Evening journal., 1900-12-05
FLED TO ESCAPE
A TOWNS WRATH
Maxwell May be LyRched if
He Goes Back
Pillar Of MiddletOWn Church Con-
ieSSes His Guilt and Steals
Away in Night

A Middletown dispatch to the Phila-
delphla Times contains the following
story Of former resident Of tn city.
Middletown, Dec. 5.-This commit
nifty was startled yesterday when i'll
became known that Jacob B. c. Max
we'll, 40 years old married and a
church member, had been compelled to
leave the place. owing 10 the confess
sion Of a 13-year-old girl.
Maxwell was a leader in all the en-
tertainments given by the Presbyterian
church here. His entertainments were
always well attended At their close
he was in the habit OF taking little
girls to their homes, particularly those
who lived far from the church. Max
well has been married twice He has
reared two families of children His
first wife is dead. The second is abso-
lutely prostrated by her husbands ex-
pOsure
On Friday last the 13-year-old girl
told a playmate Of Maxwell's atten-
tons to her. and this Little girl was 50
shocked that she repeated the story to
her mother
GIRL MAKES CONFESSION.
The girls father was at once notified
and together with his wife he obtain
ed a full confession of his daughter.
The father consulted with his intimate
/ friends, who at once suggested lynch
| ing Maxwell Others wanted to tar and
! feather the man and then burn him to
a stake The Rev. +. II. Moore, pastor
of the First Presbyterian Church. 60
which both Maxwell and the girl be-
lOnged, was asked to get Maxwell out
of the place without alarming the pOpu-
lat.Cn. The Rev. DIR. Moore suggested
that he select six men, beside himself
to compose a jury to hear MaXwell's
side Of the story.
This was agreed to at a meeting held
last Saturday night in the ministers
study by the six men. These men were
S. M. Reynolds, Or. +. H. Gilpin, James
r. Lewis, George d. Rowe and Joshua
Clayton. Maxwell was summoned. I'm.
aware Of the little girls disclosures
he came TO the Rev. DR.. Moore's stud,
and was confronted with the men.
CONFESSES HIS GUILT.
without ceremony he was appriset
Of the charges against him. At frs
he denied all. Then he wept bitterly
Then he fell upon his knees, confessed
all and pleaded for mercy.
The result of his confession wal
that he was given one hour to leave
the place, and told that the people o.
the town, in all chance, would burn hin
at the stake If he ever came back. HI
Immediately accepted and merely ask
ed for protection until he was safel!
out of the county. He made his re
treat through a rear door of the par
sonage, and, securing his best hors'
and carriage. he speeded away from hi
home and friends under the darkness
Of night. Maxwell was given al
) hours time in order that he might sa.
, farewell to his wife and parents. wh'
lived near him. 1t was learned tina
b he left without seeing any Of them.
Immediately after his escape thu
; facts Of his past conduct became cir
2 culated, and posses Of men started il
pursuit, threatening 10 lynch Maxwell
= At his home nothing was known o
his whereabouts. The unfortunate sicl
wife passed a miserable night anxious
ly awaiting HIS return. yesterday sh
felt unable to bear her husbands dis
grace and left Middletown TO stay wit
friends in Philadelphia.
OTHER CASES HINTED AT.
It is now said that several othe
cases have been discovered where othe
. little girls are concerned. IL is be
lieved that if the disclosures are mad
, against Maxwell a fund viii be raise
to secure his capture and bring hir
y back to AIiddletown, where he will b
tried