The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1884-12-23
MINISTER ] MISSING.
TIlEMYsTERlousD DIsArpEARANcE
ot He'. John II. Thompson, OF Brooklyn,
Formerly Of this CIty-IIIs Friends In tho
Dask Nv to tho Cause of His Absyucc.
What His fathsr.in.Lawssay.,


Special Di'paich to the Inielligeneer.
NEW ionK, Dec. 29.-Rcv. John r
Thompson, formerly pastor Of Chaplin,
Street NJ. J.. Church, Wheeling, and still
later oil Morgantown, and now pastor O.
Grace Methodist Episcopal Church
Brooklyn, is mystcriously missing and
after two weeks Of unexplained absence
from his home and congregation his disap.
pcarance is publicly announced this even.
ing.A 4,.: s !
ltseems that he left his home on the 7th
to visit u friend living mile away. After
staying short time he left the house sud.
denlyand since that time has not been
seen by any member OF his family. Ills
friends supposed he had returned home,
and nothing further was thought of the
matter. Instead, however, hc came over
to New York and sent telegram to his
wife asking her not to let his absence oc-
casion her any uncasincss as he was about
to attend the Methodist Centennial Con.
ference in Baltimore. After the receipt
OF the telegram all trace OF him
WIS lost. lIe. wns not present at
the conference, although he was expected
to deliver an address there, and his ab.
sence was noted with surprise. This fact
being made known TO his friends they Mt
once set about to discover his where.
abouts, but all efforts have failed,
Pinkcrtou's detectives in Baltimore
were employed on tho case, but with
fruitless result. 1t was thought by with.
holding the facts from tho police that Mr..
Thompson might be induced to return 10
his charge without any one but those pos.
sessed OF the secret being any the wiser.
HIS FATIIERlN-LAw'ss STATEMENT.
His father-in.law, Rev. DR.. Cox, OF the
Pittsburgh Conference, who is now here
with the family, in speaking OF tho case
to-day made the following statement: "As
my s0n.in-law was man on whom there
lay not Tie slightest shadow OF stain we
can only attribute his absence to TEN.
porary loss OF reason. Perfect harmony
has existed between the trustees of the
church and himself, and no motive can DO
adduced for his strange action. We have
kept'thc- matter rs quiet as possible in the
hope that rs soon as he would come to his
reason nothing might be dono to prevent
his coming back to u.s."
DR.. Cox was asked if ever before Mr..
Thompson had shown symptoms Of
lion
sion he left his family for an evening
without saying ANYTHING, but returned
next day. Beyond that, which was only
considered somewhat eccentric, he did not
display any evidence Of II weak mind; on
the contrary he possessed much ability
and, was considered one of the most
eloquent preachers OF his church. At
the age OF 2l he was elected President Of.
the West Virginia University ut Morgan
town. -Four years afterwards at his request
he was transferred 10 the Newark, New
Jersey, Conference, and was given charge
OF the lIcdding Methodist Church in
Jersey City. In April, 1883, ho was called
to the Grace Methodist church in this
city, and his ability and cloquence since
that time have endcared him to every
member OF his flock. f'.
TOOK FART IL THE CAMPAIGN.
1t was suggested to DR.. Cox that Mr..
Thompson took part in the late campaign
and that he suffered keen disappointment
over Mr.. Blaine's defeat. He replied:
"Ics, he was an ardent supporter Of Mr..
Blaine, and delivered some very eloquent
speeches in his favor. Tho trustees did
not object to it, but they did not approve
OF it in his feeble state OF health"
The following description Of the missing
Jnan is published in the hope that some
one in West Virginia or Ohio or elsewhere
will be able to give some account OF him.
lie has dark features, dark hair and thin
long face. His eyes are black and pierc-
ing and have MI anxious look. He was
5 feet 81 inches in height, and when last
seen wore n Prince Albert coat. lie had
on gold watch and chain, presented to
him by. the students OF the West Virginia
University. On each side OF the watch
was an inscription relative to its prescnta-
ton and Latin quotation. Any inform
alton OF MIR. Thompson can be telegraphed
to his wife at No. % Seventh Avenue,
Brooklyn. sn. n....st.a
sLANDER on REV. ARMSTRONG.
Apropos Of this misfortune to 4 former
Wheeling clergyman, reminds me that the
New York II'or'd Of yesterday published
rs special dispatch from some cores
pondent in Wheeling Il statement about
the Rev. J. G. Armstrong, formerly OF
St. Matthew's Church, now Of Atlanta,