Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-03-28
THE NYBLADH CASE.
Rev. Lindeblad Reviews the Church
scandal, Defends the Council Of Ex-
communication ana Makes a Liber.

Rev. Lindeblad Reviews the Church
scandal, Defends the Council Of Ex-
communication ana Makes a Liber-
nj Proposition
Rev. II. o. Lindeblad, pas tor of the
Swedish Evangelical Lutheran church OF
Moline. and president of the church
council that accommodated Rev. Ny
bladh. has written lengthy letter to the
Galesburg Republican, Register defending
the action of the church conference in
communicating Nybladh. and after
briefly reviewing the case. su bmits LID,
eral proposition. He says:
Giving Nybladh every benefit of any
and every doubt thinking that il would
have been one of the worst crimes OF the
many committed on this earth if his story
had been true: that some of his fellow
students had plotted against him to ruin
him, as he said one had confessed; and
knowing that such has occurred in the
history OF humanity. aud that no council
or minister is lnfallble, l advised his
friends TO have him appeal to the confer
ence, where his case could again be taken
NJ and investigated by impartial judges.
For a long while he did not inform the
church council Of his intention to appeal
to the conference, though he ought TO
have known that such an appeal, and
reasons for the same, should, according
TO the constitution of the congregation, be
left with il one week after the decision is
given to the defendant. Nevertheless, the
church council did not hinder his appeal
TO come before the conference. The cons
ference, after investigating the case thor
oughly, and sparing no time in so doing,
reached the conclusion that the church
council had acted christian like, according
TO tie the constitution, and had sufficient
reasons for communicating n ybladh. 1t
also confirmed the decision passed by the
council, and expressed its earnest desire
that it would be to Mr.. Nybladh's own
and real benefit These were, in main the
decisions of the conference. Thus far
about the history of the dark and sor-
rowful case. The council has in its pos
session and good care two letters from
the girl to Nybladh, left in the hands Of
the church council by persons who de-
manded that the case should be investi-
gated. These letters have not, as N.Y.
bladh stated, been stolen from hin, but
have, through Gods providence, come TO
light without anyone doing wrong to
anyone. Besides these, the church coun-
Gil has a long and comprehensive letter
from Nybladh to the girl. These letters
show plainly the truth. Sworn legal
documents can be obtained and are partly
now In the hands of proper and legal
authority. l have seen the girl. know
where she is, and have had long and
earnest conversation with her. With
these facts before me l make the follow
ing proposition:
IL the friends and followers of Nybladh
wish to know the truth. let them select a
committee of any number of persons,
small or large, as they please, who shall
come TO Moline and meet with the church
council, read the minutes OF the proceed,
ings and thoroughly investigate the docu-
ments. will not agree 10 60 to Gales
burg because in due season and by request
OF proper authority do so, but Ny
bladh's friends did not then want to hear
the truth from me. l do not deny Ny
bladh's friends from upholding him how
ever guilty he may be, but l do in the
name OF common justice, deny them the
privilege OF wrongfully accusing my
church council and others for doing con.
scientiously. before God and men, their
duty. have yet twelve or thirteen un.
opened letters from Galesburg. and the
senders thereof are welcome to receive
them back unopened. willingly forgive
them for their wrong doing against me.
They did not know either Nybladh or
myself as thew ought to- or they would
not have done as they did. If the above
suggestion is not satisfactory, or does not
prove my statement of the case to be
true, let Nybladh go before any justice of
the peace or notary public and take oath
TO his many-times. given and most en-.
phatically emphasized statements:
/. That he has never spoken 10 the girl on the
question OF marrying her, and that she has mover
spoken 20 him on the subject
any letters from her
8. That he has never given mortgage on books
and an organ TO her. the CIR here in question.
tain sum of money.
8. That he did not on that stated day, at the
stated place, try TO see this very girl under the
pretence that be was another pereon.
.. That he never tried, through his letters 10
her, 70, In various ways, mislead her that she
should not be able to find him, or otherwise think
he was dead.
z. That be never tried, in the most convincing
ways, TO make her believe that her own relatives
were her very enemies
s. That he never most piteously asked her 10
keep the whole thing secret.
Then let a committee of impartial per-
sons be selected who will 60 go proper
persons and places to investigate legal
documents and acts. Mr.. Nybladh's
friends shall agree to pay ali the expenses
IL my statements are right and convinc-
ing; while, if am wrong, shall agree
TO pay ell expenses Of such impartial
investigating committee. Is this not
fairf The procedure have suggested
will cost very little in comparison to
legal proceedings in the United States
court. Let then, the friends of Nybladh
give all the money they would willingly
spend for him in court to the poor girl to
help her in her hard and heartfelt strug-
gle to support her child that she dearly
loves, though every time she looks into
its face ii reminds her of long, heartfelt
breach Of promise and great rascality