Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-12-11
REV. H. N. Smith
EXPOSES CRAFT
REV. Mr.. LONGS CAREER AS
MINISTER OF GOSPEL COMES
TO END OF PLAlNFiELp
OPERATED in oTTuMwA
Tried to Work DR.. Jeffrey-secured
Root of Al Evil Around
WaterIoo-Branded
as Faker.

The exposure of his character by an
Ottumwa minister from whom he
sought relief while here has resulted
in the abrupt departure of Rev. w. M.
Long, his wife and three children from
! his pastorate in the little village of
Plainfield, near Waterloo. Rev. Long
and family, after trying to secure help
| in this city. evidently reached Water
loo, where he received assistance and
was given the pastorate of the little
church at Plainfield. While at Plain
| field, Long borrowed much money from
parties in Plainfeld and could not
meet the obligations. Last Friday the
presiding elder of the Waterloo dis
trict informed Long that he had bet
ter clear UP some of the stories afloat
about him. AS result the minister
his wife and three boys, left Plainfield
| Saturday for parts unknown.
Was In Ottumwa.
| Longs actions while in Ottumwa
were those unbecoming a minister
and were the direct cause of his down
fall. He came to this city about seven
weeks ago with his wife and family of
three boys. He applied to DR.. Jeffrey,
pastor of the First Methodist Episco-
pal church, and Rev. H. N. Smith, pre-
siding elder of the Ottumwa district,
for assistance When he called upon
DR.. Jeffrey, the latter was suspicious.
The man had credentials from Kinks
vile, Mo-, showing him to be local
preacher.
Is Refused Help.
Long said he was a member of the
Yeomen lodge and DR.. Jeffrey told him
that if the lodge would render him
assistance he would give him SIS In the
morning. Long went to the local Off
GERS of the order and related his
case. When asked to show his creden-
tials, he said that they were in his
suit case and as he had lost the key
he could not do it. He was refused
help.
He did not appear in the morning.
but sent one of his sons up to DR..
jeffrey, saying that his father was
unable to come up. Mr.. jeffrey later
his family had taken in performance
at the opera house, and that he had
also pawned his watch to local pro-
fessional man for $40.
Goes to Newer Fields.
Not being successful in Ottumwa,
the Rev. Mr.. Long and his family
left for newer fields and went to Wat
erloo Here he called upon Rev. j. w.
Bissell, presiding elder of the Metho-
dist conference, and asked for assist
ance. He and his family being porrly
clad and hungry, his plea touched DR..
Bissell, who after investigating his
credentials, arranged to take care of
him.
The charge at Plainfield was vacant
at the time. 1t paid only $3.50 a
year but it was offered to Rev. Long.
He appeared highly pleased over the
prospect and said he knew he could
please the congregation, so the board
of trustees would make his appoint
ment permanent. DR.. Bissell took pity
on the predicament in which the fam
lily was placed through lack of cloth
ing and furniture, and loaned the man
$25, and at the same time wrote the
church trustees at Plainfield advising
them to advance him part of his sal
airy so he could get on his feet. 1t
is said $57 of salary was thus turned
over.
A month elapsed and the Rev. Mr.
Long seemed to be giving fairly good
satisfaction in his new pastorate. He
obtained the confidence of his congre
cation to the extent of getting a little
root of all evil from them Everything
seemed to be moving along smoothly
until DR.. Bissell noticed an item in
the Northwestern, paper published
in the interest of the church. 1t was
from the pen of Rev. H. Newton Smith
the presiding elder Of Ottumwa confer
ence, and it at once caught the atten
ton of the Waterloo minister. In the
story Mr.. Smith told of Rev. Longs
conduct in Ottumwa and branded him
: as a CRATER and man of highly i'm
moral character. To be sure in the
: matter, Dr. Bissell communicated with
Rev. Smith, who gave him more infor
nation about the fake preacher. Arm
ed with this information, DR.. Bissel
went to Plainfield, where he asked the
Rev. Mr.. Long to clear himself OF the
rumors afloat. Long denied his iden
tity, but the evidence against him was
} Overwhelming and, breaking down, he
: admitted that he had fallen from grace
} His credentials were taken away from
: him and he promised to settle al
5 debts. Evidently having played hi:
, game to the limit in that section. ths
) preacher and family suddenly depart
ed from Plainfeld Tuesday for parts
unknown