The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-06-18
HE HATH A DEVIL
Minister Who Preached
Under Opium's Spell.
And BeguiIed Many, Borrowing Their
Money Which Vanished Quickly,
and Was Followed Eventually
BY the Preacher.
Especial to News and observer)


Elizabeth City, n. c., June 17-Un-
der flashing four column headlines
and in language so graphic and force
full that any alteration or attempt at
establishment would be but painting
the lily and gliding refined gold" the
Tar Heel tells the following extra
ordinary story of the career of a man
who figured here for short time as a
minister of the gospel:
About two thousand dollars in debt
and about as many empty laudanum
bottles is what this preacher left be-
hind him.
after fim-flamming nearly every
man. woman and child, rich man,
poor man, widow and orphan; that he
could make friends with, and after
feeding freely from all the fat of the
land, including widows smoke houses
and missionary funds, Rev. w. Erwin
West has fled the town and county,
and, for all that is known, the State
as well.
with him has gone the beautiful
story of a legacy of $500. 900 which
he claimed he was going to receive
and pa yoff his debts with. His rosy
dream of building a tabernacle with
part of this money went UP in the
same breath of air
q
q Northern Methodits minister. About
the time he hit the landscape vacan-
cies appeared in pulpits of Ramouth
Gilead Corinth and Berea. With a
double shuttle and the alacrty of
cat; and like the tropical toad that
changes color with it's surroundings,
Brother West filed his Northern Meth
odist license away until he should
need it again and ojned the Baptist
church. He got the pastorate Of the
three churches heretofore indicated.
Preach, He could outpreaeh any
thing that ever walked into pulpit.
He could arouse more of the protract-
ed meeting spirit in a congregation
than all the other clergymen in the
county combined He could touch the
hearts of his flocks as they were never
touched before. And hereby hangs
a touching story.
when he got outside the church he
would touch the pockets of his con-
gregation. He touched 'em going and
coming, and then came back and
touched again. He touched one man
for a whole horse and uggy He touch
ed another man for a bill of goods and
then sold the horse to pay Paul. when
he was threatened with suit for re-
COvcFy of the merchandise.
1.-TWO columns of this newspaper
could be filed with detailed state
mcnt of easy money taken by this man
West. Because the list is so long we
don't pretend to print it.
But about those laudanum bottles
he left behind West was a lauranun,
fend Not from theology or education
did he draw his power of speech. He
drem them in deep draughts from
laudanum phials 1t is said he bought
it by the case 1t is said that he left
200 empty bottles in trumpery room
of boarding house where he lived in
here. 1t is said that you can find a
trail of bottles bearing the skull and
cross bones wherever he made tracks.
On two or three occasions he has been
found unconscious from the effects Of
the drug. An interesting phase of his
laudanum drinkink was that he would
lay down anywhere to seelp it off. He
has been found in fence corners and
in barns in that doped condition called
in slang, 'stewed, or "a bun
ION one occasion one of his congre-
CATIONS was waiting for him to open
services and he didn't show up. A
committee went to look for him and
found him asleep in q barn with corn
shuc1s and fodder at q bed
"On more than one occasion he got
in serious trouble with the law while
here. His church folks came to his
rescue and helped him out.
Here are few peoDle separated
from their money by the laudanum
Gend:
Mr. Henry Hewitt $3.50. West
srent this money for a horse and bug
gy. then sol dthe horse to Fl. Fl. La
vanstein to suarc an account with his
store
CIV. T.. Stafford, about 800. which
he is alleged to have loaned West to
defray personal expenses.
"Messrs. George MorA1, c. $.
Pritchard, w. S. Wood, George r.
Fright and others for amounts of $40
each.
"Mr. Henry M. Pritchard, $50. Mr..
Pritchard loaned West this money out
Of an orphans fund, OF which he was
guardian Mr.. Prtchard will nave to
make up the loss.
"Mr M. N. Sawyer and others $40
each to keep West from jail on an en-
charge brought against
him by Baltimore insurance Com
pany."