Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-05-26
ev. A. G. Harrison Has Deserted
His Church.
COMPLICATED MONEY TRANSACTIONS
Mr.. w. L. Bruen Loses to a Con-
siderable Extent.
THE PEOPLES TABERNACLE

Rev. A. G. Harrison, a well-knowr
preacher in the southeastern section of the
rity, has mysteriously disappeared from his
former home, No. T66 11th street southeast
ard it is reported by some of those who
are in position to know that he took
about 5000 with him. all of which belongs
1t is said. to other parties.
\ meeting Of the church council of the
Peoples Tabernacle on 1Ith street between
g and 1 streets southeast, of which Mr.
Harrison has been pastor since its dedica-
ticn several weeks ago, has been called fol
tonight, when an effort will be made to as.
certain just who are the losers and to
WDat extent eacn Is a financial sufferer
through Mr.. Harrison's manipulations
There seems to be doubt that Mr. w
l. Bruen. who built the Tabernacle and
who had the most implicit faith in Mr.
Harrison's business integrity, is a loser to
the extent of at least 81 900 and that a
number of other persons with whom Har-
rison had business dealings are out to a
considerable extent.
Although admitting that he knew that
Harrison had disappeared from the city,
ana that serious charges had been made
against the latter. Mr. Bruen was very
hEerse TO saying anything on the subject
OF the affair. preferring, he said to make
any statement that he might deem advis-
able after the meeting of the council to-
night.
-hF. bruehs DlScOVeFy.
Mir. Bruen stated, however that yester-
day morning telegram reached his office
in the church from the Grand Rapids
School Furnishing Company of Grand Rap
ids, Mich. in answer to a telegram of in
quiry from him. which conveyed the in
formation to Mr. Bruen that Harrison had
not paid them a bill for the church furni-
ture, amounting to 81 ,009, and that the re-
eeipt given by Harrison to Mr.. Bruen
which purported to be for the money paid
in liquidation of the bill was fraud
The telegram was opened by Harrison
VINO, from evidences left behind him, mus
have departed from the building hurriedly.
Harrison. by reading the telegram, became
aware that Mr.. Bruen was investigating his
transactions in connection with the build
Ing and furnishing of the church.
From the latter Harrison went to his
home, No. ft5 1lth street, d few doors from
tho church, and after staying there short
time he and his wife boarded a street car
and started toward the center of the city
About the same time the son and only
years old, rode in the same direction as his
parents on bicycle, and since that time
nothing fas been seen of them by any per-
son who knew them in this city.
While these proceedings were taking
place Mr. Bruen was in Hagerstown, inves-
tigating claim made by Harrison that the
large organ which was placed in the
& Co. of that town. Mr.. Bruen learned
that so far from the firm having made a
donation to the church of the organ, the
builders want Mr. Bruen to pay 81 15O for
It, Mr.. Bruen said today that he had not
as yet made up his mind whether to let the
organ go back. as the owners are willing
Ior MIN 10 exercise his judgment in the
matter. III he should decide to keep it, they
woIld not, they said, ask him for the
money for eighteen months.
III Is reported that Mr.. Bruen furnished
Harrison with moaey 10 pay a carpe. bill
OF some 5000, but that Harrison did not
30 apply II, and the same thing is said to be
the case with considerable sums to nav
CtEer bills, none Of which were met but
receipts.
Mr. Onutt's Loss.
Mr.. z. R. Offatt of No. 3I2 11th street
southeast. who is a loser to the extent of
S6J through Harris on's actions, this after
noon told a Star reporter that while the
church was IN course of erection he had a
rumDer OF financial dealings with Harrison.
during which there were occasions when
Harrison owed him as much as $500 borrow
Ell money Before. however, the church
was dedlcated, Harrison paid Mr.. Ofutt
all he owed him.
Monday morning last about 10 O'Clock
satd Mr.. Ofutt, Harrison came to my
house and knocked at the door | was
asleep on a couch in the dining room at tbe
time, and did not hear him. He tben
opened the door, walked to me- shook and
awakened me and asked me to lend him
S1to- ] told him 1 did not have so much
money about me and offered him sIOo
which j had close at hand
lie declined to take this giving as a
reason that he wanted 800 to pay a bill
incurred on account Of the church erection,
and that If he could not get the whole
amount 500 would be of no service After
some further talk he left
ABOUT pm he returned and told me
that ne had succeeded in collecting q bill
OF S3p which was due him. and said II
would lend him $50 he could pay the s1OO
uI- without moments hesitancy /
GoIhteo out S60. which he took and left
subsequently been developed that Harrj-
son had been mailing preparations ali dur
ing the day for the hasty flight which he
ahd MS family afterward took. They
carried with them only such things as they
could pack In three large trunks, leaving
SH their furniture and Mr.. Harrison 5
books behind
IL Is stated that not only did Harrison
borro~ morey from many persons, but that
In at least one instance he got a business
man to indorse notes for a considerable
slilouht, ana that on these he realized a
handsome sum-
The Minister.
Harrison came to Washington from as
ne said. Texas about three or four We,
ago He soon after identified himself with
the Central Union Mission. and I'm a lit.,e
while became one OF its most active and
enthusiastic workers. He also accom-
panied the gospel wagon in its pilgrimagss
70 various parts OF the city, and was ever
IN the front of evangelistjc efforts Rv
.hese means he obtained the confidence OF
MI Bruen and others to such an extent
Inat Mr. bruen. at his own expense erect
ga the Peoples Tabernacle, at a cost of
'-.pV and had Harrison chosen pastor.
NE Bruen said that Harrison. In ad
oiion to treating MIN as he had and as Is
SDo'e toid In money matters. deceived
him very much as to the aggregate mem-
bership of the church. Harrison had i,-
phcate Keys of the church and its yarious
rooms and offices, which he took with him
ana this afternoon Mr.. Bruen had the
old locks taken or and new ones subsii-