Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1880-01-28
PHILADELPHIA LETTER.
Brother Love and It's COncOmi
tants.
Correspondence of the Register.

pei, doctor OF medicine and Jall-Dlrd,
well-known in West Virginia, who is
serving out seven years sentence in
the Eastern Penitentiary, will shortly
have his freedom. Vance, although not
vet out of the thirties, has passed
through a career of the most varied
character. He was educated at Lewis
burg University. in this State, where
he graduated a full-iedged Baptist
preacher, and was assigned church in
the interior OF the State. He was a
brilliant speaker, and his reputation
soon spread, and he was looked upon as
one who would soon be at the head OF
his chosen calling. But, alas, events
proved to the contrary. He suddenly
gave up his charge, and following the
bent OF his rowing disposition, resolved
to travel. The first place your corre-
spondent was personally aware that
such being existed, was at Wellsburg
W. Va, where he was announced by
hand bills us "Rev. Charles l.. Vance,
The Grea, Boy Preacher" and
i'm appearance. at that time,
he certainly did have very boyish
look. He carried on revival services at
the Union Chapel. then under the pas
torship Of Rev. +. A. Brindley, and by
his efforts religious feeling was awak-
ened tha. spread all over the town, and
nightly the Chapel was filled TO over
Hnu.,,,., and frl,,, turnntx tWnntN-tl nA
persons, seeking salvation, would be
bowed at the 'mOurners' bench at a
time. Meanwhile, the "BOy Preacher, "
with eloquence and pathos. would appeal
to sinners to come forward and seek re-
ligion. With tears triCkling down his
cheeks and his eyes raised heavenward,
he would beseech the erring TO reform,
using the expression, which seemed TO
be his iavoritc "Methinks see your
angel mother, father, sister, brother
peering over the battlements OF heaven,
beckoning you to Jesus. Will you
Gomez" That appeal usually caused a
grand rush to the "mourners' seat. -
The congregation idolized him, and a
well-flled purse and numerous presents
were given to the young evangelist. Be-
ing young and unmarried, the girls
smiled patronizingly on him, and Char
ley was in high clover during his stay in
Wellsburg. After leaving that moral
village he, protean-like, chang
ed from the ministerial to the
medical profession, and announced
himself to the world, under the impos-
ing title OF "Dr. Charles l.. Vance, the
Great Indian Herb Doctor" Having
added another sc" to his name, making
il yan-cee. For several years he trav-
elled through the South, stopping at
the best hotels, had plenty OF patients
and made lots Il money. In sumner
he would spend his easily acquired
wealth, hkr Il CrOrSus, at Saratoga,
Long Branch ami other fashionable
watering places. Finally he settled at
Clambersburgh, in this State, where he
engaged in the practice OF medicine. Ii
was there he committed the crime for
which, he WAS placed in penitentiary
cell for seven long weary years. The
erihe was a. follows: Vance and a stu
ieA nndcr him, very frequently bathed
in the creek near Chambersburg. They
succeeded in inducing handsome,
well-developcd country miss to join
them I'm their swimming excursions, and
one day while the trio were dispOrting
in the calm waters, the quasi-doCtor and
his pupil made an assault on the virgin,
Vance holding her, while his pupil com.
mittcd the outrage, for which they were
arrested, tried, convicted and
..,,,,,.J ., "a, ,api,ap,iorv Napca
for seven years, and his pupil two years.
The latter was shortly afterwards par
doned. A petition for Nance's pardon,
signed by the jurors, District Attorney
and Judge that tried the case, was pre-
sented to Governor lIartranit, who re-
fused 10 exercise his prerogative in be-
half OF Vance, on account OF the aggra-
waited nature OF the oiiense. Shortly
after his Imprisonment he severed an
artery in his leg, with the intention OF
committing suicide, but was discovered
in time to save his life. A year or more
ago he had severe attack OF pneumo-
MIA, and his health became impaired,
and it was thought that he would soon
be victim Ia the fell destrOyer-con-
sumption. But his condition now fully
explOdes that idea. Ever since his iln-
prisonment his mother, bowed with the
cares OF three score years and ten, has
travelled many times long distance Ia
see her boy, and would sit at the door
of the cell containing her erring son,
and weep rs though her heart would
break. He claims that in the future he
will he reformed man. lie
looks back on his past life
with deep regret, and is resolved
to profit by its experiences. II is To bc
hoped so, il for no other reason, than
for the sake Of that poor old mother,
who clung Ia HIM in every trouble, a.
only a loving parent would, and whose
DAYS on earth are numbered.
NOTES.
Luscious strawberries, FIVE cents each,
are displayed in the windows OF our first
class fruit dealers, They don't charge
anything 10 look at them.
The Produce Exchange il on its ear
because oleomargarine sellers, brand
the stuff, Fresh Jersey Butter" Oleo
is fraud.
Since New Years the bank clearings
have averaged fifty millions per week.
II will increase in volume as Spring ap-
proaches.
Some OF the city railways, those
money making concerns. are several
years delinquent in their taxes, and the
controller vas lying supinely on his
back, meiaphorically speaking, in. T..
gard 10 them, until WIN. Y. McGrath,
eX-President Of the Union Line, inform
ell him Of the fact. The hack taxes will
make a pretty large fund. Score 'one
Tor Hon. W. V. McGraih. W. TT.