Evening journal., 1906-09-13
ELOPING PAIR
ARE SEPARATED
Found In Mt. Vernon Girl
is Induced TO Leave
Preacher
THREATENED WITH ARREST

NEW YORK, Sept. 1S-Found living
in boarding house in Mount Vernon.
the Rev. C. T. coombs, Of Pittsburg.
who eloped three weeks ago with one
of his church workers and left behind
a wife and family. has been separated
from the girl he had brought to this
city, and chagrined at the outcome of
his romance, he has fed to Washing
ton, fearing that il he remained In
Mount Vernon he might be arrested on
a charge Of desertlon.
The girl with whom the clergyman
eloped was Lillian 3. Myckum,
prominent church worker OF Pittsburg
The couple met in their religious
work, but no one suspected their re-
lations until the clergyman resigned
from his church and left the city. The
fact that the Myckum girl disappeared
at the same time caused rumors Of
their elopement to spread, and these
rumors were verified when II was
learned that the couple had come to
this city and registered at the st.
Denis Hotel after which they went to
Mount Vernon,
Left Wife and Children
The Rev Mr.. Coombs was pastor of
the fashionable Lexington Avenue
Episcopal Church OF Pittsburg. and
was regarded as a clergyman OF high
standing. He had a wife and five chill
dren, and. although he was seen fire.
quently in the company Of the Myck-
um girl, no suspicion attached to their
meetings as the girl had been promi-
nent IN church work for several years.
She had come to Pittsburg from Ever
EFT, Pa, and because OF her religious
zeal she was made deaconess in Me-
Coombs' church. She also was head
deaconess IN the Episcopal home in
Jumonville street, Pittsburg. and her
friends found 1t hard to believe that
she had eloped with the clergyman.
For two weeks the whereabouts OF
the couple were unknown. but finally
the Myckum girl wrote to a girl friend
i'm Pittsburg. saying that she was stop
ing IN the ST. Denis Hotel. The girl
showed the letter to the Rev. Dr.
Leizure and the Rev. Dr. McKalip, Of
Pittsburg. and then the story of Nc
Coombs' desertion OF his wife and FAM
lily was made public. 1t was said that
the clergyman suddenly had resigned
from his church three weeks ago. and
at the same time he turned in his IL
cense to preach, saying that he was
through converting sinners.
Although the two clergymen to whom
the letter was shown did not care
what became OF McCoombs. they felt
that the girl should be taken from
the man with whom she eloped. and
they came to this city. They went to
the ST. Denis Hotel where they were
told that the couple had left. and that
they had asked that all mail be for
warded to them in Mount Vernon.
The Pittsburg clergymen went 70
Mount Vernon, had a talk with the
chief of police and detective Silver
stein was assigned to the case. He
found the couple living in No. ei25
South Ninth avenue, under the name
Of Mr.. and Mrs. Prupn."
Agreed to go Hons
Accompanied by the detectives the
two clergymen went to the house and
had a long talk with Mccoombs and
the girl. McCoombs practically told
his visitors to mind their own business
and that he would not permit the girl
to leave him. The girl. however. seem
ed uncertain as TO what she wanted TO
do, and she finally was convinced that
it was best for her to return to her
home.
McCoombs tried TO prevent the girl
from leaving him. but he was told that
II he persisted in trying to dissuade
her from going home. he would be ar
rested on a charge OF having deserted
his family. This brought McCoombs
TO terms. and he did not interfere
when the girl packed her belongings
and left the house. AS the two clergy
men and girl walked down the steps
OF the boarding house McCoombs.
with a smile on his face. waved his
hand at the departing clergymen and
! shouted;
She'll come back to me yet. She
loves me and love her. and she will
not remain at home"
An hour after the girl left the house
McoOenbs had his trunk packed and
started for Washington.