The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-06-03
Brother Preacher Says He
Cot His OverCoat.
DOCTOR HAS CONFESSED
Pleads Guilty to Having Taken the Goat
but Says II was Mistake.
Matter Has Been Com
promised.
rs Or. Hatcher guilty7"

f
The friends OF DR.. Hatcher were sur
prised and alarmed yesterday to see at
the head OF long article in we'll known
Baptist paper Of the South the words
quoted above. and there at once arose
the apprehenslve feeling that the brethren
on the outside had at last caught UP
with Dr.. Hatcher and.deteoted him in one
of his guilty acts. Perusa OF tho article
served In no way to relieve the distressed
minds OF these anxious friends. In fact.
their worst fears were confirmed, for
the paper continued as follows:
"Dr. William Il. Hatcher. the unlver-
sally admired and beloved, hurriedly. left
tho convention (southern BaptisD on Sat
urday. taking with him my good coat and
leaving his old one instead. (The writer
Of the article, by tho way, Is tho. Rev.
P. T. Hale, D. d. fastninister Of Ovens
boro, Ky, in good standlng.) This wore
not establish DR.. Hatcher's guilt with ar
gumcnts many. and as crushingly cogent
as the ratlocination with which we some.
times prove the culpability and some
times impugn the motives OF the breth-
rem and our fellow-mortals7 This looks
suspicious"
PURLo1NED HIS COAT.
Z DTOCeeOlnK, LII. t1dle SHOWeu III IL COL
,lmn and half and more that DR..
Hatcher had deliberately and wiltully
purloined his coat at the recent meeting
OF the Southern aptist Convention. DR..
Hatcher. says the writer. was alone In his
room when he packed up, and It Is now
recalled that he packed his grip so full
that he was unable to close 1t, and 1t re-
qured the combined efforts Of two men
OF valor to fasten 1t. It is further re-
al. nat bo n hig ahri,pt
departure neglected to shake hands with,
his grieved room-mates. What other
possessions of the brethren the Doctor
carried off cannot yet he determined.
as there were brethren from nearly all
OF the originally seeding States who
slept around three sides of that room and
batlned by. squads and relays therein.
TALLY proven, fled precipltately with his
rich booty, and stopped not until he
reached Greenwood. S. c., and further
Investigation reveals the fact that DR..
Harry Bagby. OF that city. formerly of
Richmond. was a partner in his flight,
and likely acccmplice in the whole
wretched affair. The question has arisen
why the fugitive ventured to stop In
| South Carolina The reason assigned
bears the stamp Of great probability. Evil
IDENTIFY he believed that Governor Sweeney
would not extradte him., because he is
an Intimate OF Colonel lIoyts: while he
knew that Governor Andrew J. Monta-l
que OF Virginia, being Baptist, know
| Ing him. and jealous. would cheerfully
| cooperate In any. scheme for his removal
from Virginia.
TIp coNFlEssEs.
In the course OF his further remarks
upon this very surprising affair. DR..
Hale makes mention OF a letter he has
Just received from DR.. Hatcher. In which
the we'll known minister confesses all,
but declares 1t was mistake. This ex-
cuse the Owensboro minister refuses to
accept since 1T evidently comes after
the Doctor had an opportunity to try on
the coat and to examine i at his leisure,
and evidently had discovered that there
southern part OF the eastern hemisphere
thereof. Hitherto we have had i'm
plict faith In the genial Doctor. but
henceforth we shall look with n dubious
eye upon all advocates OF boards and
leaders of the organized work Of the con-
vention look for many letters OF
thanks from distinguished brethren for
making this exposure OF this leader In our
work" 'SNS s3.RhuSa3,ls
BY waygof conclusion, Or. Hale de-
clares that he hopes tosprevent the mat
etcr from getting any further--lnto the
courts. for instance. where he could
doubtless make a. good case against DR..
Hatcher. TIe has decided to compromise.
pr. Hatcher agreeing to come to Owens
boro to stand trial, be his prisoner for
two weeks, and to aid him in n series OF
meetings This Is the best he can get
out OF him; he has no money. being n
preacher.