The White Pine news. [volume] (Treasure City, Nev.) 1868-1906, 1897-12-04
TON BELLS EXPLOITS.
The Rogue Caused New Englanders
Lots of Trouble.

Throughout the middle Of the eight
zenith century the central and southern
colonies were constantly victimized by
a clever rogue named Tom Bell. He
became a well-known public character,
hated and feared by all good citizens
and by his fellow-criminals also. The
newspapers of the day. especially those
of New York, abound in warning OF his
presence In town. In recitals of his VII
lainies. I have seen scores of notices
in newspapers relating TO him, and ref
erences to him by his contemporaries.
In the year IT44 there was a marked
revival of religion in the middle colo
MES. and two ministers named John
Rowland and William Tennent 1.-THE
pastor of the Presbyterian Church at
Freehold, y. j. were most prominent
in this spiritual awakening, and far
and wide were universally beloved and
respected.
At this time Tom Bell. CARRIED In n
eoat Of sober, clerical cut, vas travel
ing through New Jersey, and he chanc-
ed to meet in a tavern at Princeton a
Mr.. John Stockton. who addressed Bell
as Mr.. Rowland. Bell told him his mis-
take, and Mr.. Stockton then commented
upon the extraordinary resemblance
the stranger pore to the clergyman.
This hint was enough for Tom Bell.
The next day he promptly went TO a
neighboring town In Hunterdon. where
Mr.. Rowland had preached once or
twice. but was not intimately acquaint-
ed, and introduced himself as the min
lister. He was warmly welcomed and
Hospitality entertained and invited to
preach the next Sunday. He was treat
ed everywhere with the exceptional
and devoted attention then bestowed
upon beloved preachers. On Sunday
he started for church in a wagon with
the family which had Hospitality hous-
ed him; but just as they neared the
church the reverend impostor discover
ed that he had unfortunately left his
sermon behind him at the farmhouse.
He Mt onc proposed to his host, who
rode beside the wagon OIL a fine horse,
hat he should exchange places. This
was done, and, thus mounted, Bell rode
swiftly of to get his sermon and return
to church. He went to his entertainers
house, robbed his desk, and with the
money and horse started through the
country, passing everywhere n
preaching as the Rev. John Rowland.
AT this time the real Parson Rowland,
with his fellow-minister, Mr.. Tennent,
and two prominent members of the
Trenton church, Joshua Anderson and
Benjamin Stevens, were serenely and
unsuspiciously journeying through
Maryland and Pennsylvania, conduct
ing religious revivals. On their return
to New Jersey Mr.. Rowland was
promptly charged with robbery and ar
rested. The chief justice at this time
| was also q member of the Governors
council and the son of the Governor,
Lewis Morris. His appointment as
judge had been very offensive to the
people, who opposed such a great GEN.
tering of power, both judicial and legis-
lative, in the Governor and his son.
Young Morris, In turn. had a strong
disregard for religion and preachers,
and at Mr.. Rowland's examination
charged the jury with the greatest Sc
verify TO find a bill against the minis
ter. 1t was not until Sent out for the
fourth time and under severe threats
legged crime. On the trial a successful
alibi was proved for the minister by
the testimony of his three fellow-com-
panions in Maryland. But public feel
ing was divided, and so many had seen
Mr.. Tom Bell Rowland in possession of
the stolen horse that soon the grand
jury found bills of Indictment against
the three witnesses for "willful and
corrupt perjury" The indictments We're
ordered to be removed to the Supreme
Court, but Mr.. Anderson was so con-
ident of his acquittal md so serene in
his innocence that he demanded n trial
at the first Court of Oyer and Ter
miner. He was tried, pronounced gull
ty and sentenced to stand on the court
house steps for an hour with a paper
on his breast bearing these words, in
large letters: This is for willful and
corrupt perjury" The sentence was
executed on the spot where the Trenton
bank now stands in Trenton, n. ].
The other alleged perjurers were then
in despair. as there seemed to be no
witnesses to prove their innocence. The
Freehold church kept a day of solemn
fasting and prayer to God, but the min
lister did not hope for acquittaI, and
prepared n sermon to preach from the
pillory. Mr.. Stevens o took adyan-
tage of an error In the indictment. and
was discharged; but the sainted minis
ter refused to be discharged. to the an
noyance of the noted lawyers who had
volunteered to aid him. Mr.. John
Coke, a famous lawyer, declared Mr..
Tennent's refusal manifested a relig-
ious fanaticism and a lack of Christian
meekness; but the day of trial came,
the minister was firm in confidence In
God, and as the party proceeded to
court they were met by a Maryland
man and his wife, who declared they
had come to Trcnton as the result of a
dream In which they were told Mr..
Tennent was in great distress and need
ed their help. On learning the facts of
the impending trial they promptly as
preach in Maryland on the very day
Tom Bell stole the horse. They ap-
peared as witnesses to prove the truth
of Mr.. Tennent's testimony. and he was
| acquitted. These trials form one of
| the celebrated cases of colonial times,
throuph tho n~rOmiDpnca of tho acpuSad