The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-05-11
FROM PULPIT
TO THE JAIL
PREACHER WAS TAKEN.
DEPUTY SHERIFFS ARRESTED
CONVICTED NEGRO BIGAMTST.

Rev. Thomas o. McSein, COIored,
Whose Application for New
Trial Turned Down by supreme
Court. Arrested as He Was Preach
ing to a Large CongregatiOn-"The
Hour for My Departure Is Here"
Announced the Preacher With
Dignity.
Just as Rev Thomas o. McSein, col
ored, was reaching his climax in a
sermon that had held his congregation
spellbound for more than an hour,
Chief Deputy Sheriff Sweeny and Dep
uty Sheriff Fogarty last night invaded
the sacred precincts Of the church
and placed the preacher under arrest.
McSein is the man whose case was
decided yesterday by the Supreme
Court, and the officers were afraid
he would jump his bond if he learned
of the decision of the court, which
affirmed the lower court, before they
got him.
AS the officers entered the church
the preacher was exclaiming: Three
times four are twelve" His reference,
however, was to some Biblical matter
and not to the twelve months that he
has to serve for having more wives
than the law allows,
1t was at the Pilgrims Baptist
Church. between the Seaboard Air Line
tracks and Stiles avenue, where Nc
Sein is assistant to the pastor. Rev.
Sanford, that he was holding forth
when the officers took him in charge.
AppeRrn of Deputies.
The time for my departure has
come" announced the preacher. when
the deputy sheriffs suddenly appear
ed on the scene and announced that
he was wanted. There was great ex-
element in the congregation, which
had been deeply impressed by the elo-
quent exhortations to forsake the ways
of the wicked.
How long halt We between two
opinions" was the text that Rev. Nc
Sen was using. He remarked after
reaching the jail that it seemed rather
appropriate. He has asked to be al
lowed to preach to the negroes at the
Jail during his brief stay there. When
he gets to the convict camp, he says
he knows he will be allowed TO preach
there.
Sermon Was Cut short.
After the preacher was taken in
charge all the negroes in the congre-
cation became very much excited and
some one in the church took up the
sermon where his unfortunate brother
had left it off. The last thing the off,
GERS heard as they drove away from
the church was the preaching and an
occasional shout from some member
of the congregation.
Had McSein not been a speaker of
such lung power he would probably
have escaped arrest last night. The
officers had been TO his house and his
wife. or, rather, one of them, the last
one. told them he was at church. but
gave the wrong location Of the church.
The officers were driving along think
ing they had a miles ride ahead Of
them, when the voice of the preacher
was heard.
That's our man." said Chief Deputy
Sheriff Sweeny. Il shall never forget
that voice.
Watched Hin Through Crack.
They drove near the church, tied
their horse and cautiously slipped UP
to the building. Through a crack in
the side OF the church they saw the
man under sentence for bigamy preach
ing away for dear life.
IT'S almost too good TO break up"
whispered one of the officers.
They then made their way TO the
door and broke in upon the meeting
Z The time for my departure has
come" announced the preacher with
dignity. He accompanied the officers
without any show of resistance.
After being tried and sentenced. the
case against McSein was appealed to
the Supreme Court. He was convicted
Of bigamy in December and was sem
fenced TO pay fine of 500 or serve
twelve months on the changing.