Morning Herald

From the Maysville Eagle

An Impostor.—Impositions are so frequently practised upon the community, by tales of shipwreck and captivity, desolations by earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, &c. &c. that a strong duty seems to devolve upon the press to place the public on their guard, by exposing impostors. On Saturday last, we transferred into this paper an article which originally appeared in the Massillon (Ohio) Gazette, detailing the circumstances attending the impressment and long captivity of Mr. John Wood, who is stated to have been at the commencement of the war of 1812. "a young and industrious farmer of Bracken county, Kentucky.

On Thursday, after that tale of captivity, so well calculated to enlist the public sympathy, was put in the hands of the compositor, no less a personage than John Wood, the veritable captive himself, appeared in our city, and attracted crowds to see him, and to hear from his own lips, a detail of his wrongs and sufferings in British prison ships and on board British men-of-war. Some heard his narrative without suspicion of imposture—others, more incredulous, believed that his language was too chaste, and his deportment too refined, for a British sailor, and occasionally insinuated a doubt as to the truth of his statements.

On Friday the impression became general that he was an impostor, and to one of the citizens who had questioned him pretty closely, he finally acknowledged the fact, and immediately expressed a wish to see the resident minister of the Methodist Episcopal church. Upon arriving at the residence of that gentleman, he unexpectedly met, and was soon recognized by a venerable clergyman of the same denomination, late of Ohio. As soon as Wood beheld this venerable minister of the cross, he burst into tears, and declared that he had come to acknowledge the fact that he was an impostor. The history of Wood, as far as known, together with his disclosures, are, in substance, as follows:

He is a native of Vermont, between 50 and 55 years of age, about the ordinary size, of rather pleasant countenance, and agreeable manners. About ten or twelve years since, he came to Moscow, Ohio, in feeble health, and repeated substantially, the same tale which he has recently told at Massillon and other places, with this difference in the version, that he had left a mother and two sisters in Vermont, instead of a wife and two children in Kentucky, and that his capture took place at a different time and under other circumstances from that now related.

His tale was readily credited, and he obtained employment as a wood chopper for the glass works then in operation at Moscow."

He remained in that situation for two years, and by his industry and morality, gained the respect and confidence of the neighborhood. He subsequently became a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church—and shortly after, was licensed to preach the Gospel. He was assigned by the presiding Elder, to the St. Mary's mission; and after discharging his duties for some time to all human appearances, with the utmost fidelity, he was so unfortunate, when absent from home as to become intoxicated, and feeling himself disgraced, he abandoned his station, and no trace was afterwards discovered of him. His subsequent history is related by himself.

He states that, after leaving his charge, he first wandered to New Orleans—thence he found his way to Alabama, where he united himself with the Baptist Church, and recommenced preaching the Gospel.

Shortly after forming this connection, the Christian Advocate reached Alabama, containing a detail of his improper conduct, with a description of his person.

Fearing detection and exposure, he immediately abandoned Alabama, and went to the Creek nation of Indians. Dissatisfied with his situation among the Indians, he returned to the States, and sought an asylum in one of the alms houses of Maryland, where he remained one year. Afterwards he went to Pennsylvania, and remained five years in an alms house.— Nothing further is known of him until he appeared at Massillon, as the returning "captive."

Many persons who visited him, believe that he is suffering under some mental alienation. This opinion appears to be the most charitable one, as he has manifested no disposition to make heavy drafts upon the sympathies excited by his "tale of woes." From whatever cause, however,—whether it be avarice or mental aberration—we feel it our duty to guard the community against his imposition.

He left on Friday afternoon, evidently under some apprehension of personal injury, although nothing was said or done calculated to excite his fears.