The herald., 1893-11-03

murder. There ia no excuse for it. 1t
| is all the more surprising that minister
OF the gospel should do such thing, and
| do not know what to think OF it.
REV. Collins conduct seems strange
to me. | have often Known preachers
to tIy to save families, but he is trying
to break this family up. He 10 follow
ing them, Advising murder. and then
threatening to take the children from
the parents.
II see no reason why Van Doren and
this preacher should push themselves to
| the front in this case 80 persstentlv.
Who is Van Doren? Who is Collins? i
don't know, but | believe that the first
| is a scamp and tho second is bigger
scamp. My IDEAS of the duties OF
preacher are different from the ideas
which Rev. Collins seems to have. The
founder of the Christian religion. 1900
years ago, tried to heal aud comfort,
tried to do good and to cheer, but Rev.
Collins advises murder, stirs up strife,
tries to break up families, and causes
sorrow and grief instead of giving COM
fort ard hope.
SISTERS STATEMENT.
The same paper contains an inter-
view with sister of the girl in ques-
tion, from which the following extracts
are taken:
"TEe charges being so extremely hor-
rible, they did not seek the advice Of
friends, as they should have done, and
let matters go on, hoping no scandal
would result, and here is where q new
actor appears on the scene in the person
of Rev. j. HI. Collins.
He called at the house ostensibly, as
he puts it. for the purpose of making a
pastoral visit, and told mamma that Mr..
Van Doren had made him acquainted
with the facts and that he deeply sym
patbized with the family and also with
Maud, and solicited permission from
mother to let Maud join the church.
Mother objected, saying that if scandal
should arise over the affair that Maud
would be dismissed from the church
and new stigma attached to her. He
said no, that he had called a meeting OF
his vestrymen and they had agreed not
to take any etep against Maud in the
matter. but let her remain member OF
the church, even though an exposure
might be brought about. He said,
there is another reason why would
like for her to become member OF my
church. She is young, and can be
saved If taken away from the influence
of this Van Doren 60 if you will let her
come to see me and give me control
over her will weave net around her
that will break up the engagement be-
tween her and Van Doren'.
$50, upon this presentation, mamma
permitted Maud to 90 the next morning
and visit Rev. Collins in his study. In
stead of Collins telling Maud that he
eympathzed with her, and praying with
her, and asking her to be a good girl in
the future, he compelled her to tell ell
of the details, even to the most minute
particulars OF the matter which had hap
pened between her and Mr.. Blassin-
game, and when he had thoroughly ex-
hausted her knowledge upon that sub
ject permitted her to return home.
Maud told mamma all that had taken
place, and mamma thought it very
strange conduct for minister Of the
gospel. and when upon the next day
Rev. Collins came to the house, where
mamma was sick, and sitting down, told
her all of the disgusting details which
he had obtained from Maud. she con-
cluded that it was better for Maud to
keep away from Collins and his kind of
people, SO she refused to let her 60 again
to the church. Then began the perse-
cutions instigated by Mr.. Collins, Van
Doren and certain lawyer here in
town, that have nearly succeeded in
driving US allinsane.
'sMr. Collins demanded OF father that
he go and kill Blassingame; he told
him that he had pistol and would take
him in a buggy to Blassingame's house,
and he would call Blsssingame out and
let father kill him. He also said that
be knew where he could get 500 to use
in carrying out the plans if father
wanted it. He demanded os us that we
make our sorrow public by forcing an
indictment of Blassingame by the grand
jury, and threatened that ii we did not
do go he would begin an action to take
the children away from papa and mama
as unfit persons to control them, and by
every means in his power he harrassed
annoyed and tried to force US into pub.
lie prosecution.
ION Saturday last Mr.. Collins sent @
note to papa to meet him in Judge
Graham's Office on Monday, to come tc
an understanding and see whether papa
would be willing to swear to complaint
against Blassingame before the justice
as it appeared that Mr. Collins had some
doubt OF his ability to get the Crane
Jury to indict.
SUNDAY evening Judge Graham callec
at our house, an6 after discussing the
matter papa agreed to meet Collins, only
stipulating that Van Doren must not be
present, as he felt that if he met him
he would do him some injury. This was
agreed to.
Two hours after came the sermon o
Collins entitled, He'll Let Loose in
Fresno
son Monday I met Collins in Ora.
hams office, and Graham said, Ia your
father coming DOWN. | answered: No
after that sermon OF last night papa can.
not meet Collins without trouble, and as
you said you didn't twanttrouble to occur
in your Office. papa would not come.
Then Collins spoke up and said, 'That's
all right; that's all L want to know,
whether he will meet me or not; and
now the case of Blassingame's ls en-
tirely open; and as to your father. Miss
Bearden, will have him bound over to
keep the peace before snudown."