The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-05-22
MINISTER
Behind THE BARS
REV" J. Thompson Hargravc
Charged With Violating &
Postal Laws.
TO JAIL IN DEFAULT OF BAIL.
Talks Philosoplically, Saying Ho
is Innocent Of Any Violation
Of Law.

is Innocent Of Any Violation
Of Law.
Charged with "devising schemes to
defraud by uso Of tho nails" John
Thompson Hargrayc, New Yorker
by birth and former Episcopal clcr-
gyn1an, who has boon living for some
time In Hanover county, was yester-
day sent to tho United States grand
jury by Commissioner Joseph p. Brady
and, in default OF $1,000 bail, was
committed to tho City jail
a largo number of firms have lodged
complaints against tho merchant
preacher, ind Commissioners Brady
thought tho evidence before him was
sufficient to warrant tho holding of tho
prisoner. Tho latter Ii taking his
predicnment philosophically. and d.
clurcs that though he has had IMAM
cinl difficulties, he Is not guilty OF
any wrongdolng, nnd that he will bo
nble to establish his innocence at the
trial of tho case. Meanwhile, he cN-
poets to employ counsel, and to make
application for bail.
1T may take me a few days to arr
range the bail matter" he said, in his
cell last night, but think will DO
able TO FIX 1t all right. When 1 get
out OF here on bail, viii consult u
lawyer. probably Mr.. II. NJ. Smith, but
would prefer getting out first, and
then calling on my lawyer at his Of
flee"
Although the prisoner gives the APP
penranco OF being man OF education
and refinement. he yet impresses ono
as not realizing the seriousness st
the charge against INN. and as being
rather Indifferent to tho consequences.
Showed No Excitement.
Comfortably ensconced behind tho
bers OF the City Jail, this former Meth-
odlet preacher and late Episcopal par
son calmly discussed his troubles with
q Times Dispatch reporter, and seemed
not the least disconnected that his al
legged crime had landed him In prison.
The doubly reverend Mr.. Hargrnvo
was arrested at his home ut Cedar
Grove. near Oliver Post-Ofiicc, Ham
over county. at midday Monday by
PostsOnice Inspector Smith. and was
brought TO Richmond and lodged In
tho City Jail at O'clock the Same
night. The specific charge on which
Hargravc was arrested Is that "of de-
vising schemes to Gefraud by use of
the mails" and the letter which finally
eliminated In his arrest was mailed
In boswell. Va ana addressed to tho
Tennessee Kentucky Tobacco Com
pany. In Clnrksville. Tenn. from whom
he had ordered about 500 worth OF
tobacco.
Had Troubles Before.
1t would seem that Hargrave has
had some trouble in leading his nocka !
to where they might bntten on tho
plains of religious cxaltation, for I'VE
years ago. he explains, he resigned
from the Episcopal ministry and took
UP tho merchandise business in Han
over county, which was less OF a sue
cess in the liEht of his present pre-
dicament. than his advocacy of the
two faiths.
According to the evidence which
brought about the arrest Hargrave or
ders goods from a previously selected
firm. receives the goods and then re-
fuses to pay for them. He signs him-
self. so he acknowledged yesterday, as
the Rev." explaining that he is an
Episcopal Clergyman.
The prisoner was dressed In cleri-
cal Enrb. and was the only neat one
among the many seen in the jail. lilo
was very sunve and genteel. and talk
cd freely of his difficulties. He claims
not to have Intentionally violated any
of Uncle Sans statutes. and says
that, II ho be guilty of any wrong 1t
Is only through some technIcality that
he has erred. lie has not yet en-
ployed counsel to defend him, but has
several names under considerations; nor
has he yet secured bail, which, he
says however, he hopes to get within
a few days.
Hargrave is very intelligent man.
He was educated In Syracuse Univer-
sity and abroad, and in the late sew
entities he was graduated as a Metho-
dist minister. firing OF this church.
in 1881, he changed his faith and en-
tered upon the duties OF an Episcopal
rector in Woodbury.. Conn. He was at
one time editor OF the Kingston Daily
Leader, in Kingston, N. Y. where no
says he was q close friend of Judge
Alton Parker. whom. he helped when
| the late presidential candidDte was
starting upon his career. He was
born In New York State, near King
| ston. He was for nine years a Metho-
dist minister In New York State. and
aftcrward held Episcopal churches in
| New YORK State, Pennsylvania, Gcor-5
| gia Tennessee and mississippi, and
lived twenty-thrce years in the South
Ia fatal number for any man. Ho
still conducts services occasionally,
| frequently In his home for the mems
| bers OF his family and the surrounds
| Ing neighbors.
| IIns Nine Children.
His first wife died in 1898. leaving
him nine children. all Of whom ara
living. Two Of his older sons are pros
fossors-one in an academy In Ander-
son, S, c.. and the other in East Lbs
crty Academy, near Pittsburg, Pa.
After his first wife's death he resigned
his Episcopal ministry. still, however.
retaining orders and preaching occa-
| slonally. After going to Hanover coun-
ty he set up store there. and 1t was
for his merchandise business, ha
claims. that hoordered his goods, Ha
states that he paid most of the bills
sent to him, and that his present pro.
dicament is due largely to spite on
tile part OF certain people.
In later years FIargraYe was mars
RED again. Domestic relations, hows
eynr, were not amicable, and the cEupld
finally separated.