Evening journal., 1891-11-06
| WHITE CAPS CONVICTED.
Parson Dill Gets Even with His
Enemies.
POETRY, PAINTING AND PISTOLS.


A story IN which All Three Figure.
The Young Clergyman of Sterling, n. j.,
Tells How ne Held Up His Prosecutors
with a Revolver.
MoRRIsTowN, N. j., Nov. 6-The county
court room at Morristown, N. j., was
crowded when the men indicted on COM
plant Of Parson Dill, former pastor OF the
Presbyterian church in Sterling, were
brought to trial. In the audience were
many fashionebly dressed women. The
defendants included Herbert Grey Torrey.
chief United States assayer Of New York
city; the latters son, Clarkson b. Moffatt,
who Is justice OF the peace in Sterling,
and two OF Justice Moffatts sons, as well
as half dozen young men OF the village.
Judge Francis Child presided. and Senator
George r. Werts appeared as leading coun-
sci for the defense. Willard r. Cutler re-
presented the state.
He Read Poetry to tho Girls.
The story Of parson Dill's tribulations
has been frequently printed in detail.
Briefly it is as follows; Two years ago
parson Dill was called TO take charge Of
the Presbyterian church at Sterling Her
bert Gray Torrey, an elder in the church,
issued the call. parson Dill was and is
still a bachelor, about twenty-six. He went
to board with Miss Catherine Boyd. Ho
used 70 read poetry TO young women In tho
congregation from the pulpit. The young
women though this was novel and delight
ful and liked IT, The young men hated it.
Parson Dill became very unpopular with
the young men. The parson disagreed
with Elder Torrey on church matters and
a sehism arose in the church. Out Of this
grew Dill and an anti-Dill party. The
latter was led by Elder Torrey.
ne scRndaiIzed the Neighbors.
Then Miss Catherine Boyd gave her
house TO Parson Dill She continued TO
live in the same house, though she had nc
other boarders. This state of things sean
dalized the neignboFhood. At length Par
son Dills enemies began TO torment him.
! One night while he was reading poetry tC
willing female listeners, the young mer
took his horse to a secluded spot ant
{ painted the animal red, white and blue
| then tied Il to a tree and vanished.
/ On July 4 last party Of young men will
!. hlackened faces went TO the parsons house
q called him many vile names and scarce
4 him by firing at him as they were about Z
e leave. The parson then resigned his pos
!. tlon
parson Dill suspected the defendants i
q this case and their arrest followed The
retalieted by having Dill arrested, charl
ing him with making false statement
about them
a. About this time a tall, clerical lookin
s. young man appeared on the scene VIII
II wanted TO preach in Sterling at five dollai
II Sunday. He turned out to be a very eli
le quent preacher. He visited his parishiol
Of ers great deal in order 10 become we
I. acquainted. All this time there was som
le thing besides money iangling in his pool
"a sts. u was a pair Of handouts, for th
"a eloquent young preacher was a detectiN
" whose purpose it was 20 gather in tt
e. White Cap party. He got them.
le Miss Boyd on the stand.
a The first witness yesterday was Mil
n Catherine Boyd. She is a brunette unds
a. forty, and OF rather pleasing appearance
h She made a good witness for Paraon Dill
le She and Parson Dill still occupy the hous
Ia In Sterling
John Ferris, who made the affidavit o
which the detective arrested the gang, wa
n he met Abe Cooper, one Of the prisoner
= July A, and Cooper told him they were &,
y ing to drive Dill out OF town that nigh
y y and to meet them at Moffatt's ats oiclocl
II was on timen he said "and when
!. got there / found James Travis, All
y Cooper, Fred Moffatt, Dick Thomas, He
~ bert Grey Torrey and Frank Moifatt.
a There was some talk as to what the
y should do with Mr.. Dill. One proposed /
4 !, blindfold him and carry him off in
- wagon. Another proposed tar and featl
= srs. After awhile we all went over to M
= Dnl's house"
When Dill came they chased him int
The house after telling him he must lea'
Town. Several shots were fired.
I. Dill Tells His story.
~ There was a futter when Parson ID
~ was placed on the stand. He is abol
~ twenty six years Of age aud good lookin
~ He said that on the night Of July be vi
II prepared 10 meet an attack For a quart
NJ II mile before he reached his home
~ carried a cooked revolver in his hand
be Reaching the gate, several disguisi
men rose up before him and he immel
Ately presented his weapon In their fac
and remarked, II am ready for you, ge
Ig .lemen.n He then, considering discretiS
w he better part Of valor. backed into h
or house A moment afterward a number
or Ihots were heard
ne Six Men Convicted.
an Senator Werts said it was only Four
at u July joke. The prosecution did not al
e. or any conviction in the cases Of Herbe
5rey Torrey and Clarkson B. Moffat
The jury brought in a verdict Of guilty
he cases of Fred and Frank Motfatt, Al
lre hnnY Schumacher Abe Cooner. Clemel