The weekly tribune and the Cape County herald. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1914-1918, 1916-05-26
SEDCWICKVILLE
Man IS HELD In
ILLINOIS JAIL
Rev. Lee Buckner Goes to
Scene of Crime without
Making Fight.
CHILD IN
HER PARENTS HOME
Popular Evangelist Fled from
Scene and escaped Arrest
for Five Years.

for Five Years.
The Rev. Lee Buckner, pastor of 4
church at Scdgwickyillc, in Bollingar
County, has been arrested by the
authorities Of Illinois on charge of
having crimina!iy assaulted q fourteen
year old girl, the daughter of a men,
Lcr Of his congregation, while Buckncr
vas a minister at Wayne City, Ill. He
is charged with committing the offense
IN 1911.
His arrest at ScJgwicIlvi!!c, which
is about % miles from Cape Girar-
doau, WAS made last week, but it Was
rot learned in this city until yestcr-
day, when residents Of that town in
formed the police OF the Cape.
BucI,ner is nov in Jail at Fairfield,
Wayne County, H., where he vii! be
held until the next term Of the circuit
court, which will convcnc the first
2:onday in jane.
TIC crest was made by Sheriff
Weaver Of Wayne County, H., who
came 10 Sedgwickville, Nc, when he
learned that Buckncr was the pastor
Of 4 church there.
The girl whom the preacher is &C
cuscd Of attacking is Mary Johnson,
the daughter of Frank johnson, an
influential resident of Wayne City.
Buci:ncr wGs chosen pastor Of the
Methodist church early in 1911, and
he made an immediate impression
rnon the members Of his congregation.
He became a frectont visitor at the
Johnson home, but thc parents of the
girls did aot know that he was paying
attentions to their daughter, Mary,
Who MS then only IA years of age.
lie called ut the Johnson horne one
day, according TO the complaint, while
the girl was alone in the home. And
during this visit he is accused of hav-
ing criminalIy assaulted the girl. The
child was so Inundated that she did
not notify her parents for several days
Of What had occurred. The story of
the crime vas not revealed until after
d physician had been summoned to the
Johnson homo to administer to the
child. who had become i'll.
In the meantime the pastor mys-
tcriousIy disappeared. As soon as
Mr.. johnson learned that Buckncr had
m.5trcatcd his daughter, a warrant
las issued for the minister's arrest.
20 rewards were offered for the
tIergyman's apprehension, one by the
father Of the girl and the other by the
State of Illinois.
Although the officials through that
section Of Illinois were notified to be
or the lookout cf Buckncr, he cvadcd
capture for fivc years.
Officials Of Wayne City several days
ago learned that Bucl;ncr was preach
ing in Bollinger County, Mo-, and
Sheriff Weaver was sent to Sedgwicl,-
vile to investigate, although the Hi
nois authorities did not believe the
reports they had received. When the
sheriff arrived at the little Bollingcr
County town he was told that Buck
nor had charge of circIit Of country
churches in that section.
After fleeing from Illinois, the shcr-
if learned, the preacher had been
married to z Missouri girl, and she is
the mother Of an infant daughter.
Mrs Buckncr became hysterical when
her husband was placed under arrest.
He agreed to return to Illinois without
requisition papers.
Bucknar is described as being good
looking, and has quite a reputation as
= pulpit orator. He has been success
ful in cv3ngclistic work, both in Hi
ncis and Missouri. He was popular
with his BolIinGer County cOngrega-
items, and had increased the member
ships of each church since he became
pastor.