The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-06-21
REV.J0S. SPECHT JR., EL0PEs
RenOunces His Ministerial Vows to Narr
an Alleged HeirtSS.
The YOUNG LADY AGED SIXTEEN
and Arc Married Occult Influence
That Formerly Controlled the
specht Family.

ALEXANDRIA, VA, juno Especial
considerable interest has been aroused
here over the reported elopement OF younl
Joseph Specht, in kentucky. with yount
girl The Spccht family was widclI
advertised about two years ago. on ao
count OF the publication OF their conneo
tion with DR.. Cranky Staunton Howard
who begulled Mr.. and Mrs. specht by
mystic and occult influences. until they
were induced to purchase Geneston Hall
near Mount Vernon to establish there
temple for the mysterious religion whicf
he taught Mysterious things went OF
there and Howard secured much money
from his dupes until Joseph Specht. Jr4
came home from Montreal and becoming
suspicious OF the Great Master Howard
secured detectives and burst the bubble
OF occult science. caused Howard 10 leave
Tor other parts and though never arrest
ed the spell under which he seemed 10 hold
his victims was forever broken.
This is the young man who has eioped
with an alleged heiress from Richmond,
Ky. !
THE ELOPEMENT
A press dispatch from Louisville, Kyt
yesterday, says:
REV Joseph Specht. a young Episcopal
minister from Alexandria. Va. and Miss
Lena Turner. daughter OF ono OF thu
wealthIest citizens OF Madison county.
eloped from Richmond yesterday morning
The wires have been kept hot with mes-
sages to the police ia different cities, but
so far without result
Miss Turner Is not fnuch over sixteen,
and her sister. Mrs. w. Il. Loke. and
Ambrose Dudley. Congressman McCrea.
ry's private secretary. followed her ia
Lexington
MIR. Specht saw Mrs. Loke first, and
he and Miss Turner managed 10 slip by
unnotced and took a train, presumably
for this city but after 1t had gone few
miles they got off
"It is supposed that they took buggy
at Nichoiasviiie tonight and drove north
with the intention OF crossing the river
I'm the morning and getting married IN
Ohio as they left the train near there.
Police met the train on i,s arrival in
Louisville late last night. having II tcle-
graphic order OF arrest Miss Tdrnsr viii
come into possession of a il-ge .ortdDe
when she attains her majority"
MR. SPECIIT.
Mr. Specht has been . student a. ths
theological seminary n"ar this city f'r
the past three years, and was 10 be orr
daincd next year. He has successfully
passed all OF his examinations I'm bis
course lie left the seminary about .h.eo
weeks ago without telling any one wheIe
he was going, and the hrst hearl OF him
after his departure was a letter from
Richmond. Ky, asking that his mail ba
forwarded 10 that point. Since that no'h-
ing has been heard OF him. Tho news
of his elopement WAS a great surp'.sc-
as well as a great shock 10 his fe'lds
students AZ the seminary. and ns friends
feel assured that when further news ls
received the matter will be set straight,
| and that there will be no reelection on
the character Of Mr.. specht. Lir. specht
| Is well known in Alexandria, where his
! gentlemanly disposition and his general
good character have won him mary
friends.
When Mr.. Specht entered The seminary
his matrlculation vow contained a clause
providing that he should not get mar
ried while connected with the seminary.
Rev. f. \. Wallace. j. D., a rnember
Of the faculty OF the Virginia Seminary,
received a letter from AR Specht by
last nights mail severing his conrcc-
ton with the seminary, thus doing away
with his matriculation vow IN That
letter Mr.. SpeCht told Professor Wallace
that il was his intention 20 get married
at once 10 Miss Turner, she being an
orphan, and her guardian was not taking
the proper care Of her money. Mr. spe, hr
further says that If the faculty will per-
| nit IL, he will resume his course at the
seminary next fall, when the session of
1867 opens
telegram from Louisville to-n.rht
announces that they were successful IN
their elopement and were marred To-
day.