgilant"
in the matter, but stall we doubt 8 BY their
works ye shall know them"
IL appears now that the father-n-law. having
been worked up by the affection of his daugh-
ter had determined to come here to-day and
fellows inconsiderate haste last evening has
spoiled his hopes of liberty.
From Mr.. {. +. Nearpass, OF the Whitehall
Forum, We learn some OF the antecedents OF
Rev Mr.. Eastman-HlndleyM Merrill. Early last
fall, the fellow-with all these names-put IN
an appearance at Charlotte, Eaton county, and
soon began preaching IN that place and vicinity.
Inc Charlotte Republican, however, soon pick
&c up an item from some Eastern paper de-
scrpng person like the new minister as
dead beat The Republican interested the peo-
pie CO. that committee varied on the parson
he asked them to write to Obern, giving his
address as George Hlndiey. Lettere were writ
ten, and IN reply the best kipd OF recommend
atoms we're given as to the character OF Mr.
tlndley, but the suggestion vac made that il
was net likely tLat Dir. Hindley was in that
part OF 5he country. Well, to make a long
story short, the Repubncan published the fell
low as scallawag in sleeps cethlng that he
left the Hast, after numerous swindlIng Cd era
Il ons, including horse abstracting. The Detroit
Tribune also published some incidents in our
heros career. SO sLaklng the dlst OF Eaton
county from his feet he went to Whitehall and
soon engaged in preaching at that place. But
he was not destined TO Eeman there long The
whitehall Forum had seen the paragraphs de.
nOuncing HIndley and repubhshed them, The
pastor was called to account by his deacops.
and resorted to the same strategy, aud while
the church and the church people were waiting
to hear from Oberln, he piled his vocation to
the best OF his ability. lie ingratiated himself
with the ladies' OF the place--nearly broke the
heart OF school teacher whom he neglected
after brief intimacy. for the daughter of a
rich cltizen. Lis spoke at the Temperance
union, 2Ud wac ia great favor with the Young
ladies' present. But it was frequently noticed
that lie read his sermons, and that he followed
The manuscript very closely with eye and index
finger. and It 10 not violent conclusion that
the sermons were not his own except as he had
stolen them. BE had TO leave Whitehall. but
left mementoes IN several ways-boarding-
house, laundry, printer and ether bills lie
went to AluskegOn from Whitehall, and from
MuskegOn he dropped quietly dawn into the
confidence aud affections OF the people in this
secjJu.- aiafna2Op ielegrapb.