Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1877-06-09
THREE SID CASES.
A MINISTER MURDERED BY RoUGHS.

1t will be clearly remembered that
the Master once remarked to his disci-
pies that he had chosen them as the
Sacred Twelve, but that one Of them
had demon. This alIusion bore up
on the black hearted, thicvish Judas.
His consuming seltishness ultima ely
melted him to betray his Lord ;and the
fate Of the traitor,is described as hav-
ing been terrible. That there are I'M
faithful men IN the Christian ministry
at this time, we cannot deny. And
occasionally, the cloak Of hypocrisy
falls from some villain, and exposes
his shocking character. Yet, the bad
ness Of two or three persons ought
not to be brought forward for the pur-
pose Of proving that whole organic
alton may be disreputable. IF amer
chant closes his store and absconds
with all his own cash and also steals
that which belongs to others, we do
not assert that all merchants are dis
honest. We continue to patronize
the dealers of whom we buy our goods
and consider that their honesty is
meritlng our strongest confidence. 1t
must be be admitted, from actual evil
dcnce, that Facksliding and crimes
among preachers, arc far less than
those in any other profession. In
fact, they ought to be, when we con-
template the hallowed business to
which these persons devote themselves.
When one of them shows himself to
be an imposter and a hypocrite, the
case is so rare as to Immediately at
tract attention. And there is class
Of prcjudiced people who reason from
his downfall and Immediately decide
that all his brethren are cheats, dupes
and teachers Of immortality. But this
logic is just as preposterous as it
would be for man to declare that a
whole town in which he lives is filled
with corrupt Inhabitants, simply be-
cause he dslikes a single man in it
Two instances of ministerial wander.
ing from virtue, have recently been
published IN the papers which are no
less deplorable, than interesting. Rev
S. ii. McGehee, pastor Of the Chris
tian church at Ashton, ILL.,, had hi:
trial for murder and deception in Dix
on, last Saturday. And all the pco
pie are intensely excited in relation
to it. McGehee, is stylish, fine
looking man, and was installed pasto
. of the church in the former place, up
wards of year ago. Soon, he form
f ed the acquaintance of Miss Rilli
| Paddock, the daughter of q wealthy
farmer Of that town, with whom III
q became SO fondly intimate, that scan
dalous remarks were excited in res
> pect to their conduct. Last Febru
airy, Mrs. MEG chez fell sick, and af
forwards was attacked with violen
! and fearful spasmS. The attendln;
;. physicians detected symptoms Of pois
!. oning; but no examination was mad
!. until after her decease. When sh
was dying in violent agony, the youn
halEidlotc daughter told how she ha
/ mixed poison with her mothers foo
t and drink, because her father had pei
+ sistently induced her to do it. A
the post-mortem examination, til
statements of the girl were confirm
y ed, inasmuch as arsenic and strychin
y were discovered in her stomach
= Ike evidence which bears against Nc
' Gehee is said to be overwhelming
and he is likely to have the legal pun
# ishment which he deserves.
e Mr.. IL, c. Howe, who was loct
3 preacher for Christian sect Gale