Los Angeles herald., 1892-02-18

A remarkable story came to light
yesterday one that will create a de-
cided sensation all over Southern Cali
fornia, and also in the state of Arkan-
sas. 1t involves people who have hith-
erto stood high in this community.
1t is case of desertion, elopement,
concealed identity, adultery and suffer
ing, and covers period of nineteen
years. The whole story will read more
like romance than reality.
Twenty years ago the Rev. Seth Bur-
nett and his young wife and children
lived in Little Rock, Arkansas. They
were highly respected residents OF the
county. Seth Burnett had been a
butcher before he became a preacher.
He had accumulated quite a fortune,
and being pious, had become q member
of the Little Rock, Arkansas, confer
ence.
The clergy and society were shocked a
few weeks later when it became known
that the Rev. Seth Burnett had eloped
with Mrs. Herndon, the wife of local
preacher who was neighbor. No one
knew whittier they had gone, and, as
in great many other cases, the people
soon forgot about the guilty couple.
Several years later the Rev. Mr.. Hern-
don secured divorce and married a
second time.
Mrs. Burnett, the deserted wife,
struggled along bravely. 1t was hard
fight, though, as the faithless husband
had left his wife in destitute circum-
stances with several little children. The
woman never complained, but in 81
lence kissed the rod. She never
gave up the search for her missing
husband, however, but try as she would,
no tidings could be learned of Rev. Seth
Burnett. All her inquiries and investi-
cations proved futile, and many another
woman would have given up all hope of
bringing him to justice, in despair. The
aid of ministers and friends in distant
lands was invoked, but no trace of the
missing husband or the missing wife
could be found.
THE RISE OF REV. EDGAR DUNBAR.
Old residents in Los Angeles will re-
member butcher shop located at the
corner of Olive and Sixth streets. 1t
was kept by young man named Edgar
Dunbar. This was nearly eighteen
years ago. Dunbar did thriving busi-
ness, and soon owned considerable prop
erty. About ten years ago he and his
wife, who was. as well as her husband,
noted for piety, joined the Methodist
church, south.
Mr.. Dunbar was such an ardent work.
er in the cause of the church that he
was invited to preach on several occa-
sions. In facshe soon went out of busi-
ness and became preacher. His ad-
vancement was very rapid, as he was an
earnest worker and had the happy fac
ulty OF making warm friends. Mrs.
Dunbar also took the liveliest interest in
church matters. She was very popular
with the members of the church, as she
was very vivacious and bright, being a
woman of exceptional literary attain
ments. The promotion of the Rev.
Edgar Dunbar was very rapid, and for
the past two years he has been the pre-
siding elder of the church at San Diego,
having the San Diego and San Bernar-
dino districts in his charge. Previous to
this he had presided over churches at
Santa Ana, San Luis Obispo, San Ber-
nardino and other points in Southern
California, and was one of the best
known and most popular ministers in
Southern California. This concludes the
second chapter.
THE DISCOVERY.
The third chapter takes place in Los
Angeles. A HERALD reporter learned
yesterday that the South Methodist
church in this city he's been busily en-
gagged for twenty days past with an in
vestigation. These labors were conclud-
ed yesterday, and the HERALD repre-
sentative was given the result Of the
deliberations. Here is the brief ver-
dict:
The Rev. Edgar Dunbar, the presid-
ing elder Of the San Diego district Of the
Mathodist Episcopal church, south; u