The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1876-05-17

A BAD CASE OF MISPLACED CONF
80 DENCE.

he TROTS OFF WITH A VERY ORDINARY
YOUNG woMAN-PRoMPr ACTION BY THE
OUTRAGED CHURCH.
The Cincinnati Gazette says: Frsg-
mentary statements have been made con-
corning the elopement of a minister at
Ashland, KY, but they were all wide OF
the truth, some of them calling him the
Presbyterian minister at that place. The
story is one OF painful interest, and
presents case which, with the present
testimony, is as difficult OF explanation as
IL is dsgracefuI to the rarties interested
On the Goth OF April, the Rev. l.. ID.
Parker. presiding elder of the Ashland dis
trict, Kentucky Conference M. Church,
eloped from Ashland, KY, with Mics Trim
pie Swetnsm, of Louisa @. H., KY, and
went to parts unknown. Mr.. Parker had
been honored by his conference by an cleo
ton as delegate to the general conference
now in session at Baltimore, and bad the
implicit confidence of the people of Eastern
Kentucky. He left behind him wife and
daughter. who a.e respected and beloved
'or their many good qualities. On last
Wednesday, May 8, in accordance with the
laws of the Methodist Church, COM
m ttee of five ministers, namely:
Revs. DIR. Mul or, Tim German, Mcclellan,
Hooker and Mulleoix, with the Rev. n. ID.
Rice as chairman, and the Rev. j. ID.
Walsh setting seer tAry, met at Cattles-
burg, KY, TO consider charges against
the AZURE alluded to above. There were
two charges, viz:
GROSS IMMORTALITY AND UNMINIsTERIAL
CONDUCT,
and willful falsehood and deception. I'm
der the first charge, the specifications were
a adultery with Miss Swetnam, and deser-
ton of his family, and clipping with the
sbove-pamed lady. Under the second
charge the specification was deliberate
lying to several persons with reference to
his movements at that time. Amer q
careful aud patient examination of oral
and documentary evidence, the COMMITTEES
found the Rev. T. ID. Parker guilty OF the
above charges, snd he was suspended
from all ministerial privileges and prerog-
atives until the next session OF the Ken
tocky G. inference, when a more formal
and extended trial will take place. The
fact that the accused has not been heard
from since landing from the Ohio, on the
2lst of April, in this city, and the evident
purposes of the guilty parties, as testified
10y the witnC sses. leaves no doubt that the
ii ading of the committee was Just. The
testimony showed that early in April last
Mr.. Parker suggested TO his wife that, as he
was goicg TO be absent six weeks or more
at the general conference, they could econ-
Omiz9 by giving up their house during
that time, she going with her daughter 70
% nerstt, KY, where her relatives reside.
she assented, and, taking his horse anu
buggy,
DROVE AWAY WITH THEIR DAUGHTER.
It was developed that he sent to her by
rail some furniture, but neglected to pay
the freight, and as he had given her no
money, she was able to get it only by the
assistance of friends. He then prepared
Ostensibly 70 go to the general conference,
but with great secrecy planned to get
away with mis- victim. He arranged TO
nsve the girl disguise herselt and get
ABOARD the boat at Louisa @. II. he went
10 CatletisouIg and stopped at the hotel,
saying he was looking tor man TO come
down the Big Sandy TO pay him $50. The
boat was detained, aad he at last went TO
bed, leaving WORD that he wanted to be
walked II the man came. The boat arrived
st o'clock in the morning, aud your 2
man whom Miss Swetmsn bad taken into
her confidence, and who had accompanied
her g. us far, walked up the minister. he
made some excuse at the hotel for the
presence OF the girl, and lett her there
while be went to Ashland, and made hssty
preparations for his own departure. Some
time in the morning the Ohio No. came
along. Miss Swetman got abo ird and left
her friend, showing him before they parted
pistol she was carrying "to make Psrkt r
live up to his promise" as she said. She
did not have to use 1t, as he promptly
came aboard at Ashland, and arrived 10
this city tbs next day, April 81 No one
mas since been able TO find them. Mr..
Parker, on the preiense OF
GOING TO INFERENCE AT BALTIMORE,
bad succeeded in borro wing about nine
hundred dollars from different parties, one
gentleman in this city contributing $50 to
this furd This was all he had with which
to begin life, with a ruined character, at
forty Two years OF age. He Is said to have
remarked TO some one before he LETT that
DO might see prair.e before he went 10
Baltimore. he girl WITH whom ke eloped
Is described as one Without education, Gull
ture, or any aecomp lishments 10 make her
attractive. Neither does she possess even
ordinary beauty. She is the daughter Of q
man wEo was himself dismissed rom this
conference several years ago upon the
same charge now made against Rev.
Parker, except that in his case q MAI ried
woman, and not a young. girl, was the
other party. Ii is said that, for several
years in succession, R.v. Parker
mas enieavored to get tie conference
to restJre D.. Swetmsn to the min
istry, and he bad almost sue
ceeded. The disRraced presiding elder is
we'll known in that part of the country
ard In the Methodist Church. His father
and his grandt. ther were Methodist
preachers He has bsen highly resp C. ed,
more IL u. is social qualities than for any
ext aordinsry mental or moral qualities,
although his life has heretofore been with
out reproach. The conduct OF the man is
beyond comprehension, and In spite OF the
prJofs to the contrary, there are people in
Ashland now who claim that he mas been
forced into this cour.e.
THE WOMAN IN THE CASE.