Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-04-18
Especial Telegram to the Globe. |

Especial Telegram to the Globe.
DETROIT, April 17.-An accusation rivalling
Beecher's has developed itself in this city.
The hero is none other than Samuel Allan Nc
Coskrey, for moro than 40 years bishop of the
diocese of Michigan, but who has recently re-
signed in consequence of the publicity of the
facts about to he narrated, and will shortly sail
for Europe The facts are apparently that the
bishop has been for many years decidedly pro-
miscuous in giving vent to his inclinations.
During these years stories have now and then
been whispered abroad, but have been sup
pfessed. Recently, however, one came to their
knowledge in %
STARTLING A FORM
that it was impossible to suppress it, and the
result is vacant bishopric, wandering e1-
bishop, q terrified family an Episcopal COM
munity trembling, lest the cloud should burnt
and the worldly crowd praying in sinful way,
that the crisis may be precipitated. A few
months ago prominent vestryman overheard
two men talking in an adjoining room about
Bishop McCoskrey, and heard enough to satisfy
him that something was wrong. He entered
the room, and after some little parley, was
taken into their confidence. They showed him
number of letters, evidently written by The
bishop to
miss FANNIE RICHARDS,
a young girl Of the city, wherein were express
sions that rendered it obvious that he had been
and was on terms of too great intimacy with
her. The vestryman was astounded and con-
cluded it must be deep laid scheme to black
mail the bishop, or his friends. He was told
that the letters had been left in the safe Of the
Michigan Farmer by printer named Gerge
Mcconnell. Quietly he obtained permission to
take possession of the letters, and confident
that he could work up clear case of blackmail,
he set his wits to work. Mcconnell was sent
for and responded. His story
ANOTHER ALToNIsHER.
He said that for several years he has been on
terms of too great intimacy with Fannie Rich
ards, and that he had known the bishop was in
the same boat. A year or SO before this he had
been assisting the girl and her mother to move,
and had discovered
THE BISHOP LETTERS
lying on table. He examined them and
placed them in his pocket for his own protec.
ton. All efforts to extort any other story from
him only excited additional particulars of his
knowledge of the bishops intimacy with the
girl. All that Mcconnell wanted was that he
should be protected, as he was innocent of
intent to levy blackmail, and on re-
ceiving the assurance desired, he surrendered
the letters. The bishop was summoned before
prominent churchmen, acknowledged some of
the letters and denied others. He swore that
be had
NEVER LAID HANDS ON A WOMAN
~, L. I>,,k %J,n
ness of his professions of innocence he fire.
quently gave himself away to the dctermin-
ed men who had summoned him to undergo
the trying ordeal. While he did not admit
that he was the author of these anonymous
letters he said he had no recollection of hav-
ing written them, that he certainly should
have remembered them if he had writer them,
and all that sort of talk. They are
SEVEN IN NUMBER.
One of them was drop letter. Another was
evidently sent by messenger. One was sent
from Saginaw City, one from Mount Clemens,
and the remaining three from New York in the
latter part Of 1874. when the bishop was there
| attending in his official capacity. In one he
tells her how anxious he is for the time to come
when he can return. and urges her to write and
tell him her inmost feelings of mind and body
tells her that her kindly offer
OF oNE-HALF THE BED,
and all the cover she knows he will accept
cautions her to write at once, directing to Sag
NAV City, and is freighted with world Of
love, and any number Of dashes, which are
intended to represent kisses. He concludes by
being hers very afectionately, and trusting
that she will burn this letter well as al
Others. In a letter from New York
| he wishes he could see he,
| just then and see her all (underscored)
He says he has given her all and she has givel
him all, they must not deceive each other
Their whole hopes depend on this. She mus
write again Immediately, as her letters are sc
sweet to him and their love is SO great for eacl
other that it consumes the whole person. An
other letter says "Oh, how would like to sc
you and see you
IN ALL YOUR LONELINESS"
Be cautious, and remember that secrecy cal
protect me, and burn the letter at ouce" Her
follows number Of dashes, understood t.
represent more kisses. In the last letter tn
bishop says, amongst other things: ''Remem
Der that you are mine, and that am your al
You will see, when am home again, the win
dows open at my house as 20
pass by. Come in as you g
to school, for my whole happiness depend
upon whether you are keeping your promise
with me, az shall certainly keep mine wit
you. We must not and cannot betray eac
other. My own sweet darling wife, send You
(here follow fifty crosses, meaning as man
kisses.)
|
The standing committee Of the diocese, whe
it became settled that the letters were tru,
waited on Bishop McCoskrey in body, an
laid the case before him in calm but dete
mined way, and demanded
HIS UNCONDITIONAL RESIGNATION.
He did not fully admit his guilt, but sougl
to prevaricate as before, and suggested that l
be relieved ostensibly on the ground of az
and increasing infrmaties, and that an assis
ant should be appointed to administer IL
duties of the Episcopate. To this the commi
| tee would not consent. Nothing short of .
unconditional surrender would meet the
views. They would not even agree that
resignation should stand in the way of su
sequent trial before the court of bishops. o,
, pledge, however, they would make him and tn
was that in case he should resign instantan
, ously
THE OFFENDING LETTERS
should be sacrodly kept in their possessio
closely sealed and securely locked il the van
OF bank. never again to be seen By mort
man unless demanded BY the diooeke IN co
vention, in which case they were only to
shown in executive convention under pledge
: the strictest secresy, and then recommitted
, the
SILENT VAULT.
Pending the proposition, the bishop vas ).