Crawfordsville Review, Crawfordsville, Montgomery County, 4 December 1897 — Page 7

ESTABLISHED 1841.

10c

25c 50c

I MEDICINAL WHISKY

In Case of Fire

Ring The Towel

Doctors prescribe it in many cases and insist on their pa ients getting the best. You can always get it at

Before going to the Are stop and get a glass of good Cold Beer 2t

No. 126 Nortli Greon Street.

B" SB»

Eat, Drink and Be Merry

No. 207

East Market Street.

When you come to town and leel like "taking something, with a bite to eat thrown in, don forget

will sell to any person

bringing us this advertisement and One Dollar, one of these Glass Pitchers with a silver plated top, the regular urice of which is $l..r0, the f0 cent rebate being oflered to test the advertising value of this paper. Sale will last till Dec. 1st.

11

0.

de™

111 S. "Washington Ml.

DRURYS PLACE.

Where tliey sell nothing but the finest whiskeys made. A sample will convince you of this. No. 109 north Washington street.

JOHN DRTJRY. WILL DRURY.

"The New Idea."

CANDY

CATHARTIC CATHARTIC

CURE CONSTIPATION

^MrETHE-UYSS

ALL

DRUGGISTS

sunup

Ff[ED

Wholesale aud Retail

T0BA0C0N 1ST

10-i S. Green St.

«THB IvOOGUS

99

INCIDENTS OF PRISON LIFE.

As a Confederate Corporal Mr. L. J. Coppage Tells of Some Matters Relating to Libby Prison.

It may be a fact not generally known, that Mr, L. J. Coppage, the well known attorney, a man of probity and honor, I and a tirst-clase citizen, was a soldier in the Confederate army during the late civil war. It is a fact neverthelessMr. Coppage IB a Virginian by birth and is proud of hi? native State. He has resided, however, most of the time since the war in Indiana. In conversation with him lew days since, he related some matters regarding Libby prison and the pripoiicrs confined in it for many month*. Tbo South during the two last years of the war was sorely pressed for meu, and old men and young were pressed into the service, and placed on different lines of servvice Mr. Coppage went into the service when lens* than 17 years of age, and after being enlistod remained until the papers drawn up at Appomatox Court House stopped t'uither hostilities. He was placed at tirBt ou guard duty at Libby prison, remaining in that service three months wheu ho was transfered to another department, tlis duty with a rifle at his shoulder was to watch the "Yankee" prisoners, he passing backward and forward in front of the long brick prison at certain hours of the day and at night. It was monotonous but had to be done. For the service they were puid $13 per month in Confederate money and rations. There was much sickness among the prisoners at times and deaths were frequent. Mr, Coppage say6 that Confederate soldiers and the northern prisoners were pretty much on an equality in the matter of food. The confederacy could not secure the food quite often for its own use, and the hungry men were not alone those confined within the bleak walls of old Libby. The Confederates guard's duty was to go through the prison every two hours, and observe the condition of the inmates, to see if any were missing, were aiming to escape, or raising trouble of any kind. Pood of the kind furnished t.he prisoners was bacon, beans and com meal. Sometimes relatives of the prisoners would send choice cake, pies, jellies, etc., from the North to them. Then there was a feast—for a short season. The prisoners would frequently stand at the windows of the prison and sing their war songs, such as, "We Will Rally 'Round the Flag, Boys," "We Will Hang Jeff Davis on a Sour Apple Tree," et ., which would grate harshly on the ears of many of the guard. The filth of the prison was terrible at times, and no wonder. They r.ere huddled together like hogs in a freight car often, acd it seemed impossible to better their condition. This was in the summer of '04, and Grant was maching on toward Richmond, and officials' of the Confederacy were active at all points, and could not give the attention to the sanitary condition of the prisoners that humanity would dictate. Consequently there was much suffering, and many deaths. The "gray-back,'' or body louse, a little animal familiar to most soldiers who have seen actual service, was present in vast numbers in the prison, and their movements and presence would be especially observable often after a floor was swept up of its dirt. Libby prison, some twelve years ago, was sold by its owners to a Chicago syndicate, who marking the brick,sash, rafters, joists, and everything belonging to the prison proper, hauled it by freight cars to that city and reerected it exactly as it 6tocd during the wdr, on Canal street, in Richmond, Virginia. It stands to-day on the comer of 14th street and Cottage Grove avenue, Chicago, and ic yearly visited by thousands of .people, and occasionally by tome one who was so unfortunate as to be confined therein. Although Mr. Coppage has not seen the building since the stormy days of '84, he yet describes it very accurately, even to the size of the sign, "Libby & Son, Ship Chandlers," which was on one corner of the building all through the war, and the same identical wooden sign is on the building to-day in Chicago. Mr. Coppage says the next time he visits Chicago he will go down and see how the old thing looks.

More About the "Rev." Prather. ED. REVIEV Straughn, Haona & Co., in an article in your paper of November 20, 1897, state that the affidavits or five ladies were not read be'ore the council here.

I know to a certainty that part of them were read in full and I am equally certain if Mr. Prather and hi6 attorney had seen any benefit to him they would have had them. Yes, they would have demanded them read most assuredly, but I think at least enough of them was read to satisfy both sides of the case. So much for your sample of falsehood.

They say that when Prather was ordained at Odessa, Mo., the same old

CRAWFORDSVILLE, INDIANA, SATURDA V. DECEMBER 4, 1897.

bundle of papers were there that were at Brown's Valley. Now the facts are that a very large number of them could not have been there from the fact that he had not yet insulted Mrs. Sherman by indecently exposing himself, also Miss Shook, Mrs. Griffith, Mrs. Russell, and Mi8s Hamilton. All of these ladies testify that Prather insulted them, and give day and date, and all of this happened after he'was ordained at Odessa. So much for the old bundle of papers held by Kendall, Falsehood No. 2.

Then there waa the court record of Salena. Kan., in which ho was tried and convicted of the charge of indecent exposure of his person on the train of the U. P. it. R. He appealed this case to the higher court gave bond after lying iu jail five weeks.

Then there is Miss Edith Husband, of Abeline, Kan„ an1 orphan girl sixteen years old, that lived in his bouse as a servant, who makes affidavit that Prather attempted rape. A1L OF THIS SINCE HIS ORDINATION AT ODESSA, MO.

Now, you want to ignore hiB career while on this tieid, but they all stare you in the face and you 6ay, "Oh, if we could only get rid of them, we could fix up the balance." But you see the facts are kept before you.

Miss Bell louog testifies that your man Prather did in une, 1896, expose himself indecently to her in the house of J. \V. Hanna. Can you say this girl was influenced by the whiskey league, just as you say all of these ladies were in different parts of fhe country?

But we don't see just how they brought this influence to bear on so many ladies.

Then there is MisB Hudson, whose testimony was here, and Miss Deer Patton, who testifies to an assault by your man Prettier.

It seems that no one can tell the truth but Prather in your estimation. I aui giving his record since that ordination you talk about at Odessa, Mo. I will give you a letter from Brother T. L. Powell, written to Edgar Robertson just 6ix days before the Brown's Valley council met, also what the Kansas Baptist convention has to say about your man which is a later date than your papers you wish to put before the public. Rev. T. L. Powell, the man who baptized Prather, says: "DEAR BROTHEK RORERTSON—:

Replying I would say I am sorry to be under the necessity of writing the name of E. L. Prather. 1. know him to my sorrow, not that he has done me a personal injury he has not to my knowledge. but he has been continually, since 1 have known him, bringing shame and disgrace on the cause of mv Savior. What I know: He was a Presbyterian and disgraced himself and his church. He then attended a meeting held by Brother Morgan in Odessa Baptist church when he claimed to De convert ed, denying his former claim of having been converted early Hi life. lie then joined the church at Odessa and I bap tised him. The church thought that possibly he had been persecuted and was not so bad as had been reported, so they licensed him to preach. lie insisted and his ordination took place prematurely. I helped him into some work and he worked himaelf.into more work and became pastor at Waverly, Mo. Here be disgraced himself in a few months and left in a great hurry. He then went to Abeline, Kan. Here he disgraced himself in another woman scrape and left. He then went to Texas and preached for the Christian church, got into another woman scrape, got shot and left. Now he is at Brown's Valley, Ind. Where will htf be next? I am sorry to write these things, but he haa gone'far enough with his deviltry under the name of a gospel minister.

Yours in Christ. T. L. POWELL."

Prather was published by the Baptist State Convention over the signature of E. B. Meredith, Sta Secretary, and this is what they say about your saintly preacher: "WHEREAS, Tho courtB have sustained serious charges of the gravest immorality against E. L. Prather, recent pastor of A beline church, and have incareer tted him from time to time on account of same. and

WHKRF.AS, The recent legal proceedings have disclosed a record extending over years of immorality, imprisonment and hypocrisy, we therefore, do instruct our general missionary to publish these facts over hi3 official signature in our Denominational papers."

Now, do you say this was

all settled I at -that ordination council at Odessa, Missouri? If you say so I want to know where you live, for you would be such a curiosity that the railroads would get up excursions to come to see you.

I received a letter from A. S. Booton, of El Reno, Oklahoma, which Prather can show as I loaned it to hitn. Ha said he would copy it and give it back to me, but he failed to fulfil his good word, but I can remember most of it. Tbia is, also, since the Odessa affair.

Jeweler and Optician.

Mr. Booton accuses Prather of stealing a suit of clothes, forging a check and getting money on it, trying to get iu a strange lady's room in his hotel, aud gambling. Mr. Prather made the statement when he saw this letter that Booton was a rich man. 1 told him if this was a fact I would sue for damage to character, which I think he would if it were not true. Come on with your pa" pers. We have some left. If anybody doubts theBe facts 1 will show the proof in an attorney's office in Crawfordsville.

As to the reference made to myself and daughter everyone can detect the earmarks of an incendiary and the yelping of a whipped cur.

You say 1 have a Kentucky record. Yes, I have, and I am proud of it, and as to geographical position of one's birth and raising does have a great deal to do with the way of looking at tnings in some parts they treat rapists with a hemp tie, while in other places they give them a chromo. •,

Yes, I do talk about people telling falsehoods, and you tell one when you say I often speak of my Kentucky hot blood. You can't prore by anybody of any degree of respectability that they ever heard me make any such boast. The admonition to keep cool is really laughable. Do you flatter yourself that any such as you could ruffle anybody's feelings? You see these big men are full of bluff, and that is about the extent of it.

You say you hold a letter in your hand from me acknowledging the receipt of a letter from the clerk of Abilene church, and that I had a letter to be presented to the church at Browevalley. You know this is false. I did correspond with this clerk, but as to getting any such a letter I. deny, and demand the proof.

This community would have been much better off if 1 had not written this man beiore Prather was ever callod here. He would not have been here. I would like to know why you ever put these expressions in Dr. Straglin's ariicle to the REVIEW. He says he didn't know it would appear that he sanctioned them, for he does not approve ot such ways, and I thought when I read it that the Doctor was more of a gentleman than to pen such a thing in the defense of another man, and entirely too smart to consider such a thing any defense.

Miles Kendall and company may be bad men, but that don't clear Pratho you admonish me, and I return your favcr. If you want to bring charges against me do so and don't act the coward as you have dono in more cases than one since the Prather matter has been agitated. You have been casting your vile insinuations at one at our best women and on a minister that stands high in the State. Come forward with charges and get men of money and brains and high standing to sign them as we have done.

I want to say in my last epistle that under tho circumstanced*and considering the enormity of t'&is man's crimes (as I see them) I could not have done or said less and been consistent, and if 1 have any apology to make, it is that I am sorry that I have not been more active in the prosecution of the case. My heart is full of charity for those that can't seethiB as I do, and I bear no malace toward anybody,not even to Prather, (the big man) who frightened me so, but hope and pray that the good Lord will yet convert and save his poor soul.

The theory of the writer of the article in last week's REVIEW seems to be that Prather by some means got clear of his crimes in that ordination council at Odessa, Mo., and that he therefore has license to go to Waverly, Mo., Saline, Kan., Abeline, Kac., and Brown's Valley, Ind., and debauch our girls and get a chromo for it, I say no. We Bhould join hands with the -vhisky league and Mark Hanna and tight against it. I don't think the army we would have to fight would be so large, although they, (the Pratherites) never lose an opportunity to get before the public the mag­

57TH YEAR.- NO

•fata for Helo

.That is what J&tjur eyfi.s art* dningr when thffllpain, smart and blur. ThB?'only Bource from which you can rpepive any help is from good Eveglasses or Spectacles, pro perl adjusted and fitted to the sight. We will test your eves tree of charge and fit them with the proper glasses, but don wait too long.

M. C. KLINE.

Illili

Main St., Opp. Court House

®SI®l$81MMIS§SISg§ggs§

nitude of their numbers, and would be safe in saying that he has some folowt rs that are not true believers in him. but "BLKST UK TIIK TIE THAT RINDS/'.

I feel proud to say that I have been vindicated by tho highest tribune! in tht! State and the best people in this community by the grandest jury that evei sat on a case, and IT was tried on testimony that would betaken as good evidence in any court in any State, and Prather knows it if you don't.

She staces one place in the letter that she could not keep a hired girl for him, and in another place he had been seen looking into neighbors'windows at the time of retiring. She also states that he had been expelled from the church. Not noticing the heading of the letters wo do not remember what chinch, o:ilv the fact that, he had been expelled anil wanted to know where she must send his books and trunk. She stated that she thought she could live with him no longer that he had id ready caused her to commit intfe sin than she could ever get forgiveneM for. She nays: "What policy has there been in mv clinging to you when everything was dark and nothing but a woman's love would have borne it, and not shrunk from it." She say s: "I hope you will build up a reputation for yourself that will stand tho gaze aud invesiigationo' rho world."

She also spoke of having to sell tho household goods to pay his det)ts. IJILUE MYLES,

0

,. MAl.ni. io.SLF.N.

btate of Indiana, County of Montgomery, ss: Subseribbed to and sworn to before rue, as a Notary Public in and for said county, this ±!nd day of November. 1891.

MORTON L. BUTCHER/ Notary Public.

Have a dozen fine photographs taken for fifty cents at Willis & McQuown's.

]ilrd-Stnrli'».

It is not fair for cats and dogs to carry off all the glory. Allow me tO' tell two stories from my own personal experience of gratitude in a goose, of humor in a raven. I was walking one day with a friend through hs poultryyard, when a goose hurried up to him, fondly rubbed its neck against his trousers, and followed him everywhere. He told me that he had once rescued it from being done to death by its feathered companions, because it had a broken wing. Could any unfeathered bipeds have shown greater affection? May we not say with Wadaworth:

'A

W. H. MILES.

In an article in THE REVIEW of Nov. 20, 1897, I notice that I am accused of rummaging another house other than my own home, and getting into the pri vate papers of Prather.

I did read some of his letters in tho same house and together with the joung lady in whose house he was staying at the time, and must say there were none to his credit.

h»d

LILLIE MYLES.

AFFIDAVIT,

carelessly loft, his valise open

in the family room, aftd while cleaning the room and moving t\e valise we saw the letters and on seeing wero from his wife and hearing Iiik fre— quently of her, we of coursa vwe desirous of knowing what she thoiMht of him, and supposed the love niutualp»hiit to our surprise the letters did not tna it appear so, and the following at!?* some of the statements embodied in the letter.

1

"Alas! the gratitude of men Hath often left me mourning." And now for the raven. I had been taking duty lately in the Tower for my friend the chaplain, when my slumbers were disturbed by the raucous croaking of a venerable raven of unknown antiquity, but, by all accounts, the oldest inhabitant there. By his jaunty hopping about under cannons and shady trees, he clearly shows that he considers the entire precincts to have been provided for his comfort by a grateful nation. On returning one day from lunching with the governor, to whom I complained of his sleepdestroying noises, I found my gentleman perched on the back of a gardenchair. I solemnly admonished him of his offenses against the church. He listened calmly, without sound OP movement. When I concluded my homily, he turned up his right eye to me and deliberately winked. I fled.—* London Spectator.