The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1897-12-25
MISSING PREACHER LOCATED
HE TOOK MONEY AND HORSES.
A California Sheriff Telegraphs That
BENJAMIN E. Christleib Has Sur
rendered HimseIf to the Authori-
ties as an Embezzler From wash
fngton.


fngton.
Chewelah, Wash, Dec %. Sheriff /
Denny has received telegram from the /
sheriff of Orange county, Cal, saying that
Benjamin e. Christleib has given himself /
up, claiming to be an embezzler from Ste |
vens county. This solves a mystery
which has been vexing the minds of many
citizens for several weeks.
Rev. b. f. Christleib, for this selfac-
knowledged embezzler is Free Metho-
dist preacher, came to this place last
spring from Penawawa, Wash, taking
charge of the Free Methodist church. He
was fluent speaker and gained the con
fidence of his congregation and the com
munity at large by his earnest and per
sistent pastoral work He appraised his
followers of the fact that he was engaged
to a young lady of Penawawa, his former
field. whom he intended marrying in the
fall. The betrothed couple kept up per
sistent correspondence
His Fiuncee's Horse and Buggy.
As further evidence of their intention
to become man and wife, Christleib had
horse and buggy belonging to Miss
Smiths father.
The wedding day was set for October
%. This was about the time that mem
Der of Christleibs congregation was hav-
ing domestic infelicity and as he had
heard that his wife had husband living
at St Regis Mont, he desired Christleib
to go to that place while on his journey
to claim his bride, in order TO substanti-
ate the report. This the preacher prom
ised to do, providing the member would
pay the expenses of the trip. He decid
ed to make the journey by team and on
account of the rough country he had to
travel through would need strong We
hicIe and two horses. He had won the
confidence of Louis DfoZ, who lives near
Colville, by showing his willingness to
work in assisting him to load baled hay
and perform other farm labor, so he Dor
rowed the horse needed from Droz.
w. w. Tilghman, whose wife was a
member of his congregation, owned a
strong hack, and they unhesitating loan
ed to their preacher to bring his blushing
bride back with him.
In October Rev Christleib started on
his double mission of eXpectant groom
and detective, Mr.. Lung giving him about
So; he also borrowed $50 from merchants
here before leaving, to whom he owes a
small store bill
Then He Vanished.
No one here has since heard from him.
October l6, it is said, he wrote letter to
his expectant bride, telling her he would
leave his team in Spokane and be gone
about 10 days on important business.
He left here with the avowed intention
of driving to st. Regis. When, therefore
his friends heard this they began to have
suspicious that their pastor had betmy-
ed them or that some foul play had been
perpetrated upon him. Weeks passed and
still receiving no tidings, a search was in
stituted for the team and hack.
They were found in livery stable or
Broadway, Spokane, there being a feed
bill of $35 against them, and the proprie
tor claiming to have bill of sale for the
hack Mr.. Smith and Mr.. Droz paid the
feed bill and took their horses out, anc
Mr.. Tilghman is now in Spokane trying
to regain possession of his hack.
Dr. Lung says he also took with him {
valuable quilt and suit of clothes belong
ing to young man named Andres.
A Much Engaged Man.
According to the statement of fellow
minister who was here week ago Christ
leib has been much-engaged man. hav
ing deceived four other young ladies il
the same manner. He had been in tn,
ministry about two years. Prior TO en-
gaging in preaching he was foreman o
bookkeeper in a machine shop in Port
land.
1t is said that Mr.. Tilghman received
: letter from his mother, who lives in Port
/ land, week ago, stating that she ha'
seen Christleib there, so there is no doub
= about his being the person referred to il
! the telegram from the sheriff of Orang
county. The young lady's father, it i
said, is making strong efforts to have tn
| deceiver captured. In the meantime tn
Free Methodist congregation is withou
{ pastor.