Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1906-09-15
HE EL0PED WITH A GIRL.
Rev. c. T. Coombs Deserted Wife
And Children in Pittsbnfg.
He LIVED HERE A YEAR AGO
Conducted Real Estate Agency. But
Latter Became Pastor of a
Pittsburg Church.


non, N Y, contains the following in
teresting story of former resident
of Martinsburg, who will be remem-
bered by many persons here:
The story of the elopement of a
Pittsburg minister. who deserted his
wife and five children to run awav
with a young church worker of that
CITY, was made public Tuesday by the
police here.
Tbs eloping pair were Rsv @. I.
Coombs, until recently pastor of the
Lexington Avenue Methodist EDisco-
pal church, in Pittsburg. aud Miss
Lillian B. Myckum, also OF that city
Mr.. Coo1bs, the police say, rendered
his resignation as pastor three weeks
ago, and Immediately left. DESERVING
his wife and children. Miss Myckum
also departed soon afterward. saying
that she was going TO visit her par
ents in Everett, Pa.
1t was discovered after. that tile pair
were staying at the St Denis Hotel
in Manhattan, their whereabouts
being learned from letter written
by Miss Myekum to girl friend in
Pittsburg. The friend showed the
letter to Miss Myckum's father. who
communicated with Rev. Z. II.
Leisure and Rev. N X. McKalip.
of Pittsburg.
Miss Myckum was persuaded TO re-
turn home and left for Pittsburg with
the minister on Sunday afternoon and
Coombs also quilted the city on the
same day. He asserted that he was
going to Washington. d. c.. and he
is said to be now staying at the
Raleigh house IN that city.
MANAGED COMPANY HERE
Mr.. Coombs, a fine looking man
with agreeable manners, came to Mar
tinsburg about a year ago with cred
entails that won for him the con-
fidence of several well-known business
men OF this CITY. A short time
afterward he organized real estate
business hsre, which was backed by
people of this city. and which was
under the management of Mr.. Coombs
He did not make a success of the ven
ture. however. and in few months the
affairs of the company were wound
up and the manager departed. it is
said, for Pittsburg, to become pastor
of the church where he was stationed
until he eloped. Although he failed
in the venture here. no one lost any
money, the company paying all of it's
obligations promptly.
FOUND IN WASHINGTON.
A special dispatch from Washington
says:
Q. T. Coombs. of Myersdale, Pa :.
ex-member of the ministry of the
Methodist Episcopal church in Pitts
burg, alleged to have deserted a wife
and five children and eloped with
Miss Ida B Nycnm. young church
worker in that city, is at the Hotel
Raleigh. He is iemorseful and re-
pentant.
Mr. Coombs has been he'e since
Tuesday afternoon. having come from
Mount Vernon, n Y, where the
Rev. i. II. Leisure and a prominent
member of his church, N. X. Nc
Kalip, overlook MIR. Coombs and Miss
Nycum and persuaded the young
woman to return to her parents.
Mr.. Coombs is accompanied by a
friend of himself and Mrs. Coomhs.
but he does not wish his name to
appear in print.
Mr. Coombs was first seen at 2
O'Clock Yesterday morning when he
refused TO answer the grave charges
bronaht against him in a dispatch
from Mount Vernon N Y. He said
that he would like TO give the matter
more thought. IL was not until 2
O'Clock Yesterday afternoon that he
would be seen again. He then en-
practically denied the assertion that
he had eloped or that he had deserted
his wife and children for Miss
Nycum. But he added
CEASE OF LOVE" SAYS PARsON.
1t would be ridiculous for me to
deny that the young woman and l
were together We vera. 1t is case
of love. simply. but theirs was no
elopement and no desertion. / have
communicated with mr. wife daily
since we left Pittsburg, about August
TO- and l have provided for my
family, having sent them at least
$3.50 since that time.