The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-03-02
LIBERTY STILL HIS
REV. GEORGE It. MCLELLAND, THE
PRESBYTERIAN MINISTER,
EXAMINED.
FOUND NO RESTRAINT NEEDED.
HE FLATTLY CONTRADICTS SOME
OF THE TESTIMONY OF DAVID
MORGAN.
BETHEL CAUSED HIS SICKNESS.
The Gentleman Has Been Unable to
Get Work in ST. PauI-What EX-
perts Say of Him.

Rev. George T. McClelland, the Pres
byterian minister whose conduct has
greatly worried the st. Paul presby-
terry, of which he has been g. member
for the past six years, found himself
in the probate court yesterday after
noon to answer to an information Of
insanity filed by Rev. John Pringle,
pastor Of the Goodrich Avenue Presby-
terrain church. Rev. Mr.. McClelland
cleared himself of the imputation Of
insanity and was discharged. Doctors
Ancker and Riggs were the examining
physicians.
The witnesses who testified against
Rev. Mr.. McClelland were Rev J. P
Egbert, Rev. David Morgan, Rev. John
Pringle and DR.. Arthur Sweeney Their
testimony in general was to the effect
that Mr. McClelland was under the de-
fusion that his brother ministers were
prosecuting him, that he was mentally
incapable of performing the duties of
minister of the gospel, or Of earning
his living in any capacity and that he
was guilty Of incessant indiscretions
David Morgan testified in detail as tc.
Mr. McClelland's eccentric behavior
while he was boarding at the Bethel
where, according to Mr.. Morgan he re-
manned off and on for a period of six
weeks. All the witnesses agreed that
the unfortunate preacher was an OBJ
ject of charity and later might need
restraint.
While the foregoing testimony was
being given, Mr.. McClelland maintain
ed a quiet and composed demeanor,
though his countenance wore a
troubled expression. Mr.. McClelland is
aman slightly above the medium height
and Of genteel appearance He wore a
closely trimmed, pointed beard. and
heavy mustache, streaked with
gray. Asked what he had to say in
his own behalf, he answered readily
and blUntly:
LAS far as this testimony about my
declaring that l am prosecuted is con-
cerned, others have talked about it
more than / have. Most Of the COM
plants the presbytery received from
ministers in other states were mere
assertions entirely. without confirma-
ton. Many of the complaints came
from the elders, large number of
whom are soreheads. The synodical
missionaries. an abnormal institution
of the Presbyterian church, are also
largely RESPONSIBLE.
LAS to Mr. MOrgans statements
about my conduct at the Bethel boat,
they are not all true. In the hrSt
place, I will swear I stopped there
only two weeks and two days, and
never took more than one meal a day
there, for which 1 paid 10 cents. 1t
is not true, as Mr.. Morgan says, that
1 gorged myself with pies, cakes and
eggs and made myself sick. 1 have
onlv this to say, that l have never
suffered such deprivation as l have in
st. Paul. l don't know as I blame
the preshytery for this. 1 merely state
1t as a fact. l do know, however, that
my experience at the Bethel boat made
me sick and was the cause of my going
to the hospital. 1 seldom talked with
Mr.. Morgan. l remember he told me
about the rough and tumble experience
he had undergone to get living, as
If that was any reason why 1 or any
ether man should go through the same
experience"
Mr.. McClelland said he had been un-
able to get work in St. Paul and in
tended to go further south. His moth
er and a brother live In Brighton, H.
and another brother. who is a minis
ter, resides in New Jersey.
DR.. e. J. Abbott testified that, in his
opinion, Mr.. McClelland's mental con.
.dition was not as bright as one would
lcok for in man of his calling, that i:
he was not as DR.. Abbott put it, "ur
to the standard of the average Pres
byterian clergyman" He was in d
condition of mental instability, uueru-
lous and complaining, and unable I,
earn his living, but not in a condition
requiring restraint in an asylum.
After some twenty minutes consulta-
'tion, Drs. Riggs and Ancker decided
that McClelland ought to be discharged
and Judge Wtllrich so ordered.