The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-04-20
TIE REV. GEORGE BOWERS.
SAID BY mrs CONGREGATION TO HATE
ELOPED FROM COONVILLE.

Disappearing Under Strange Circumstances
from n New Jersey Hamlet, In which he
Grew Up aud was Honorod and Trusted.
Tho members OF the Congregational
church In Coonvillc. N. j.. admit respectfully
that the Rev. George Bowers. who has been
their pastor for six years. has gone away with
the wife OF another man. and has left behind
many debts and several forged notes. So
strong was tho confidence Of many OF them in
Mr.. Bowers that 1t was only after the most con-
vincinR proof of his guilt had been laid before
them that they believed 1t. There wore at least
80 notes upon which he had forged his
urothers name. as alleged. and had obtained
discounts. and there was the information from
sources regarded az reliable. that Mr.. Bowers
had been traced to Baltimore. and was In com
pany with Mrs. Leecroft who has lived In an
adjoining parish. Tho church in Coonville has
been without pastor for several Sundays. and
the congregation. saddoned and discouraged.
are In no frame OF mind for making any effort
" keep up religious services
Coonville is little hamlet In the town OF War
renville some ten miles north from Planvillc.
and in a locality that is called. in general way
In that part OF New Jersey. on the mountains"
The people who live there are peaceable. Con-
stables and justices are seldom needed there.
The people are mostly Germans and Of German
descent, and are farmers. II is said that there
Is not a moro thrifty community in New Jersey.
They arc oil church going people. Among
them the Rev George Bowers was born and
grew 10 manhood. Ho was tho brightest boy.
so it is said. who lived on tho mountains, and
whom he decided to study for tho ministry. they
urged him 70 stay among them and preach
10 them. MIR. Bowers spoke German and
English fuenuy AMI when he preached
his first sermon about six years ago to his con-
grcgntion, in what was then thNllttle Dutch Re-
formed Church. he delivered IL In German.
This pleased his hearers, and ever since he has
PRONOUNCED tho morning discourse IN that ian.
guage. Ills congregation have always regarded
him as an effective speaker. and believed that
he was the sincere man that he seemed to be.
His reputation extended. and ho was invited 10
preach in churches In SOmervile. llaintield
and other places. He laborod hard at ilrst. and
tho congregation increased So much that the
little church was uncomi0rtably, filled every
SUNDAY. The farmers within q circuit Of ten
miles drove In with their families. and there
were not seats Tor oil OF tlem. Ihen thcy gavo
their time and money and built with their own
hands new church, me hrst church eiiu'e on
the mnunMlns.' Twill seat four hundred peo-
pie. Mr.. Bowers was musician. and II was his
habit after giving OUT the hymns. 20 stop down
from the pulpit aud take his seat ~ the organ.
and lead the singing as well. With a salary
OF $1,000, a pleasant home. and q connding
congregation. y was thought that his position
was an especially enyiabe ono. II wCR thought
best to withdraw from the Dutch Reformed
Chassis some time ago and tho Congregational
Tho FIRST spock OF trouble that arose was Mr.
BOwerss fOndness for fast horses. Some Of his
CONGREGATION demonstrated with him. saying
that the example Of q clergyman who spent
much Of bis time IN driving fast horses was not
good. and Dir. Bowers admitted that the suggcs-
von WIS proper one. and said that be would
heed IL Tho spcck grew larger when thero
emo 70 tho Pensioners numerous complaints
tht THOR pastor was running neodle-sly IN
debt. When he WIS urged 70 DO mors cautious
he seemed sincerely 10 regret his uprulcnce.
About two months ago, Dir. Bowers went
away without any hnnOuncemont OF his inten-
tentson % DO SO. His vito and mother Qnd the
congregation were seriously alarmed. ami.
Vhile ho, was zone. the evidences 81 his pecu-
mate friend said Yesterday that these amounted
10 nearly $1,000. AMI there were some transa'-
tuns brought 70 lirlt which created asuspicidu
that Sir. Bowers was either irrcspous.hle for
his nsts or oise wa deliberately wicked. For
instance. Q farmer compiainei that Mr.. Bowers
therefor for $50 ,nl the next DAY sold the horse
for cash, and neVer pail the note. Dir bowers
as ne had Disappeared. 10 said that he had
wlul erei here aud there aud had not boon
himself 10 eNpressel great rohir.ton. and
begged hs people to take bin back 0n SUI
f"laIf0 and lls ucIitrune seemed rp sincere
thni nothing bat sympathy was eApgessod flr
b-r Bowers called on his wile'a sister Miss
Mhirr OF ininheld, ami. with ears ~ bis ey.s.
,-N -if - n-.p A.l4l .Ai. -ii tohatt nln sill.
out pftho earnings ~ several yo1rs A dgy ~
rs. niiar d. clslppoaryi again. and 20 thc
word trvrlaupro0. Mrs Loecrli' is said 20
Poe .i.t W MON. ABOUT - NHlr- ~
H.F f.t. Theatres ia % t..iu.r s.UH ...y.
..N. .ar 8 I4 Tag D. ana AtI rll. Nltl lr.
= "ss n.trr 'u ''al concerts. Tuoy have
% 1hi va through .loit ilu.itl q
wAiH ih.r1 wa ana attemrtt' go-s % about tle
N'iHa + WIS g1.ky suppressed hy the
Tho pari-hlonors learned that Mr.. Bowers
A1d IN ''h m i4e eaf-, and, Wcrr informed