The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1881-09-17
UNMIsTAKABLY UNIDENTIFIED

was
UNMTSTAKABLY UNIDENTIFIED
on Thursday night in Peoria, at his board
ing house, by the night clerk of the hotel,
and in q way that left no do doubt of Mer
edith's surprise. 1t happened in this way.
| On Thursday, the Rev, ]. s. McCord of
this city, with the night clerk in charge,
went to Peoria, not to Kewanee. as Mere.
dith's friends had expected he would go,
and then went to the house of the Rev. Mr.
McFarlane, pastor of the First Methodist
church for tea, instead of going to hotel.
Here again the Meredith party were out
generated, for it is said they had arranged
TO HEAD OFF
McCord at Kewanee, but that gentleman
got wind of it and went straight to Peoria,
and when they found he had slipped them
st Kewanee they are said to have
/ HUNTED THE HOTELS
for him and the witness and
not finding his name ON the register con-
cluded he had not come. Mr.. McCord
! foresaw some such move and went to his
friend McFarlanes, and after waiting there
until about bed time, he, in company with
! McFarlane and the night clerk went to
M eredith's boarding house and
cAUHT HIM UNAwAREs.
! The plan was to have the night clerk
identify Meredith, and accordingly he was
seated in the corner of the parlor while
McCord and McFarlane Were near the
door, When Meredith entered, unsus-
picious of what was in store for him, he
shook hands cordially with McFarlane and
| McCord, the latter telling him that he was
commissioned by the presiding elder to
look up his case, to which Meredith re
piled in jocular way. Thus far Meredith
had n OF seen the night clerk, but happen
| ing to turn towards him, the reverened
gentleman recognized him, and so in turn
THE NIGHT CLERK RECOGNIZED MEREDITH.
| in fact the recognition was complete. At
! that time Meredlths face assumed scar
let hue, and ina confused manner he asked
| Nc Cord the name of the unlocked for visi-
| tor. Being informed he again asked and
seemed utterly nonplussed and beaten.
From buoyancy his spirits drop
ped to- zero, and it required
no physiognomist to tell the effect which
the meeting had upon him. 1t was the
death blow to Meredith's carefully laid
/ plan, and to realize that
HE WAS BEATEN,
was too much for the great objector, and
| he-wilted In meek tones he told the
ReY. J.. S. McCord he would appear with
! his counsel before the committee, and after
the usual handshaking the party separated,
Mere dith looking the picture of despair.
THE WOMAN.
| The woman who figures in the case, was
seen in Kewanee by Elder Brown, OF
Peoria, but she positively refused to say
anything whatever, only venturing the re-
mark that her counsel had cautioned her
| to maintain silence, and she would not
talk Despairing of successful interview
ing In her ease the Ministerial Committee
centented themselves with establishing he1
identity, and this they did, beyond doubt,
leaving no question that
ts# SHE WAS PRESENT
dith was her partner This much is known
| and that is all that is necessary, as she is
not on trial, but Meredith is, and in his
case there will be a thorough exposure.
/ THE EXAMINATION
of the night clerk before the ministerial
committee at Peoria was very full, and the
witness was subjected to a rigid cross -ex
animation by Rev. ]. w. Haney, the coun-
sci for Meredith, but he did not waver, an6
j identified Meredith beyond question; also
detailing fully the actions of that gentle
man on the night in question, and cleari,
proved that
i a MEREDITH WAS GUILTY
i As charged. and that it was not case o.
mistaken identity.
i WHAT MEREDITH SAYS.
1 1t is now stated that Meredith charges
the woman with being drunk, SO as te
shield himself, but this win hardly hold %
his condition while in Rock Island wa.
i sworn to by the night clerk, and it wa.
that of badly intoxicated man.
THE EVIDENCE
grows stronger every day. and there nov
seems no question that the Rev. Georgt
Francis Meredith viii be proven guilty and
i expelled from the church he has disgraced
There win also likely be
Al INVESTIGATION
-Linto the methods OF Rev. ]. w. Haney
lswho has conducted the case for Meredith
! The gentlemen composing the comnitte'
/ ere firmly convinced that he will be chal