The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-04-19
DepIOrab!e DeyeIOpements.
bishop aIeCosErey, OF Michigan,
InyolVed-Diseovery, Disgrace
and Flight.

I
DETROIT, MICH, April l6.-Detroii
has = sensation as great as the Beecher
Tilton affair, in that the party implicated
Is equally as prominent in the church
and surprising in the overwhelming eyi
dence, Notwithstanding the last comics
sion OF Mrs. TiIton. The hero Is none
other than Samuel Allan McCoskrey, for
more than forty years Bishop Of the Dio
cese OF Michigan, but who has recestly
resigned in consequence OF the publicity
Of the facts about to be narrated, and
will shortly SAL for Europe, where be
hopes to escape the avenging nemesis oI
public opinion.
A few months ago prominent yestry'
man overheard two meu talking in n
adjoining room about Bishop MeCoskrey
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 show
ed him 4 number Of letters, evidently
written by the Bishop to = Mis- Fannie
Richards, 3 young girl Of this city, where.
| In were expressions that rendered it OBJ
yious that be had been and was on terms
OF too grea. intimacy with her. The yes
tryman was astounded, and concluded
that ii must be deep laid scheme
10 blsckmail the Bishop or hi.
friends. He Sss told that the lelters had
been left in the sale Of 4 Michigan farmer
by = printer named George Mcconnell.
Quietly he obtained permission to take
possession Of the letters, and, confident
that he could work up clear case oil
blackmail, he set his wits to work. Nc.
Connell was sent for and responded. His
story was another astonisher. He said
that for several years be had been on
terms Of too great intimacy with Fannie
Richards, and that he had known the
Bishop was in the same boat. A year or
80 before this he had been assisting the
girl and her mother 10 move, and had
discovered the Rishop's letters lying on q
table, examined them, and then placed
them in his pocket for his own protec-
tion. All efforts to extort any other story
ouly excited additional particulars oil his
knowledge Of the Bishops intimacy with
the girl. All that Mcconnell wanted was
that be should be protected in so far as
he was innocent Of any intent to levy
black mail, and on receiving the assurance
desired, he surrendered the letters. The
yestrymen consulted with another prom
inent member Of the Episcopal Church,
and, after they had satisfed themselves
thai the letters were undoubtedly written
by the Bishop, they resolved TO summon
him before Them. He came 10 all his
official dignity, but when the letters were
laid before him be broke down and be-
came as a mere suppliant.
He at once acknowledged the authenti-
city OF two Of them which bore his signa-
tufe, and At frat recognized third as his,
but when told that his name was not at
tached TO it, he attempted TO retrieve his
error and tossed il aside with an evasive
remark. The two letters sigEed by him
showed that he was on terms Of unnatnr'
al intimacy. with the girl, but nothing
criminal. He scarcely deigned to look
at the other letter., and pronounced them
counterieits. He nevertheless wished to
obtain possession Of them at any ex.
pense. He was told that it would cost
him nothing. II they proved TO be gen.
pine he could not have them at any price,
and il mere iabrications they would be
turned over to him.
Two or three interviews tranapired be
tween these gentlemen and the Bishop be.
fore they finally determined upon their
course. Being thoroughly convinced OF
the Bishops guilt, they at length placed
the letters in the hands Of the Standing
Committee Of the diocese, composed Of
Governor Henry P. Baldwin, Hon. Chas.
2. Trowbridge aud Judge James Y.
Cam mpbell, laity; and Rev. John A. Will
son, Of ST. Luke's Church, Ypsilanti;
Rev. D. George Wor,hington, ,ot ST johns
Church, Detroit; Rev. DR.. Edward Har.
ris, Of Christs Church, Detroit, and Rev.
Willis Hall, OF St, Anns's Church. Ann
Arbor. These gentlemen were dumb
founded at first, and refused 10 believe
the evidences Of their senses.
The first surprise over, however, they
calmly surveyed the situation like can.
did men, found their first iears fully real.
lied in the positive nature OF the proofsi
and then decided TO act. They accord
ipvly waited on Bishop McCoskrey in a
body laid the case before him 10 calm
but determined way, and demanded his
unconditional resignation. He did not
fully admit bis guilt, but sought to pre-
yaricate "A before, and suggested that be
be relieved ostensibly on the ground oi
age and increasing infrmities, and that
an assistant should be appointed to ad'
minister the duties Of the episcopate. To
this the committee would not consent,
Nothing short OF an unconditional sur
render would meet their views. They
would not even agree tha resignation
should stand in the way Of subsequent
trial before the Court OF Bishops. One
pledge, however, they would make him
and that wa that in case he should re
sign instantaneously the offending letters
should be sacredly kept In their posses
sion, doubly sealed and securely locked
in the vault Of bank, never again 10 be
seen By mortal man unless demanded By
the Diocesan convention, in which cass
they were only TO be shown in executive
convention under pledge Of the srictesl
secrecy, and then reconsigned to the silent
vault, pending the proposition. The
Bishop was advised to go 10 Buffalo i'm
nediately, there to remain for shor!
time, and then go to Europe and spend
the balance Of his days in the society oI
his only daughter, Mrs. Stanton, now re
siding abroad.
Bishop McCoskrey accepted The terms
and about 4 month Sgo the Episcopal
world Was surprised 10 read his torma
card OF abdication. He went to Buffalo
and TO morrow his aged and respected
wife, who is yet in blissful Ignorance O
the terrible facts, will leave Detroit IL
company with her son.in.laW, Major Stan
Ion, Tor New York, whence the three vii
sail for Europe on the 9Th. This vii
terminate Bishop McCoskreys career L
this country, unless perchance be should
after finding himself fully exposed, will
that bulldog pertinacity for which he \
noted, determine to Atay and stand trial
A. 10 the letters on which the standing
committee based their demand for th'
Bishops resignation, they are seven il
number. 0ne Of them was drop.letter
Another was evidently sent BY 4 messen
ger. oae VISA sent from Saginaw City
one from Mount Clemens, and the re-
naming three from New York, in th,
4 I..,a, - - of 1874 Whao the Bishon Wa