The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-01-08
KEPT A PRISONER.
Peculiar Plight of Preacher in
New York.
AFRAID TO LEAVE HIS HOME
Lest he Be Barred Out-DOOr Guarded By
a Young: Man who Keeps 1t Looked.
queer Phase or litigation over Church
Propsrty-Passorin = STATE OfsIsg0.

NEW YORK. Jan. 1.-THE extraordl-
nary fac. ofa prominent Baptist clergy
man being held prisoner IN his own house
was stated In a sworn affidavit by the
Rev. Daniel G. Potter, pastor Of the
Tabernacle Baptist church, to Judge
Beekman, in the supreme court. Mr.
Potter had case on the calendar, and
this was the excuse he sent for his non
appearance,
There was a strange condition Of ar
rairs In and about DR.. Potter's residence.
BY the instructions Of Lawyer Edward
S. Cllnch, muscular young man. dress-
ed In jeans and blue shirt, keeps the
door locked. II requires some argument
10 gel In, and a great deal more to get
out Dr. Potter IS taking life as easily
as the circumstances will permit.
No" he said to a reporter for the
Morning Advertiser. who called On him
yesterday, u did not go down town thls
morning 10 court, and you can probably
see the reason. sent word TO Justice
Beekman that was practically a prls-
Oner in my own house: that II went out
] would not be able Co return, and thai
all my papers and property would be az
>
CITY Mission Society. II was the dlrtiesi
trick ever conceived by a white man,
that OF trying 10 get me to appear IN
Justice Beel1nan's court"
The suit In the supreme court was IN
the matter Of S5l 900 OF Northern Paclic
5 per cent bonds. which John d. Rookie
Teller gave for the lease OF the building
at No. 100 Second avenue. The bonds
have not been paving any Interest for
several years.
''ThIs is the cause OF all my trouble,
said DIR. Potter IF these bonds had
paid interest l would be able Ia pay my
bills, The lease was transferred 10 4
marty named by Mr. Rockefeller, who
nfterward failed. Now believe he owns
the property and controls the lease. The
bonds were to have paid interest for
from ten to twenty years II was at the
suggestion Of Mr.. Rockefeller that the
Blptlst Mission was started, which re-
Gently foreclosed the mortgage held by
them on our property. And this In She
face of the fact that there Is olause in
the mortgages, known as paper mort
cages, which says that the principal
shall not become due 20 long as the pro-
perty remains with the Baptist Taber-
nacle.
"Oh. / suppose shall leave here when
] have been told 10 do so by a court, NOT
before The only notice / have received
80 far is the order OF a keeper to ger
.srhls is a fine state OF affairs, to be
sure continued the clergyman holly,
II sent Lawyer Clinch letter complain
ing OF the outrageous course OF the
keeper, and he sent me a letter threaten
ing me with contempt proceedings II ]
did not vacate. Then the keeper locks
the building every night and closes up
the fire escape, so that we are In veri-
table death trap. If fire broke out 1t
would be by Gods providence that we
escaped Then they tell me II 80 out
they will keep me out. Yesterday they
refused admittance to physician. They
have so far admitted the grocer ana
butcher, but don't know when they VII
Etnp them from coming here. Go to John
ID. Rockefeller and tell him that he does
not dare deny word OF any statement
have made"
II took nearly half an hour for the
sleepy Keeper to hear the banging at the
door when the reporter wanted TO leave
ooh, that's all right" he replied, when
a remonstrance was flung az him. y
am here by Mr.. Clinch's orders. II
don't keep the door locked some other
bloke will. One got fired last week fol
not doing IL.
WhyIf he goes out once I'll let him back
But the second time he stays out foI
fair"
In the meantime Mr.. Potter remains 10
his ANDY ON the second floor of thf
church house smoking Turkish cigar.
cites. his feet incased in an easy pair OF
slippers. preparing another illumination
nrninst Mr.. Rocliefeller for next sunday