The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-09-20
BIG SENSATION IN oAKEsDALE.
sunday-school Superintendent and Ex-
horter Ravages the Flock.

Oakesdale, whitman county, Is terribly stirred
up over the exposure of ". G. Gilstrap, editor
OF the Alliance Advocate, choir leader and super
intendent OF a sunday school. He is charged
with seducing half dozen girls, and a number
of married women are said to have been GRIM
inally intimate with him. Gilstrap, who is de-
scribed as modern Don Juan, has been arrested
at Helena, but If reports are true, il will not be
safe to take him back to Oakesdale. Gilstrap 10
aslight-built, rather good looking young fellow,
but never displayed more than average
ability. He was a devout church men,
Der, led the choir and was superintend.
ent OF the Sabbath-school. Through piety he
became acquainted with his victims, girls who
were members of his Sabbath-schooL During
the seasons of revivals he was active in exhort-
ing and in converting sinners, and in this way
he gained the attention of married women. One
woman has confessed that the occasion of her
first yielding to Giistrap was when he made a
call for the purpose OF converting her. While
they were on their knees praying Gistrap made
improper advances. Later he prayed again,
blasphemously calling upon the Almighty to
bless his actions.
special from Oakesdale to the Tacoma Globe
says:
So good was Gistraps standing in the COM
munlty that he was welcomed in many homes.
In view of the developments of the past day or
two rumor does not spare the households where
Gilstrap was intimate The result is distrust
Husbands look suspiciously at wives, fathers
and mothers eye their daughters in question
ing manner in every home where the trail OF the
serpent is supposed TO be, and there is quiet
domestic investigation going on. Hattie Nc
Coy, who heads the list of girls who now wish
they had never seen Gilstrap, is tall, stylish,
handsome brunette OF II years, finely educated,
pOssessor OF many accomplishments, and has
always been apparently q deyout, consistent,
church-goin young lady. No one ever sus-
pected she was breaking one OF the most inn
portant commandments Of the decalogue Miss
Mccoy belongs TO one OF the best families in
the place. Her brother is mayor OF Oakesdale
aud part proprietor of the largest store The
girls family is broken hearted over aIattie's
shame, and her brother il nearly crazed. Nc
Coy is man of decisive character. In view
OF the great wrong done McCoys family, and
reputation OF Mccoy as a man of nerve, he has
the universal sympathy Of citizens Ii is thought
that Gilstrap, if brought from Helena viii
meet an unpleasant reception.
Lille Finch, the second OF Gil straps victims,
is IL years of age and a petite blonde, just re-
turned from Spokane. She has been III ever
since her return. Finch is highly respectable
citizen Of this place, and declares that he will
kill Giistrap on sight Mary Seiaert, another
young girl, rues the day she listened To Gill
straps soft words. She fortunately has escaped
the usual result of her actions. Three married
women, whose names are suppressed on account
OF their children, complete the list far as
known. There are at least five or six young
girls and women who are said to have been IN
discreet.