The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-11-14
A FAKE WITH NINE LIVES.


icule, has some curious aspects. Its recent
course began with the publication in SEN
sational New York newspaper of what was
represented as Pontius Pilates report to
Tiberius Caesar regarding the trial. convic-
ton and crucifxion of Jesus Christ. 1t was
represented as a recent literary find among
the archives of the Vatican of the greatest
possible value, and was fortified with pre-
tended dispatches from Rome tending to
corroborate it. In further verification of it's
sacredness and value it was copyrighted by
the paper publishing tia plain violation of
the copyright law, by the way. 1t was
scarcely published before it was denounced
as a fake. First, the learned experts de-
clared that, instead of being a newly dis
covered document, 1t was one of several 9TH
ers of like character. published in this
country several years ago, all of which
were regarded as forgeries. Next, the peo-
pie who read newspapers began to be
heard from. The number of these is very
large, and they are apt to know a great
many things. Editors know a good deal
themselves, but what they do not know
some newspaper reader is pretty sure to.
If some editors would stop to think how
much knowledge there is in the world and
how small a proportion of it can be carried
in one head they would be more careful.
This remark is intended of course, for other
papers than the Journal. In the present
case, the first denial from the ranks of the
people came from Missouri. The New York
paper had stated that the alleged Pilates
report had been translated by REV. DIR.
w. ID. Mahan an English clergyman and
photographer" The Missouri account said
that Rev. Mahan was once Cumberland
Presbyterian preacher in that State and
was expelled from the church some thirteen
years ago for attempting to palm off the
Pontius PLATE fake as having been discov-
cred in the archives of the Vatican by a
learned German friend of his and verified
by himself and others as genuine. He in
corporated it in book which was pub
lished in ST. Louis in 1884. The Mahan fraud
was fully exposed.
Next came letter to the Journal from
Brazil, Ind, in which the writer said:
While the furry is on regarding the al
legged letter of Pontius PLATE to Caesar, 1
desire to say l have identically the same
document in a little book entitled "Gesta
Pilati," published by the late w. 0. Clough,
and printed in indianapolis in 1882
This Mr.. Clough was a highly educated
man. virginian by birth, once minister
of the Christian Church and theological
writer. He came to this city several years
ago, but did not succeed in getting estab-
lished in any business. and died in the City
Hospital about a year ago. 1t is not known
where he obtained the alleged Plate report
which he Incorporated in his book with in
teresting comments.
Next, a correspondent of the Journal To-
Gates the origin of the fake in Shelbyville.
this State. He writes:
The correspondent from Missouri to the
Mahan, d. D., first published it in book
form, but this must be the same document
which appeared in 1879 in book form under
by the NJ B. Robins Publishing Company,
of Shelbyville, Ind, the author being Rev.
George Sluter, A. M. at one time secretary
Missouri at the time the book was pub
lished pastor of the First Presbyterian
Church of Shelbyville.
The Journal is in possession of a copy of
this book, loaned by a friend. It's full title
is: 1.-THE Acta PLAT. Important testimony
of Pontius PLATE, recently discovered. be-
ing his official report to the Emperor I'll
berius concerning the crucifixion of Christ
Edited by Rev. George Suter A. NJ, late
secretary missions, Presbyterian Synod of
Missouri Shelbyville, Ind: M. b. Robbins
publisher and printer, 1879" This was
eighteen years ago. and probably the fake
will not be traced further back in this coun-
try. Rev. Sluter evidently thought it gen.
uine. In his preface ne says:
1t may perhaps be necessary to
guard the reader against supposing this
to be the spurious or forged Acta to which
allusion is made by many writer's.
They are full of abSurdities and almost ut
terly unworthy of respect. But the Vatican
copy which l here present is an entirely
different paper. have carefully examined
the Acta Paradosis, Mors and Epistolae
PLAT, both in the Latin and Greek forms,
or trace of similarity between them and
this document. 1t will speak for itself l
think the internal evidence is such as can
not fail to produce conviction upon careful
examination. The discovery of this
long lost testimony of PLATE, amid the vast
mass of unedited parchments in the Vatican,
is certainly event of extraordinary i'm
portance in the history of the Christian
evidences.
In an introduction Rev. Sluter states that
he came into possession of the precious
manuscript through "a learned man of Ger
many, not theologian," who discovered it
in the library of the Vatican and finally
succeeded in obtaining a certified copy of
1t from Father Freenlinhusen. a monk of
great learning at Rome and custodian of the
Vatican The alleged document is pub
lished in full, accompanied by explanatory
notes by the editor. That these different
versions of the "Acta Pilati' are practically
one and the same production cannot be
doubted. Their appearance at so many diff
ferent times and places. always claiming to
have been obtained directly from the foun-
tain head, the library of the Vatican, shows
what remarkable vitality a well-constructed
lie has.
MISS WILLARD'S ACHIEVEMENTS.
One of the characteristics which endears