Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1883-03-04
SPECULATIVE CLERGY.
Chicago Preachers Who Have the
Mania and Ride the Wave.
Noted DabbIers and Yictims-ReY. Park
hurst, the Last loser-fashonable
FIocks Shepherdless.

CHICAGO, March 3.-The speculative
craze that has contaminated every class
and condition, includes among its deyotees
goodly number of the cler gy, and the
Methodist brethren of Chicago are eyinc-
ing their full share of mingled greed for
wealth and credulity.
The Rev. C. II. Fowler, d. D., now with
the Publication Society, whose connection,
together with others of the denomination,
with the Isabella and Alice mining fraud
has lately been the subject of much
adverse criticism, was a favorite pastor
of Centenary church, of this city.
The particulars of this delectable scheme
are now developing. 1t is but fair to the
Reverend Charley" as he is affectionately
called, to state that his mistake is here
considered due to lack of judgment, and
that the suspicion Of dishonesty is not en-
tertained by his former flock.
Some OF the Victims
DR.. w. C. Dandy, another prominent
Methodist divine, and presiding older, now
agent of the Garrett Biblical Society, was
recently forced to go through bankruptcy
like any common sinner, because OF unfor-
tunate business ventures.
Among the victims of the bucket shop
swindlers are numbered several clergy.
men. One of these, the Rev. J. V. Flack,
of Excelsior Springs, Mo-, who invested in
Kendall & Co.'S Club 13," has just written
Postmaster Palmer that he had published
the Christian Magazine and Temperance
Union, and asks for information that he
can give Kendall j. Co. "a wide publicity"
in next number, of which he will publish
q large edition
The Latest In Trouble
And now, following these examples of
guilelessness, comes the Rock River Paper
Co., and other creditors of the defunct
Chicago Publishing Co., who file in the
Supreme Court a creditors bill for the pur-
pose of reaching the property OF the Rev.
Matthew Parkshurst. The Court has de-
cided that the reverend gentleman is re.
spOnsible as stakeholder OF the COM
pany to the extent of $1,000. Judgment
was issued aud an execution returned
by the sheriff unsatisiied. II is now claimed
that Brother ParkhurSt is the owner of
three houses at Evanston producing 81, 800
a year dozen cottages at Lake Bluff, a
much frequented Methodist picnic ground,
an interest in the hardware firm of Park
hurst & Wilkinson, large sum on deposit
with Preston, kean K Co., and fat in
come arising from his ministry of a church.
IL is claimed that he has fraudulently con-
veyed his property to his wife Mary, and
in other ways concealed 1t,
To Eyade His Creditors.
Everyone who could by any possibility
touch the reverend gentleman's money is
made q defendant TO the bill. DR.. Park
hurst, for he is also ID. D., is prominent
in the councils OF the church. As long as
the rules of the denomination permitted
he was the pastor Of fashionable city
congregation, but is now temporarily
banished to a suburban town. In the
Thomas Heresy trial he was conspicuous as
the accuser and prosecutor. He is pos
sessed of large wealth safe in the name of
his wife, Scotch lady, who brought him a
neat fortune. Two or three years ago,
when iron went up, he cleared $4,000 in
speculation in that metal. He is &C.
counted a sharp business man. and his
ventures are generally fortunate.
Previous UnsueeessInI Ventures.
But not always, for he, among others,
subscribed for stock in the Chicago Pub
| fishing Company. which issued the old Post
| and Mail. When the paper went under
and the Daily News bought its good will,
associated franchise and Bullock press for
| $40 Geo, the tockholders were called on TO
| paw up their subscriptions to satisfy liabil-
| tiles Nearly all have so done, but to this
day an execution occasionally served on
| DR. Parkhurst is returned endorsed mo
property found"
These are but a few instances of the
! patent inability of the gentlemen OF the
cloth to cope with laymen in questionable
business ventures. Truly they are with
| out guile.