The herald., 1897-04-09
PROSPECTS BLIGHTED
REV. q. n. w. SMITH HAD HOPED
TO GO ABROAD
An Applicant for a Foreign Mission
Who Now Languishes Behind
the Cruel Bars

Rev. G. H. w. Smith, the colored di-
vine who was arrested on Wednesday
evening by Detectives Steele, Bradish
and Goodman on a warrant from the
sheriff of Sacramento county, charging
him with felony embezzlement, and who
is yet an inmate of the city Jail, await
ing the arrival of an officer from the
north, seems to have been something of
a politician, as well as an exponent OF
the gospel, during the past twelve years,
and according to his story, he stood Z
good show of being rewarded for his
services to the Republican party by an
appointment as United States minister
to either Hayti, Liberia or San Domingo.
But by reason of recent developments.
he declares that his prospects have been
forever blighted, and he is now a ruined
man.
Since his arrest the detectives have
found among his effects a great mass
of correspondence, which shows that
he was making strong effeort to re-
ceive some favor from President Nc
Kinley. Two letters were received by
Smith while porter at the recent legis-
Barham, acknowledging the receipt of
a communication from him relative to
his application and endorsements for
appointment Both stated that they had
done all they could for him in the mat
ter and he must now await the action
of the president Another letter was
from Senator Perkins, which was in
line with that of the congressman. The
1@lI ~xxvsx, Lott fnr laxr
to the president:
SAN FRANCISCO Cal, Jan. 16, 1897
William Mckinley, Presdent-elect of
the United States, Washington d. c.
Dear Sir: 1 respectfully beg leave to
submit this my application. for an ap-
pointment as minister to Hayti, Liberia
or San Domingo. I was born of colored
parents at Kennetts Square, Chester
county, Pa, in 1S47, and am graduate
of Lincoln university, Oxford, Pa. re-
fer you, as regards my qualifications
and character, to Vice President-elect
Garrett A. Hobart and Hon. Matthew
Quay, under whom was employed dur
ing the campaign of 1888, and during
which time 1 had the honor of meeting
with and receiving an introduction to
yourself at Long Branch, N. Y. l also
refer you to Hon. Thomas Carter whom
l worked under during the campaign of
1892. and also Hon. John Conwell, whom
I worked under in California during the
campaign of 1894. Hoping it will meet
with your favorable consideration, l
have the honor to be very respectfully
yours, REV. G. Fl. SMITH.
The reverend gentleman has in his
possession letter from ]. Addison Por-
ter, the presidents private secretary,
acknowledging the receipt of his appli-
cation. From what little has already
been learned of Smiths past record, it
would seem that he has had more or less
trouble since the A. M. e. church con-
ference was held at Monrovia in Febru-
ary, 1895. He attended this conference
as a delegate from the First Christian
church of Woodland. of which church
he was pastor, but it is said that he was
expelled bodily from the conference and
denied all ministerial rights, on the
charge of Lying and undertaking matri-
mony without obtaining license"
It is also said that he was the means
of breaking up a church on Boyle
Heights, and that he did numerous other
things unbecoming a minister of the
Gospel.
1t is reported that the charge against
Smith now is for disposing of $56 war
rant which he claims to have received
for salary while a porter in the assem-
bly