The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-06-23
Evangelist Vernon Elopes With
the Daughter of a Former
Wichita Pastor.
he Held Revival Meetings Here Two Years
Ago and Gained Some No.oriesy By
Publicly Charging the City Min
listers With Insecurity.

/ anu H4ouS iiiiu anu ~ ID wv OaNA lEidS LIS
! declining years should be made sad aud
sorrowful by the disgraceful conduct of IA
| scoundrei who has, it appears, brought
shame Oh the cloth OF IA minister more
than once. This man alluded TO is no
other than the Rev.{O Leigh r. Vernon
who held big revival meeting
IN this city two years ago in the South
| Emporia avenue tabernacle assisted by
Refs. Marsh. Nusbaum and Hamilton
The meetings will be distinctly remem ber-
ed on account of the large crowds they
! attracted. One of the ministers reported
the meetings for the EAGLE and Il few of
his references 10 Brother Vernon may not
be out OF place at this time, in view OF his
objectionable conduct.
Just two years ago last night his text
was--and the readers will notice the coin
cident--"Be Sure Your Sin viii Find
You Out" The ministerial reporter
said of it, among other things:
Mr.. Vernon's pathetic aud touch
ing recital of Incidents in his
own personal experience in attempting to
rescue the perishing and fallen caused A
deep and solemn feeling to pervade~ the
entire audience" The reporter adds that
Mr. Vernon sent the audience home
| hungry for some more of the bread of
life"
At the previous meeting the ministerial
reporter said 'Mr. Vernon has gotten
fairly into the affections of the people and
is winning many soul from their evil
ways"
During his stay in the city the minister
Ial asCnriatinn ho1dinn,
meetings in the First Presbyterian
church and Vernon caused IA sensation
there one night by standing no and de-
nouncing the ministers of the city fer
their weakness and insincerity in the cause
of prohibition. He made some very bold
statements and Dr. Winters was compsll
ed to criticise him in return. He said he
believed in taking a sword in one hand
and q torch in another and not ceasing in
the fight against king alcohol till
every joint in Wichita was laid low
and every jointist hunted out of
the city like rats. He believed, if neces
sary, in burning down the houses of III
fame, and said that as long as Wichita
would tolerate or license immortality the
curse of God would hang over the city
like a dark pail, etc.
Now. then, this same Vernon has full
filled his own prophecy: "Be sure your sin
will find you out" He has invaded the
sanctity of the home and took away the
wife of husband and the daughter of a
father, in whose houses he was u privi-
legged guest at all times.
The story OF his crime is told in the fol-
lowing dispatch, sent out from Pittsburg,
Kan, yesterday:
This city is greatly excited over the
elopemsnt of Mrs. j. Z. Pearson, daugh-
ter of Rev. X. II. Sparks, with Rev. Leigh
Vernon. Il Methodist evangelist who has
been soJOurung in the city several weeks.
The runaway woman was one of the most
popular young ladies of the city, hand
some and attractive, and her father, Rev.
Sparks, is one or the most prominent
Methodist preachers of Southern Kansas,
has been presiding elder number of
years. and is at present pastor of the First
NJ. Il. church of this city. Mrs. Pearson
WAS married only two years ago. and her
marriage was one of the great society
events of the year. Lately she has been
living at Joplin, Mo-, where her husband
is connected with a wholesale grocery
store.
On Sunday, June 4. Mrs. Pearson babe
her husband farewell and came to Pitts
burg to visit her parents. She was ex-
pected home by her husband the next FRI
day, but did not return. In response to n
telegram to Pittsburg on the next Friday
evening Mr.. Pearson received word that
his wife had departed for home on Thurs
day evening at O'Clock. He Immediately
went to PittSburg and called upon her pa
rents, but he found that the information
in the telegram was true. His wife was
missing and nothing was known of her
-h.lrA r l..or mad fE.,fS iah bad
boarded the Frisco train for Joplin, but
that when the train reached the junction
in the suburbs of Pittsburg she alishted
with her baggage, only a small grip, and
since that nothing has been seen OF her
Mr.. Pearson and her.father began inves-
LEGATIONS at once, aud learned that which
Immediately led them to believe that the
wife and daughter had eloped with the
Rev Leigh Vernon. That Mrs. Pearson
and the Rev. Vernon had both disap-
peared al the same time was a fact. Ieie-
grams were sent to all persons near 20
Vernon and who would ne most likely TO
know of his Whereabouts, but no intelii- !
gence of him could be ELECTED
Vernon departed from Joplin on the !
Missouri Pacific northbound passenger /
train at 4:30 o'clock on the afternoon Of !
Thursday, June l. He said he was going
to Lamar to Join his wife and children, /
anu that they would go thence TO Los /.
Angeles, Cal, to spend tue summer, and |
thence TO SeGafa TO inaugurate d series !
of meetings. About six months ago Mrs. /
Pearson was visiting at the home
of her parents Ia Pitt,ourg aud while /
there she met Vernon, who had come TO 1
the city for the purpose OF arranging to /
hold A revival. Later when Vernon was 4
holding the meetings Mrs. Pearson went !
TO pittsburg and remained durIag the re- /
vival. She aud Vernon met every day.
and they grew to be fast friends, or the /
feeling may have been stronger than .
friendship When Vernon ief5 Pittsburg
and Mrs. Pearson returned 10 her home IN /
Joplin she and Vernon maintained a |
ella udestiue correspondence. Some OF /
these letters which have been found are
said to be eliminating. When Vernon 4
came TO joplin early In May TO hold evan
geiiSt meetings re WAS armed with a letter
of introduction and recommendation 10 /
Mr.. Pearson from Rev. Sparks and be
was introduced INTO his home
by a prominent gentleman OF this city
he was, OF course, cordially received, and
became a constant visitor. Every Gzy he
visited the Pearson home and a. ways IL
the absence OF the husband. 0Ee morning
Mr.. Pearson had occasion TO Eetug1 home
for something be bad forgotten aud az
found tue doors locked. After long and
knocking lie VS. saUI .2ed BIZ
his wife ana found the Rev. Vercon ia the
paTlor Both We're very .nach excited aud
Disconnected. Mrs Pearson ex planned that
Vernon was making pastoral call At
tie ;ime the uu>Us p@ct3ng bus baud |
thought nothing OF u. New. however.
here seems 20 TX direct evidence ct crinti-
ia. relations 20 apparent were ! egnog's
attentions 20 Mrs PEARSON That
The suhl@cs introduced Is
.Wo az Tie minister, s!aF- the
Pastors alliance one day .4sd i. wAs ihrr-
3uzhly dIScl.=esi, bat il was thought that
1othiug was wrong Vernon drnarsetl
rona Joplin on THURSDAY June =. sad
NEs. Pearson on ~af,3sy. .faae = Ia = BE-
iev13 they mef a. pstlSoug- or af sause
lainl rsr,t aua tAese ere Tie tAets - L.