The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-12-12
Attempt so BIaeisnsaiI IL Clergyman


An Intellectual attempt TO blackmail Rev.
William II. Me AIlisler, pastor OF Bethany
Independent Methodist church, was made
by some unprincipled person on Thursday
last. Readers OF The SIN noticed "per-
sonal" advertisement 10 the issue OF yes
terday winch read a. follows:
"S. Y. o R.-Tbe letter is worth nothing
To me. You have rfled a sealed letter that
does not belong 10 you, and have made a
blsckmailiug proposition concerning it. j
cannot treat with YOU"
This Was inserted by Rev. Mr.. McAllis.
ter. who recently took charge II the church
mentioned. The letter" referred To is one
written by Mr.. McAlSler TO Mr.. Il. Frank
Snider, New Haven, c.. an intimate fliebd
and superintendent OF the Sunday school
attached To a church in that city OF which
Mr.. McAllister was pastor prior To bis &C
cepiing a call TO Bethany church, in this
city. The letter was written, rs such letters
generally are, in an off hand, free, aud I'M
lrammelIcd style. In it Mr.. McAIlister un-
hosomed himself to his friend, and gave his
| FIST impressions of Baltimore. He praised
the beauty, grace, and gentleness OF The
| Indies; he mentioned at length the a,tention
paid by BtlumOTeans to dletetics, not in the
technical .snse, but that taste for good living
and that good digestion which waits upon
appetite. Mr.. McAlllster also wrote freely
Of the social manners and customs OF the
people, criicising. perhaps somewhat
| freely, certain characteristics Of some ill.,
! diyiduaIs he bad met. He referred also
10 the religious aspect OF Baltimore a IL
presented Itself to him; OF the numerous
churches here. aud of his own charge IN
particular. or course the letter was not
! intended for publication, else he would not
have mentioned the fact that certain cap
tain OF vessel trading between this port
and New Haven, a mutual friend OF Inc
writer aud the gentlemen for whom the let
| ter was intended, was SmItten with Tue loVe-
illness OF Baltimore bellies that he bad met
at Musicale" which he had attended I'D
the west End. This pleasantly could be
readily appreciated by The New Haven gen.
teman, for he we'll knew The extreme dlill'
dence OF the captain, aud the TACT that MS
oldest son was nineteen years OF age. This
letter, placed in sealed envelope and di-
lrected TO l.. Frank Snider, New Haven,
Conn. was lost by Rev. Mr.. McAlIisier, he
thinks, in the post-oflice building. The iel-
lowing dav he received an anonymous
note stating that the writer had found the
letter. and informing him that II the conf
! dental communication 10 his New Haven
friend was worth anything 10 him (Mr.
McAlIister) that he could let " S. p. Q. r."
know through "personal." The iad'r or
purloiner OF the letter evidently thought
that Mr.. McAilisler would be verv anxious
to secure the letter and prevent its publlca-
lion. for in addressing his blackmailiDg note
he quoted the style Of the reverend gentle.
man, who began his letter TO his friend
thus: "My dear old boy" 5. 7. q *.
started his note, "My dear old boy, Mac
II is well that Mr.. McAlli>ter had the moral
courage TO answer the would.be bllckmalier
as he did in The personal. While II may
annoy him TO know that bis thoughts, IN
tended alone for the confidence OF an lntl,
mate and trusted friend, have been revealed
20 stranger aud a Anave, he has the c0nso'
Iatiou Of knowing that be is above the
reach OF such a character.