The Washington times., 1907-08-14
OUTLAWED PREACHER
WHO WE'D NEGRESS
Death of Southerner in New
York Reveals Odd
Life.
Clergyman Died of Starva-
ton, Coroner De-
clares.

NEW YORK, Aug. A-Lylng IN the
morgue, in danger OF burial in potters
field is the body OF the Rev. Peter n.
Peters Methodist clergyman. who for
theNi last five years was the mystery OF
the Minetta Mission, in II Sixth avenue.
which has done much for the reclama-
don Of negroes in this city. Although
the clergyman was believed 10 have
come from an old Southern family, he
kept his past locked securely in mis- own
mind. that is. all that part OF his past
before his marriage 10 a mulatto five
years ago.
The death Of the clergyman, said by
the physicians to have been due to star
vation. brought 10 light a story of re-
nUnciation OF his family and friends IN
order 70 wed tie negress: OF hard work
on e1e part OF a white preacher among
the negrses Of the city; of visits when
be was ailing by a woman OF refinement
who ministered 20 his wants and finally
OF the clergyman's death under pitiful
circumstances. His last hours were
spent near those among whom ne work
ed. and his wife was not at his bedside
What BECAME OF her or whether she Is
dead could not be learned and so care
fully had the Rev Mr. Peters DESTROYED
every scrap Of paper, that might lead TO
the discovery OF VINO his relatives were.
that wien his trunk was taken from
storage warehouse where Il had re-
posed for several months. and was open
ed. not a letter from family or friend
was FOUND among the many papers.
introduced Negress as Wife.
1t was five years ago that the Rev.
Mr. Peters appeared in the Minetta Mis-
sion and volunteered his services as a
worker. They were accepted cleerfuI-
ly and he worked hard. He introduced
the negress as his wife, and afterward
when his friends OF the mission tried 10
learn something about him, he told them
that his life before ais marriage to the
mulatto was closed and that Il must
never be referred 10. From occasional
remarks that he made 81 was believed.
however. that mis- family became so en-
ragged at his marriage that every mem
Der Of * refused to have anything
further 10 do with nIm-
Peters and hisSifs. after vear.+ ~.
mission, moved 10 S55 West Fortierb
street, where they became interested in
Christian Science. Although ii vas de-
nied by the Christian Science commit
tee on publication that the clergyman
ever had been a member Of the church.
| 1t vas said that the house in which thev
! lived was sort OF Christian Science
settlement and that although Peters
forsoOk the place year ago, ne re-
tanned 10 the end his belief in the ef-
fcacy OF prayer - cure all Ills
In April last she clergyman was taken
TO Bellevue Hospital suffering from a
complication OF ailments. and he re-
mained there until July g. He sent
letter to the Rev. Samuel H Hale. Of
/ the mission. asking him to come for
MIN. as he was about 10 be DISCHARGED
/ from the institution. and Hale took the
sufferer 10 the mission.
| For month the former worker. now
almost blind, lived in a room above the
/ mission, and the Rev. Mr. Hale and MS
friends supplied him with food They
said after his death that while they die
I what they could for him, they had been
unable to give him the attention which
/ ne should have received The clergy
man, u was apparent, was failing rapid
/ ~, but ire refused 70 go 70 a hospital
/ and he also declined to take medicine.
Woman in Tears.
About two weeks age there appeared
at rne mission q middie-aged. refined
looking woman, who asked to see the III.
| preacher She was shown 10 his room.
and when she saw lis emaciated form
/ lying in the bed she burst into tears
She asked 10 be left alone with the suf-
! fersr and the others withdrew from the
/ room. What took place between the
couple IS rot known. but when the wom-
an left she was sobbinE. Peters also
| seemed to nave been afTected deeply
/ by her visit, and II was observed that
! tears trickled down MS face when she
| left
On August it was decided to send
| him 10 ST. Vincents Hospital and an
| ambulance took him there The physi-
| clan said that he was suffering from
/ lack OF nUuriShment and tried to get
| him TO take food. He refused to do so
! however. and they injected nourishms0t
4 by means Of hypooermic sy yringe. The
patient was toe lar gone, however. and
| he died the following day. The body
| was examined BY Coroner's Physician
/ Weston, who wrote the following certi1-
| cate:
| peter II. Peters. white, place OF
| deatn. St. Vinceut's Hospital: age.
/ ffty-twO: occupation, minister. I have
| hereby certified that I have viewed the
| body for public examination and -evi-
| dence and find that he died on eth day
| of August. at 12:I5 a. m, and that the
/ cause ~ death was starvation christian
| Science