The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1881-09-14
MERIDETH'S METHODS.
Investigation Of bis Conduct
in Rock Island.
Difficulty of Securing any
Evidence.
Result of the Coming Trial
Predicted.

| Deen pQDnSneu 10 the ROFIu
The names Of the visiting clergymen
were the Rev l. G. Evans, of Pontiac and
the Rev. H. /. Brown, OF Peoria. The for
mer of these gentlemen has been appointed
prosecutor for the coming trial of Mr.. Mer-
edith, and the second named is the pre-
siding elder of the Peoria district, in whose
territory the cratic Meredith formerly held
forth.
| The Rev. ]. S. McCord, of this city, was
appointed by the presiding elder of the.
Rock Island district to take the deposition.
of witnesses concerning the visit of Mere
dith to this city on the 18th of last March
WHAT WAS ACCOMPLISHED.
| The trio visited the Harper House and
the Rock Island House. They interrogated
those who were supposed to know of the
unceremonious eviction of Meredith and
his female companion from the former
caravansary, but without effect, as
there was a disposition on the part
of the witnesses to keep out of the affair.
While they did not state or protest their
ignorance of the facts already published,
still they refused, point blank, to be mixed
up in the affair and would not testify.
Even the policemen who were summoned
on the night in question expressed reluc-
lance to make any statement or deposition
concerning their knowledge of the affair,
and as a result, very little, if any, testi-#
mony will be adduced at the coming an
nual conference of the Methodist Episco
pal church, which viii be held at Canton
on the 2sth of the present month.
THE PROSECUTION.
feel somewhat discouraged, as they claim
there is ample evidence to substantiate
the charges preferred against Mr. Meredith
and to warrant his expulsion from the
church, but owing to the difficulty of secur-
ing witnesses to testify, very strong case
cannot be made against him. This is due
largely to the fact that very few persons
are willing to give evidence against a man
unless they are compelled to do so, as by
legal process. The coming trial consists
solely in the voluntary statements of the
witnesses, and in case they refuse to testify
there is no known power that can force
them to submit their evidence.
AT KEwANEE.
This morning the investigating commit
tee departed for Kewanee in which place
the lady who accompanied Meredith is
said to reside, but ON this point there is
little or no evidence, as it is possible that
some woman of questionable character
,,,ar have oSa,,r,,ad fha mama IF the ladv
from Kewanee and mpersonated her at
the hotel.
The trip, therefore to Kewanee is not
looked forward to, as proving very
successful as the, peculiar surroundings
of the lady in question may render it posi-
BILE for her to prove an abb ON that par
ticular night.
The committee will proceed to Canton
at the meeting of the conference and make
the best of their case.
WORTHY OF NOTE.
1t might be stated that if Mr.. Meredith
was impersonated by another Individual on
the 18th of last March when he was turned
out of the Harper House for conduct I'm
becoming to gentleman, his innocence
might have been proved at once by a visit
of the genuine Meredith when the hotel
attaches would have at once discovered the
difference between the true and the false. |
Meredith however, never displayed himself
since that night, and even at the present
time, although notified of the visit of the |
committee to this city and requested to
join the party, he neglected to do so. He
wrote, stating his inability to attend the
investigation in Rock Island, and wrote
out series of questions to be propounded
on the witnesses.
ALETTER.
In this connection the following letter is |
published:
Editor of the ARGUS
If you are not already nauseated with
the Meredith scandal, suffer one word |
more. As the er-reDerend,s friends have |
seemed to be so anxious on his behalf as
to call forth card from him, doubtless
they will be glad to hear how the case |
now stands. Let me give them bit of |
history. After writing dozen or more
contradictory letters, unsaying one day
what he had said the day before, he be-
thought him that woulans tears have ever
been potent factor in the affairs of men, |
and enlisted one of his numerous female |
admirers in his behalf
The task of quieting the Rock Island
witnesses was too great for even the Here |
dath cheek incredible as that may seem, |
and SO this friend was pushed into the |
breach. There was no talk of any investi- |
CATION now, but after eloquent pleadings |
to cover up dirt, as Meredith was now out
of the church and the minisery, one at
least of the witnesses consented not to be
ansterUseaeed tr6oeft the matter.
Then the er-recerend hied away to an |
other admirer, this time to q minister of
the gospel of charity and purity, the
present pastor of Hale chapel, who |
was so anxious to publish to the
world as set of liars and common STAR
derers, all of his brethren who had not fal |
len down and worshiped his 6razen calf |
who was so careful of the welfare and
honor of the church which had honored
him, as to seek to send out to the world
with her endorsement a man whom he
kneso TO be a moral wreck, that he betook
himself to Rock Island, and interviewed,
as he doubtless thought, all the witnesses.
and by pleadings so urgent as to excite
wonder in the minds of some of them. suc-