The record-union., 1896-05-29
A PREACHERS BAD BREAK
BE DenOunCeS a Folsom Lady From His
Pulpit,
And Her Husband Trounces Him
in the Barn of His
Neighbor.

No one who is familiar with the facts
In the case will accuse Folsom Of being
a religiously inclined town, and so the
Reverend Mr.. Meeks found when he
took charge of the Methodist Episcopal
Church about Christmas time last year.
For long he labored and preached and
threatened and begged and parleyed
with the sinners of the neighborhood,
until he finally soured and turned very
arbitrary in his manner, even to the
members of his own flock.
Among one Of the most faithful and
Jealous workers of the church was
Mrs. Isaac Hinkle, than whom no lady
of Folsom stands higher, and on whom
the belligerent minister deemed it wor-
thy his calling to pour out his bottled
wrath and vituperation.
He was unfortunate in choosing his
time for this, which was just after the
close of an evening service held last
week. Before the entire congregation,
he served his Master by denouncing
Mrs. Hinkle as a wretch and as''painted
woman" The lady was stupefed, and
when she came to realize the charge of
Preacher Meeks, was prostrated with
grief and modification. To her hus-
band she disclosed everything, and
Isaac Hinkle started on Preacher
Meeks' trail with blood in his eye.
But Meeks had taken fright at the
hornets nest he had stirred up and
decamped to the ranch of Rye Shoup,
some six miles above the village.
Now, Mr.. Hinkle is one of Folsom s
most prominent citizens, and has for
years been Superintendent of the Amer
lean River Irrigation Canal Company.
Besides this, Mr.. Hinkle is a big man,
and very strong for his size, but when
on the way to Shoup's ranch to inter-
view the caustic preacher he shed bit
| ter tears, which did not seem to settle
his feelings in the least, and it was
evident that the Reverend Mr.. Meeks
had fallen among stony places. or soon
would fall there.
Upon arriving at the Shoup domicile
| Mr.. Hinkle raped at the door, and as
| several ladies were present, called the
| preacher outside and invited him to
| take stroll to the barn. This Meeks
| c1d depending upon his cloth" to
| save him thrashing, and when once
the barn doors had swung shut on the
| three men-Mr. Hinkle's friend was
still one of the party-Hinkle demand
ed of the preacher, who was still irate.
| why he had applied such names to Mrs.
| Hinkle
Preacher Meeks al once proceeded TO
mount the pedestal of his dignity, and
| informed the outraged husband that if
| ne took issue with anything that had
| been said the matter could be settled
| in a court of law.
But Mr.. Hinkle was not looking for
| law. He still had blood in his eve. and
| reaching out with his left hand he COL
Jared the dignified Meeks, and then
smash-smash-smas came that pom
derous right, and Preacher Meeks had
blood in both his eyes.
The fun waxed warm, when the Con-
stable Of the township, who CHANGED to
be on the premises, hearing the
| preachers wall, came in and demanded
peace.
Upon this Mr.. Hinkle's friend backed
the Constable up into a manger and ex-
| planned matters to him That settled
| it, and the Constable folded his arms
| and became a spectator to the one
sided slogging match.
| Again and again the heavy righ hand
| landed on Reverend Meeks' face until
| his mother would not have known him,
while the left hand held the target
erect. But the women in the house had
heard the minister's outcries. and were
| making a grand rush for the barn to
| see the fun.
Then, and then only did Mr.. Hnkle
| ideSst, and rode back to Folsom
smiling a very broad smile. His tears
had vanished.
But the matter did not stop here
Word was sent to the Presiding Elder,
who forthwith ordered an investigation
IL was promptly made, Mr. Meeks'
charges found untenable, and he was
fired from the Folsom parish out into
the bosom of the cold. cold world and
has not since been heard Of Here
endeth the first chapter