Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1890-12-23
DOING GOOD WORK.
Rev. Roberts Seems to Have
Found His Mission.
JAILED FOR BREACH OF PROMISE,

He Utilizes His Time by Converting His
Fellow -Prisoners-The jail Paradise
Since He was Locked Up-One Old
Tough Evcn cives Up His Tobaeco--A
Broken-Heartcd Young Woman. but
Very Unrelenting.
wMEEsBARKE,, Pa, Dec. ss.-Five
weeks ago the Rev. Peter Roberts, pastor
of the Plymouth Congregational church
in Hyde Park, was committed to the Lack
awanna county Jail in default OF the pay
ment of $, 900 damages awarded by jury
to Miss Anna Husaboe, who was the pros
ecutrix in suit in which the minister
was the defendant. Roberts. whila q stu
dent at Yale, made love to Miss Husaboe
and promised that as soon as be was or
dained he would marry her. He failed TO
fulfill his promise. He secured the pastor
ate Of the HYDE Park church and then
married another woman.
His People Stand by Him.
Miss Husaboe brought suit with the re-
suit stated. The minister had the money
to pay his fine, but its payment would
have impoverished him. Mr. Roberts
congregation believes that he is an limo
cent man. It is believed that Roberts
would have paid the fine aud remained
out OF Jail had it not been for his congre-
cation. The payment of the fine would
look like the confession Of guilt, so argued
many of the congregation. Daily large
numbers of Mrs Roberts friends flock to
the Jail to see him. The young ladies
bring flowers and the matrons nice fruit.
Mr. Roberts does not wear the prison garb
and has access to the corridors. He has
two mouth more to serve
A Power for Good in Jail.
The warden said: @The preacher has
| made paradise out Of the Jail. In fact,
think the Lord has sent him here TO con-
| vert the hardened sinners of this Jail.
| don't think they would ever have been
converted il il had not been that he came
among US. Why, his very presence is a
power OF good 1t seems to>aaye mag
netic effect on all the prisoners. Before
the minister was incarcerated We had
some pretty tough customers. They would
growl and curse because we had not a
French bill Of fare Now you can hear a
pin drop in the corridor"
His Method and It's Success.
The Rev. Roberts great bobby is pa
thence. He daily prays that all the pris-
oners may have patience until their day
Of deliverance comes. The first thing
| Preacher Roberts does in the morning Is
| to say a prayer in. privacy. Then he eats
breakfast He then takes up his Bible
and reads several chapters. Then he offers
some Christian advice to the other pris-
oners. One old sinner who had never known
what it was to pray now prays daily. He
has also given up the use of tobacco. and
| does not swear any more He is learning
to read the Bible. Il feel BETTER he said,
| since the minister came here. He must
| have prayed TO some great power for me.
| { feel an entirely different man. When I
| go out IN the world now believe can be-
have myself. Sod bless the Rev. Mr.. Rob
arts
Miss Husaboe L. ritIIcss.
The keepers say they have no trouble at
all now with the prisoners. All of them
are on their good behavior and trying
hard TO see just how good they can he.
The Rev. Roberts believes that all men
will be styed who repent The only thing
that is troubling the preacher now
Is that he may be put in Jail
again as soon as his term expires.
Miss Husabce's counsel says three months
In Jail will not liquidate line OF 5000.
Miss Husaboe is broken-hearted She says
she will keep the minister in Jail as long
as she can. In addition 70 his labors rs a
Christian missionary in Jail Mr. Roberts
| finds time 10 edit The Blade, weekly
newspaper.