Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1902-05-30
DEENER'S DOWNFALL
HOW \ ONCE POPULAR METHo.
DIST PREACHER
Fell From Enlinence to a Felon's Cell
BY seng Gifted With the Use
cf Pen.

A few days ago the Graphic con
tanned a brief mention Of the arrest
of Rev. R. S. Deener. the Methods,
preacher charged With forgery in lS9a.
and of having been a fugitive from
Justice since that time. Rev. Deenar
is Well-knovn throughout Arkansas,
and at the time his alleged crime it
created quite a sensation He was
taken to Batesville after his arrest.
and the current issue Of the Bee Of
that city contains the following:
Sheriff Hinkle captured r. 5. Deener
Monday at Huntington and placed him
in jail here yesterday. Deener has
been q fugitive since 1873 when he
vas under Indictment here charged
with various forgeries upon Which lie
secured several thousand dollars.
Fer the greater part II the time
since he ran away from hare while
under bond. Deener has eesjaed in
Mexico. During all the .iIae his wife
has remained faithful to him and with
him. Recently she returned to hea
old home at Mariana TO look after
some business interests connected
with her private property there
Sheriff Hinhle learned of her return
and began to lock for clues OF Deem
er's Whereabouts
The latter had studied medicine ana
owned drug store in Mexico. An
earthquake in Mexico did much dam
age to the town and his property III
luck and ii health caused him to
return to Arkansas and he was staying
with cousin. c. c. Old. editor OF the
Huntington (ArkD Herald Sheriff
Hinkle learned Of his Wherea bouts and
went over to Huntington Sunday. Mr.
Old was absent from Huntington ana
his house closed UP With apparently
no occupant. Sheriff HinkIe With the
city marshal Of the place entered the
house and found Deener
The shs riff and his prisoner got II
on the nO!ning t9,.a yesterday ana
proceeded at once to the iail. A. Il.
depot and on the way up to the jan
the prisoner recognized all his Did
acquaintances wno spoke to MIN ani
saluted them pleasantly. Deener looks
pale and in bad health. He wore a
wear, a black derby hat. and his shoes
We're neatly polished. When asked by
the Bee man il he would make a
statement. he said he preferrel to wait
until he could see his attorney.
Rev. R. S. Deener Was first arrested
on June 3. 1893. at Newport as he
from the Batesyille train. on
4 charge OF forgery made by Paul
Butler. then assistant prosecuting at
torney. He had then been pastor Of
the Methodist church in this city for
nearly three years secretary for two
Years of the White river conference Of
the Methodist church and grand pre-
late for two years of the Arkansas
Grand lodge of Knights Templar.
Deener is young man about 81
years old and is a nephew of Bishop
of the Methodist Episcopal
church He is brilliant and cultivated
and an orator of singular power in the
pulpit. and was the most popular
minister in the White river confer
ence. While located here he was al
ways engaged in business ventures out
side of his pastoral Office He owned
the Arkansas poultry farm here. eighty
acres of land in the suburbs of Little
Rock. and some farming lands in
Lee county, and his wife also had an
interest in cotto5 plantation in Lee
He was heavy borrower /
and during the year before his arrest
put up as collateral several notes bear ,
ing signatures of responsible citizens |
of Mariana, Lee county. About six
months before his arrest the bank Of +
his principal creditor. call
ed for additional security for his loans
and he promptly gave them mort
gage on ia bales of cotton he claim
ed to have at Mariana. Later the .
bank called for the insurance policy
on the cotton and he promptly produc-
ed that. Later the bank discovered
that he had no cotton, that the insur-