The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-05-21

doubtedly seek the testimony OF we'll
known aliensts will be called 10 pass
upon the strange case of the Rev. G.
Stuart Balm. scotchman and a grad
uate OF Edinburgh university. pastor OF
the First Baptist church here and now
in jail In this place on the charge OF
arson for setting fire 10 his church on
the night Of March last.
He admits that he must have commit
ted the crime. The medical commission
will have 10 pass on the Jekyll and HYDE
existence. as Balm suggests himself. on
self-imposed hypnotic influence, or COM
plete lapse OF memory. where crime Is
concerned, on the one hand. or the aues-
tion OF habitual criminality, or worse, on
the other.
Balm Is an ex-convict "a well as a
preacher and an ex-preacher. lie is ~
years old lie is known TO have had nVe
charges I'm the west in the Presbyterian
denomination and TO have had charge OF
n mission In Newburgh. as wen as the
Baptist church here.
In his Kansas Presbyterian charge
three incendiary nres marked his pas
torate He was deposed from the Pres
hyterian ministry for improper conduct
In money matters. He has wandered
about the country, picking up odd jobs
here and there. chiefly as cook In
hotels.
He has been something Of what might
be called criminal tramp. He fioated
into New York city and in a Baptist
mission was converted over again. and
through Dr. Simpsons Christian Alliance
school In Nyack he drifted again into
the ministry and now has landed In Jail
as a pyromaniac. while his congregation
here Is rebuilding its church. worship
ping in an old abandoned church and
looking for another pastor.
Balm says that when he is good he re
members everything: that when he is
bad--which seems TO have been largely
his normal condi;ion-he remembers moth
ing.1 He declares that he is the victim Of
spells" when memory and conscious
ness Of right and wrong leave him ut
terly and depraved instincts take posses
sion OF him.
He admits that he has a constant
temptation 10 lie. and has lied and lied
untfl he has been found ont with dis
astrous results. He recalls that much and
a lot OF other little things. which makes
his assertion that complete loss OF
memory II responsible for his evil deeds
seem inconsistent TO the authorities. but
he does not recall any pyromaniac tend
encies.
Balm was called here TO the pulpit Of
the Baptist church in October last He
preached here two Sundays as a candi-
date. He came with letters from the
Rev. Frank r. Stoddsrd. pastor Of the
largest Baptist church in Newburgh.
where for nine months he had preached
IN non n-denominational mission.
He had letters from Miss Ray, Rap
tist missionary In New York city. and it
Is also asserted that ne said he had let
ters OF Endorsement from the Rev. Dr.
Funk. He was an excellent preacher
spoke from notes was of the exhorting
temperament. at times was eloquent was
n good singer and apparently filled with
religious zeal.
Some Of the congregation here did not
quite like him. There was something
about him that made them little suspi-
cious. a suggestion OF temperament that
made them hold aloof From time TO
time he tried to borrow money from
members OF the congregation on notes.
He did not succsed, and whispers began
20 he circulated about him among certain
members Of the nock.
He had not been here long before he
shocked some OF the church by taking
saloon keeper and hIs family into the
parsonage as tenants at $40 month,
which he kept for himself.
on the night Of March Balm spent the
early evening with Lee Park. an officer
OF the church. in the church study.
At 7:80 o'clock they went over 10 the
ture by a cartoonist. The cartoonist made
a picture Of the burning Of Rome
After the lecture Mr.. Park went his
way and Balm started for the parsonage.
which adjoins the church in William
street. Fifteen minutes later a cry OF
fire arose. The church was afre.
Badn ran out greatly excited, and sped
down the street to the house OF the
sexton OF the Methodist Church He
eLad tn ri hp 81 hell
and alarm the people. The sexton did
SO The fire spread rapidly, and soon
only the walls were standing.
During the fire Balm rushed around
trying TO save such things as hymn
books and other loose property, and to
a dozen persons he said; II did not set
81 on fire. ..>., .,...
Shortly after the fire Balm began to get
anonymous letters threatening him and
telling him 10 leave town. They were all
signed With crossbones device Some
OF the congregation had their ideas about
these letters. and thought they re-
sembled his own handwriting
Quiet investigation now was going on.
in which the District Attorney George l..
Bodine, assisted. Albert H. Hamilton OF
Auburn, n handwriting expert examined
the letters and compared them with
Baln's handwriting. He said after this
comparison, You need not look any
farther"
Meantime, on Easter Sunday in the
Christian Church another scene had oc-
CURED. While preaching on the risen
Christ, Bain threw up his hands and
tainted. He was attended by n physician
and was I'm bed tree days.
Then he got leave Of two weeks to go
to Newburgan 90 rest, to see the young
woman 90 whom he is engaged To be
married. school teacher. who is rtand
ing by him I'm his troubles. and TO raise
money for his church. He. borrowed s.
here and s. there 10 pay his fare.
Balm slipped out quietly and came back
70 town on Saturday night, May g. At
1880 o'clock last night District Attorney
Bodine summoned him TO his office and
confronted him with conclusive evidence
that he was the writer OF tho anonymous
letters
Confronted with the proof. Balm ad-
mitted ais guilt. and said:
''T must have burned the church and
written those letters but have no recol-