The Rock Island Argus., 1877-10-23
Ths 9ailg Argns.
FROM PULPIT TO PRISON.
Rev. Alfred Thompson, a Methodist
Preacher OF Llgln, Sentenced
to Five Years in Sing
Sing.

Most Of our readers probably have heard
of the arrest in New York city. on a
charge Of larceny. of the Rev. ALT.
Thompson, pastor of the Primitive NJ. L
church, some days ago. Il appears he got
eave Of absence some tiue ago aud went
TO England. Returning, he fell in with
the lady named below, wto, he testified
openly aud shamelessly III court, Ire loved
not wisely but too we'll" Arriving in
New York, they put up at some hotel,
and there the crime iur which he was on
Thursday last sentenced by Recorder
tIackett to FIVE years in Sing Sing, was
committed. The n. Y. Sun gives the fol,
lowing account of the appearance of the
parties, and the trial:
He is young man, with smooth face,
not indicative OF great mental power.
His manner and dress were in keeping
with his profession, and he exhibited plen-
~ of audacity. The complainant. Mrs.
Ellen Gotham, wife OF a Presbyterian
missionary 10 the West Indies, is young,
intelligent, educated woman, and was en-
route to join her husband.
10 the steamship City of MchmoEd the
prisoner was a passenger. He introduced
himself, said he knew some of Mrs. Cob
| ham, relations in Hampshire, and proved
to her satisfaction that he had charge of a
church in Elgin. On their arrival in this
city he said he knew of good hotel where
prices were reasonable, aud they went to.
| ka WoaR Si1a hotol ar OF Woes
street They were TO start for the West
together on Monday, but on that day the
Rev. Alfred Thompson slipped away.
Mrs Thompson missed her money and
jewelry. She promptly reported her loss
to the police, and detectives were sent
with her to Jersey City, where they
watched in the Pennsylvania and Erie
depots. One of the officers caught
Thompson in a brokers' Office, where be
was exchanging Mrs. Cobham's gold soy
erei2ns for United States currercy Her
jeweiry was found 10 his travelling bag.
He had also bought ticket for Elgin Nth
her money.
The clergyman went on the stand tc
testify in his own behalf. He made nc
preteuce of spotlessness of character, and
was defiant in his manner, but he deDieC
4 that he was thief.
He said that on the voyage be fell il
with Mrs. Gotham. as she had described
but their relations, he said were nor
intimate than might be inferred from be-
testimony. She proposed that they should
not return 10 tueir families, but should
live together as husband and wife. They
went 70 the West Side Hotel as prelim
mary, and she gave her money and jewelry
| 10 him. He decided to 60 home, how
ever, and slipped away quietly, 50 as 4
escape a parting scene. He took hel
property because she bad made him
present ot it, She was foremost in tht
love making, according to the prisoner
who coolly remarked; She is the mos
loving woman | ever saw.
DO you mean to say that your relation
with her were improper?' Recorder Hack
EFT inquired.
w ell the cicrgyuan replied, with
lter we ali do such ,hiugs, mure or less
Aud you are minister OF the GoSpe ?
Yes
Landlord O kectc Of the Vest Sid
tiotcI testified that he saw no Indication
ot ulisbchaviur Oh Mrs. Cobham part
aud that the prisoner, on quitting III
house, stole from lie Ufhce guest be
containing womens hats. Miss Okeef
} the landlords daughter, gave slmils
testimony.
The jury convicted the Rev. Alfre
Thompson sitting in their seats, resu
that he seemed to have expected; it
: while on the stand he had apparently bee
desirous only of deiaming the complainan
Stand up aud be sentenced, said tt
Recorder. We'll, sir, more filthy bea
| never met with, and a more deprave
clergyman | meyer saw. | am sorry
cauoot give you a more severe seuteDt
! than FIVE years in state prison at haI
labor"
The Rev Alfred Thompson smile
grimly as he retired between two officer