Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-04-02
A MINISTER'S ELoPEMENr.
An Acting Bishop Deserts Wife and Home
and Church.

A Westminster, Nd. special says: A startling
rumor, affecting the reputation of prominent
minister of the German Baptist Church of West.
minister. has been circulating here since yester.
day. The gentleman is Elder David d. Bon.
sack, who resides a short distance from this
city. Elder Bonsack left home on Tuesday
morning, ostensibly for Woodbury.. Failing te
return in the evening, inquiry was instituted
by his family and it was ascertaned that Mrs
Sheets, the wife of Mr.. Wilson Sheets, keeper O,
the toll gate on the Meadow Branch turnpike
near this city. had left her home without no
tice to her family and left this city on the same
train with Elder Bonsack. Suspicion was
aroused and further inquiry led to the apprs
hension that the couple had eloped together.
One of the most pertinent evidences to this
was a letter written by Mrs. Sheets to her hus-
band. Mr.. Sheets acknowledges that il con.
| tains confession from the wife that she had
left him and stating that when she twas sot-
tied" she would write to him and send for their
| little boy.
The rumor tina. Elder Bonsack was the com.
panon of the woman in her fight became cur
| rent yesterday. but many persons refused to
credit it. He has borne for years in this com.
munity and throughout his church all over
the country a character above reproach. Only
a few months ago he was advanced to the Office
of bishop and given the oversight Of the Mea-
dow Branch and Westminster congregations,
| in conjunction with bishop previously Or
dained, proceeding perhaps unprecedented
in his church. He was connected by marriage
with one of the most prominent and wealthy
families of the Brethren's denomination in this
| county. his wife, who was the widow of Mr..
Amos Roger at the time of the marriage, being
daughter of the late David Roop.
His fall seems to be accepted as fact by his
own family and that of the woman who is sup
posed to be his companion, but appears incom-
prehensible to those who knew him best. He
is upward of fifty years Of age, but is a man OF
stalwart proportions and great physical
strength. He was member of company A,
sixth Maryland regiment, and was brave and
gallant soldier.
Mrs. Sheets is q woman Of about forty-hve
years Of age, of fine person and comely APP
pearance. Her home, though humble, is neatly
furnished and pleasant in appearance. She and
her husband are members of the Brethren
Church. Both she and Elder Bonsack have
married children and their families are IN the
deepest distress Oh account of their conduct
Elder Bonsack was "A farmer, and owns q fine
farm as tenant In common with his wife, be-
sides enother farm and other property in his
own right. He has been trusted implicitly, and
could command the use Of any amount OF
money desired. He holds the relation OF
trustee or executor in several estates, and
since his flight several claims against HIM have
come to light. Attachments upon his property,
entered against him as an absconding debtor,
to the amount of SIG, 1916. had been filed in
this county up to the close of business this
afternoon.
1t is not known that he took O large amour,
OF money with him, although it is reported tina,
he withdrew deposits to the amount of a 6Ol
from bank in this city before he left