Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1877-10-31
DLSGRAciNG THE cLoTH.
REV. ALFRED THOMPSON or ILLINOIS,
SENT TO SING SING FOR FIVE YEARS.

: DISGRAC CING THE CLOTH.
REV. ALFRED THOMPSON or ILLINOIS,
SENT TO SING SING FOR FIVE YEARS.
The Rev. Alfred Thompson, pastor
{ Of the Primitive Methodist church 10
Elgin, ILL.,, was proved thief in the
general sessions, and sentenced TO five
years in Sing Sing. lie is n young
man with Il smooth face, not Indicative
OF great mental power. His manner
and dress were in keeping with his
profession, and he exhibited plenty of
audacity. The complainant, Mrs. El.
len Gotham, wife of a Presbyterian
missionary in tho West Indies, is a
young, intelligent, educated woman,
and her demeanor on the stand was
ladylike. She testified that she was
married to the Rev. William Cobham.
IN Hampshire, England, in August
last Hcwas under engagement TO go
IN tho Was' indias as a fnissiopa~,- nd
was compelled TO start about two
weeks aftc. the wedding. She and
her husband expected TO live many
years in his chosen field Of labor, and
they decided that the wife should. be-
fore settling down there, come to Amer.
lea and visit brother who lives in
Kansas. This brother is a Methodist
clergyman. So the pairseparated, the
wife to come TO this country, and her
husband to go to the West Indies,
where they are to meet next winter.
In the steamship City Of Richmond
the prisoner was a passenger. He in
troduced himself, said he knew some
of Mrs. Cobham's relatives in Hamp-
shire, and proved 10 her satisfaction
that he had charge of u church in FL
gin. He was pleasant and respectful,
andshe found his scompanionship agree
able. lie talked much on religious
topics, and did nothing that aroused
her suspicion Of his honesty On their
arrival in New York he said he knew
of good hotel were prices were reas.
onabe, and they went together to the
West Side hotel, at No q West street.
He registered their names properly
and they were given rooms not very
near each other. That was on Satur-
day. On Sunday they went to Cen
tral park They were to start for the
West together on Monday, but on that
day tho Rev, Alfred Thompson slipped
away.
Mrs. Gotham missed her money and
jewclry. She promptly reported her
loss TO the police, and detectives were
sent with ber to Jersey City, where
they watched in the Pennsylvania and
Erie depots. One of the officers caught
Thompson in brokers' Office, where
he was exchanging Mrs. Cobham's
gold sovereigns for United States cur.
rency. Her iewelry was found in his
travelling bag lie had also bought
ticket for Elgin with her money.
The clergyman went on the stand
to testify in his own behalf He made
no pretence of spollessness of charac.
ter, and was defiant in his manner
but he denied he was thief. lie tes-
tilted that he obtained a leave Of ab.
scnce from the congregation last
spring to 90 to England and return
with one of his children lie left his
wife and the other children 10 Elgin,
sssid r'~d.- 49, vi --~,-~-- .10ao
The child did not desire TO come with
him, and so be started for America
without her. On the voyage he fell
in with Mrs. Cobham, as she had de-
scribed, but their relations, be said,
were more intimate than might be in.
ferred from her testimony. She pro.
posed that they should not return to
their families, but should live together
as husband and wife They went to
the West Side hotel as a preliminary,
and she gave her money and iewelry
50 him. He decided to 90 homo, how.
ever, aba slipped away quietly, so as
to escape parting svets. ~! ISntvox-
her property because she had made
him present OF il, She was fore
most in the love making, accorditg to
the prisoner
Mrs Gotham was recalled bv the
prosecutor and asked whether she
had ever made love TO Thompson.
Her face was picture of disdain as
she answered, with angry emphasis,
"No !" Some of the many auditors
applauded, but the applause was quick.
y stopped by the officers. Mrs. Cob
ham added that there was no impro.
priety in her conduct, nor in his until
/ the robbery.