The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-02-13

The Charges and Specifications on Which He
Was Found Guilty.
Pittsburg Special.

Pittsburg Special.
The religious community particularly the Meth
odist Episcopal portion of it. is shocked at the
verdict in the case of the Rev. DR.. /. c. Perish
ing, president Of the Pittsbnrg Female College,
which has been before ministerial investga-
ton committee for two weeks. The jury was
composed of seven ministers. There were four
charges: dishonesty, obtaining money under
false pretenses lying, and the general one OF i'm
moral conduct. The first was sustained by a
vote of 5 to g the second was not sustained, to
81 and the third and fourth were sustained by q
unanimous vote. DR.. Pershing is, therefore.
suspended from all ministerial services and
church privileges until the ensuing session OF the
Pittsburg Annual Conference.
There were eleven specifications to the charge
of dishonesty alleging that Dr. Pershlng Dor
rowed 81, 260 from the Clearfcld, Penn, National
Bank, and failed to return it; lent 81. 600 to the
firm of Knox g. McGroin belonging to the estate
of the Rev. James Henderson; assumed and rep
resented that he was the guardian of Mrs Ellen
Henderson. for the purpose OF obtaining moneys
due her and her sister; received money from FL
lott Mccall for the use of his sister, Lizzie Nc
Call, student at the college, and failing to pay
the money over to her; arranged with Joseph
Clinton to deed three fourths of a tract OF land
near Tidioute. Penn, owned by the hrm OF
Kier g. Pershing. to his daughter, Lizzie X.
Pershing, without the knowledge OF the WIDOW
and heirs Of s. NJ. Kier
There were sever specifications to the charge
OF lying: The first was tina. DR.. Pershing repre-
sented himself to Jonathan Boynton, president
Or the Clearfield National Bank, as solvent when
| he was not; second, that he stated to Mr.. Boyn-
| ton that his daughter. Lizzie K. Pershing was
| good for the amount of money. and afterward
| told W. H. Dill that she was worth nothing and
/ had married since she Endorsed the note: third,
that he promised several times to pay the note
but had not done so; fourth, that he assumed and
represented himself as guardian of Mrs. Ella
Henderson; fifth, that he was the administrator
of the Rev. James Henderson; sixth, that ne said
at meeting of the board of trustees of the col
lege that he did not owe Mrs. Ella Henderson
anything, and seventh, publishing in the annual
college catalogue that five chairs were endowed
by the payment of so, 000, which was false.
Dr. Pershing asserts that with two possible ex-
ceptions, the witnesses for the prosecution were
interested parties He will at once prepare his
defense. The blow to his family is a severe one.
A friend said to-day: 1.-THE verdict ruins Perish
ing. Hitherto he has failed to pay his debts;
now his credit is utterly destroyed" Mr.. An
derson, the Doctors son-ina.g, said that the gen.
eral charge Of immortality simply referred to con-
duct in business matters unbecomlng minister.
The result Of the trial will not affect Dr. Perish
ing's place as president of the Pittsburg Fe-
male College. The president is elected by the
Methodist Episcopal conference. The Doctor has
lease of the building and cannot be deposed
until his term expires He has dedicated prob
ably two hundred churches, and in this capacity
is well known in Ohio, Pennsylvania and West
Virginia.