The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-10-01

years OH. lie 'nau ratneI' aBOlthn Cdot VI
countenance, but in social intercourse his
manner was cordial and pleasant t.lte But ii
was noted by many close observers that bis
conversation did not indicate the. culture
| and information TO be expected from one
twho was SO eloquent in the pulpit. The
discrepancy between bis conversational an d
pulpit ability was very marked. In the one
he was commonplace, in the other highly
gifted. -. .s;,s ..s<.er-.,. !. a-.,..,s
"He left Richmond in December and
| went to Georgia, and thence to New Or
leans, where he was elected pastor OF one
OF the Baptist churches. Here he remained
six weeks. He next appeared in Kentucky,
late in April or early in May. Since that
time we have heard nothing OF him until /
suspected, when I saw the article in the
Sun, that the Rev. u. D. Rowland and the
| D. r. Philip might be one and the same
| man.
"I should, perhaps, have mentioned that
We have letter from the pastor OF the Bap-
list church at Machynlleth saying that no
such man as Rowland was ever connected
with that church. Rowland everywhere
claimed to be a Welshman, but did not
always give MachYnlleth as his home.
Mr.. ElIyson's letter enclosed specimen
of Rowland's handwriting. AS soon as 1t
was received Deacon Atwood consulted
Deaeons Hitler and Griffith, both New
York businessmen, and it was agreed to
make strict, but -...., ,-,.,
SECRET INVESTIGATION,
Mr.. .EHyson's letter having warned them
that Rowland alias Philip, would run away
il he suspected that they were on his track.
Upon going home that evening Deacon
Atwood found the autograph-album OF a
young lady i'll his parlor, and carelessly
tossing over its leaves his eye. caught the
signature OF D. r. Philip, appended to q
few lines of q moral and religious charac-
ter A comparison of this writing with
that in the letter to Mr.. E!lyson, and signed
D. D. Rowland, showed unmistakably that
both had been done by the same hand.
On the next day Mr.. Ellyson was tele-
graphed to and asked to come to this city
and make assurance doubly sure by identi-
flying Philip as Rowland. He arrived yes
terday morning. While he was seated in
Deacon Atwood's Office examining some Of
the documents connected with this strange
case OF clerical fraud, he took up letter
signed F. D. Evans. "That is Rowland's
writing, am almost sure" he exclaimed.
-a A COMPARISON '..
OF the Rowland with the Evans letter
showed marked similarity. not only in
handwriting but in style. They are given
below. The Evans letter reads:
"BAPTIsT GENERAL ASSOCIATION
OF ILLINOIS,
"61 WASHINGTON STREET..
"CHIcAGo, June 19, 1877.
" George FL. At.1ood, Esq, Neu YORK;:
"Dear Brother,-I have Just received a
note from the Rev. d. r. Philip, who has
recently arrived in this country, announc-
ing his settlement, and requesting me to
write you a statement of his standing in his
former field OF labor. 1t affords me pleasure
to say that I knew him during the early part
Of his ministry as a very earnest student
and q faithful worker in his own sphere OF
labor. Since have been in this country
have frequently heard OF his success. From
correspondence with my friends at home,
and particularly with my uncle, the Rev. D.
Evans, of Yuisandrow, from whom I re-
ceived letter recently, learn that his re-.
cord has been full Of credit, usefulness, and
sacrifice in the cause Of our Blessed Master.
I congratulate the church at Hackensack on
securing pastor so able, sound, and salts
factory rs I know this young brother to be.
al am known to many OF the brethren In
New York city, where / labored formerly
before removing West. am just to leave
for California, where expect to remain for
few weeks, and shall in all probability be
in New York early in the fall, and will try
to see you. Meantime, If you riceu any
thing further concerning Brother Philip,
write me here, care Of Baptist Publication
Society, 61 Washington street. I remain,
dear brother, -.. -.
"Yours respectfully and fraternally,
..-,.r.4a,.r OF. d. EVANS"
4 SINGULAR FACT
connected with this letter is that it bears
date June 18th, while the envelope in which
it came is postmarked plainly ''Chicago,
June IA, III" Mr.. Philip called attention
to this fact ct the time it was received, ex-
planning that Mr.. Evans often made such
mistakes. His explanation allayed any sus-
picion that the trustees may have enter
tanned. Mr.. Philip was very chary of
his handwriting in his congregation, and
although single, young. and apparently q
clergyman, not one OF his young lady pa
rishioners has photograph Of him.
Mr.. Ellyson wrote D. D. Rowland on
January Is, 1877, asking for additional re-
ferences, those given having proved unsat-
isfactory. In his. letter Mr.. Ellyson said
that doubtless the Welsh gentleman to
whom Mr.. Rowland had referred had for
gotten him, he having left his home IN his
early manhood, and requested him to send
him the names OF some church-members OF
bis own age to whom he might apply. He
spoke also Of the kindly reception and the
thorough appreciation which ,had.t ~3''' 4
GREETED Mr.. RoyLAND's SERVICES IN RICH
,.t,,'a,n, s,,:., -MOND. lt. - ~, !,
To this the following reply was received: !:
a26C ST. MARY STREET, NEW ORLEANS, La,
,,r,, January %, 1877. 5
"J. T. Ellyson, Esq, Richmond, Va.; " "
"My Dear Brother,-Your letter OF the
18th instant came to hand on Friday. The
cordial reception which I received, the
favorable impression which I was ena-
bled to make at Richmond, and in every
other city where I have been known and
understood, has been, indeed, to me, as you
say, matter OF sincere congratulation.'
I shall be profoundly sorry and surprised
to find that any brother has allowed himself
to become tool In the hands of the devil
TO obliterate such Impressions and neu-
tralize the good which may have done by
nv poor services during my stay in your
city. In reply to your question, which I 60
out Of my way to answer, desire to state
that I am not personally acquainted
with and may not be known to the
brethren referred to in your letter,
one of whom never heard OF to- my
knowledge before. II the brother who was
90 exceedingly anxious stto assist me in OBJ
tanning field Of labor" had possessed the
manliness to ask me for the names OF
brethren to whom am well known, and
his purpose to make inquiries into my
standing at home, I should have taken plea
,sure i'm furnishing them. have done this