The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1901-06-27
SUDDENLY
LEAVES.

Bridaeton, N. ]. June 60 Brldgeton
is wronrbt up over the sudden leave. tax
inc Of Rev. George Il. Ford. pastor Of the
Escond Methodist Protestant Church.
Tho events preceding his departure are
probably responsible for the public cIomor
Pastor Ford leaevs wife and latnlly
of seven children, and these,tt seems, are
al, who reurst his going. An irate father
and the male portion OF Bridgeton declare
themselves glad OF the change, but wish
that that they had opportunity TO escort
the minister from town. ux.
Shortly after O'Clock last night
crowd o! boys gathered about the SECOND
Methodist Protestant Church on south
avenue. Some one had seenPstor ford
enter tho building: a companion W wa
Gtssen ger, boy Of IA years, was dispatch
ed nv some Of his Older companions to
Ihe home of Charles Miller. president OF
tho church trustees. Mr.. Miller returned
with him In about half an hour. Mean
while young girl appeared In tho door
and g,tded from the church into the
shadow Of the trees nearby. Several par
sous say they recognized the girl as SIX
teen year old Carrie Thomas
Miller entered the church and lighted
the building brightly. There were no
signs CT the pastor or OF any intruder.
Several Others had followed the trustee In
to the church and made q thorough search
of the first floor. Then the Investigators
filed out and Trustee Miller locked the
church doors. Miller was the central
figure In the throng and wildly described
what followed when seen tonight.
~ waited until about 10 O'Clock. said
he. .'and the boys and men stayed with
me, Finally man whose face was cover
cd with coal dust came from the cellar
door at the side OF the church. IL was
Ford. A chorus of jsers from the crowd
greeted him. Without looking at the
others he stepped up to me and SAD;
miller, what are you doing hereF LOU
him was there to look outlor tns .n'e. =.
ests OF the church aud advised MN 10
come with me. Then led him toward
"On our way asked Ford what he was
doing In tho church. He told me that
be had gone there to scrape the altar rail
prior to painting It, He seemed much OK
cited and talked nervously TOLD MIN
Of the rumors which had been afloat con-
| earning him, and he swore that they were
| false. 1 told him that tho public feeling
was high against him and advised him 70
leave town. He said that he would His
wife te,ls me tonight that he left early In
| the morning upon his bio ycle, having
told hel that he was going to Phlladel-
| phia. Allow,
| "Among some OF tho tOWnpeoplo thore
| have been runors hat Ford was not con.
| ducting himself properly. but have
| never heard any direct accusation agains'
| him l always esteemed him most high
ly and this has coma as shock to me.
| Richard Thomas fathor OF Carrie Thorn
a., will say little regarding Ford and the
events which preceded his disappearance
He IL cripple, but the looks OF his three
stalwart sous whom the name OF Ford II
mentioned bodies Ill for the paser shoule
he deem it wise to return,
Warmsst sympathy 10 felt for MIS-
Ford and her family. Mr.. Ford has seven
children, and elder son Of 70, daughters l.
and IS and several younger. including az
infant of 8 months. -,
Toninht Mrs. Ford pleaded with Truss
tee Miller to allow her to fill her husband
pulpit. She had preached before, she sait
and was able to take he place, MIR NIL
Ter was compelled to refuse her however,
as Raw. Louis l.. Stultz of the First Neil
odist Protes ant Church here, had arranl
ep to take the pulpit.
The congregation OF the church VII
caro- for the family. Trustee Miller 1901
charge of the church funds, amounting
to about $50, lust night and arrangement
have been made to secure another pastor
Mrs Ford declined to talk ooncsrn'ng
her husbands absence tonight Deyond
saying that she had not heard from MIN