Rensselaer Republican, Volume 20, Number 15, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 December 1887 — A DISGRACBD DIVINE [ARTICLE]

A DISGRACBD DIVINE

Rev J. ii. siddall Receives an Ignominious Ulsnilwtal From the M. E. Conference; Lafayette Courier Tuesday five iniffigters of the Northwest M. E. Conference, Revs. Wm. Graham, Samuel Godfrey, Frost Craft, J. L. Smith amd Thos. Meredith, held a couucil at the Ninth Street M. E. church to hear the evidence in the charges against James H. Siddall. This case is the most distressing, peculiar and utterly bad ever tried in tiie ministry since the organization of the church. Siddall’s victims were a dozen little boys of Kentland. Me would entice them into the chnrcli and there pollute them in a manlier so disgusting that the very thought causes a shudder. Last spring when his acts found him out he fled to Indianapolis. There his frieuds, to save him from mevitable disgrace, had him declared insane and he was commitied to the asylum. But the asylum authorities refused to receive him because he had not been adjudgeu in the county where resided. The State in the meantime took cognizance of the crime and Siddall was arrested and taken to Kentland. At the preliminary hearing he was bound over to await the action of the Court. Bail was secured and he took advantage of this to leave the scene of his downfall. At Tuesday's/trial, Rev. J. H. Cissel, presiding elder, acted as judge and the church was represented by Rev. It. D. Utter,’ of Kentland. and D. Handley, of Clinton, appeared for Siddall. Kev. Frost; Craft acted as secretary. Mrs. j Siddall and John G. Davis, of j Ksntianrd,-were present ns witn.es- j ses, the depositions of eight of the , victims were submitted by the | prosecution. The defense entered j a plea of not guilty and' attempted j to prove insanity. This was de- j cided irrelevant as the plea of insanity should have been iutroduc-! ed at first in support of the plea of ; not guilty. The decision of the. com uittee was that Siddall was guiity and he was discharged fro m the ministry. j