The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1876-12-20
Is Revealed in the Black BusineSs-The
Prayer Meeting of His
Congregation.
.sl:si I ION BY tn ELDERS.
II III be- Conducted Privately, but i'll be
Searching and Thorough Says
Mr.. Butler
A General Re,iew OF the case.

a General Review of the Case
The excitement in the city over the down
fall of Elder w. +. Black was but little less
intense yesterday than il was onWednesday,
when the Sentinel published the indisputa-
BILE evidence of his guilt, gathered by its re-
porter during his sojourn in st. Louis. The
com piete history of the case, toyether with
the uuanswerable arguments against the pos
sibility OF his innocence presented by the
Sentinel made the paper in great demand,
and large number OF extra copies were
sold The chain of testimony with which
the Sentinel bound Mr.. Black was almost
universally regarded as irrefragible. Tho
full details of the proceedings in ST. Louis of
the various parties connected with
the case the numerous contra
dictions. inconsistencies and disgraceful
features embraced in the action of the
deposed pastor, together with the numerous
affidavits OK the witnesses OF his unholy
adventures proved sufficient to convict him
at the great bar of public opinion. The
evidence was too conclusive for can
did, fairminded persons to ar
i've at any other decision. When the
scandal was preached for the first time
there were great doubts expressed as 10 its
having any foundation in fact The man
had led an ostensibly pure and upright life,
had won enviable honOrs and high position,
had gained the respect of the community
and had secured firm hold upon the affec-
tons of a large number of people. 1t there
fore was but natural that the report should
be received with disbelief among the many
who were warmly attached to him. Ii seemed
as improbable to them that one who
had so long been regarded as a
thoroughly good man should go so seriously
astray as that a planet should move out of
its orbit As nothing more appeared in con-
tirrnation of this story for several days, the
impression that he had been grievously
wronged had about settled into positive
conviction when the startling revelations of
the Sentinel of Wednesday renewed the
discussion and reOpened the whole case.
This is why il was stated yesterday morning
that Black would have saved his position
had he not made his last trip
westward. The Sentiners position in
the matter has been a very.
trying one Even after it had obtained in
dubitable confirmation OF its first article
upon the subject il became matter Of great
consideration whether it would be best
for society to publish the facts or to let the
subject drop. unless the church should see
proper TO investigate it. Another consider
alton was based upon sympathy for the err
ing woman and her family. 1t was a deli
cate question TO decide, but finally it was
agreed that il would be greater injury TO
society to allow the impure reverend to
remain in his position than the
exposure of his hypocrisy and baseness
would be 10 the cause of religion. So the
facts were brought to light, and his high
crime clearly revealed AS said yesterday,
the Sentinel in doing this has not been
actuated by malice. vindictiveness, or de-
sire to be sensational, no more tnan it has
been deferred by threats of personal dam
age, loss of particular business patronage, or
the risk of incurring the enmity of large
number of people, with whom il would pre-
fer to be on friendly terms. 1t regarded
the unmasking of such a hypOcrite high
journalistic duty. and though it was sur
rounded by many disagreeable features, it
decided to perform it and depend upon the
calm, sober judgment of the PEG
pie for approval of its course. Ii fore
saw that its action would be open to many
false charges but it braved all the difficult
ties and dangers. and being firmly convinced
that its spirit has been Just, righteous and
unprejudiced, Ii takes justiiable satisfaction
in having dene society inestimable service
1t has not sought to attack the church or to
make IL share the odium placed upon its pas
tor. 1t believes that the church will cast out
Its false leader, and trusts, for its own repu-
tation, that It will make the investigation
openly and without any attempt TO lessen
she force of the blow.
The experiences of The reporter in st.
Louis have been regarded among the
most interesting features of the expose, and
therefore the following summary of his ac-
tiOns in the city, as presented in the Repub-
hcan, which vas crowded out yesterday. is
reproduced:
The Troublesome Exporter Puzsped
.fSt Louis Republican of Wednesday,
On Monday morning there arrived here Mr..
J. w bingham, city editer of the Iudianapo-
1s sentinel, Mr. Boaz, q lawyer of 1ndianapO-
us, and Alr. Black minister from the same
place. They remained in town ever since, all
OF them busily engaged. Last night a RepsiD-
lican reporter meS Mr.. Bingham and lea rned a
few things highly interesting.
SIR. Bingham states that when informed
that the young lady had taken the cars at In
dianapolis; had autographed 10 the reverend
gentleman, who had preceded her 10 Terre
Ifssfte, that she WAS on the train; had made
herself AND MIN remarkable after the meeting
at Terre Hsute by exfrayagant love passages
on the car, and had been caught in
compromising situations by bell boy at the
this he telegraphed t. the Iindell and ascr-
tanned that such parties had been there, and
then published the item Presently n Rev
Mr. Block returned to Ind annapolis from trip
to his coal mine Mt Terre Hante, and seeming
10 think the article alluded to him, indignant
" denied that he had Travelled any farther
than Terre Haute. or with any young lady, de-
claring that he could prove 1t by the party
with whom he stayed while I'm Terre
Eaute- On the Sunday evening following,
Ar. Black and a lawyer bought tickets for st.
lOnis, and the Sentinel managers fearing that
things might be arranged here which
Wouid throw them upon the task of defending
q heavy libel SUIT, without the means Of de-
fense, det rmined 10 send Mr.. Bingham on
: Photograph Of the reverend gen.
tler1an alluded to In the article. and took the