The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-03-26
DIR, WILEY GIVES HIS SIDE
He Tells Reporter Something About That
Divorce Case Against Him.


Dr. Wiley, the new pastor of the
| Central Christian church is in an en-
| barassing situation. Since he accept
ed the call here and was inaugurated
| into the pastorate the st. Louis papers
| have been publishing articles concern
! ing his short cOmings which, at this
! distance, and considering the higher
! quality Of Kansas religious circum-
/ spection, look a little bad in the abb
| sence of a knowledge of the circum-
| stances. The latest article going the
| rounds of the St. Louis papers is the
filing by his wife OF divorce proceed
| ings. The complaint alleges that he
is a. vagrant, being able bodied and not
furnishing his family with the proper
support; that he has abused his wife,
slapped her, struck her, tore her clothes
and used profane and obscene language
in her presence.
A representative of the Eagle called
on DIR. Wiley last night and requested
a statement. He is evidently a Gull
tured gentleman and inclined to take
matters very philocophally.
In answer to a question about his
domestic affairs, he said: my wife
has asked for a decree of divorce and
of course consulted a lawyer who made
out the papers and put in such pleas
as would the easier prove it, knowing
that I would not appear in defense,
With a lawyer to make out the papers
and with the certain knowledge that
the one against whome he was pleading
was not going TO be present ii would
be wonderful indeed if he did not make
it strong. I am even surprised that
il is not more severe. 1 do not want
TO be misunderstood as I have not said
an unkind thing about my. wife for the
simple reason that 1 have no unkind
thoughts about her. She is a grand
woman, beautiful, loveable, cultured
and in character absolutely above re-
proach. Because we could not agree
is not in my mind sufficient reason for
me to unkindly criticize her or
to bring to the public notice what 1
might consider her vulnurable points.
Nothing is ever gained by calling atten
ton TO human weakness especially
when the critic and criticized have sus-
tanned such intimate relations as mar
riage indicates. 1 know her failings,
but l also know her virtues and 1 pro-
pose to forget the former and remem-
Der the latter. l have never been an
advocate of divorce and do not want
one now, but for some reason my wife
uOCS anu SIldIl IOl put d straw IN ner
way in getting it.
I'm regard to the charge that I
was seen in a saloon, have only to say
that anybody with common sense
knows that I am not a disipated man
and if I were better known here would
not take the trouble TO even refer TO
II. L for one have a profound con-
viction that truth is stranger than
even that God is greater than Satan
consequently L am but little disturbed
about the outcome Of these things. I
do not mean that I enjoy being roast
ed to turn, but few do but l am con-
fident that the damage viii only be
temporary. / have made some very
grave mistakes In my life. who has not?
but it is my purpose IN the future 10 do
as well as my experience and the ma
terial on hand viii permit.
When asked what effect this would
have on his work here, the doctor re-
piled: 81 have no means Of knowing.
If / was in any other walk in life &c
would amount TO nothing, but in the
ministery It is different A minister
is always considered guilty until he
proves himself innocent; any other per
son is considered innocent until he is
proven guilty / shall fill the pulpit
of the Central Christian church next
Sunday as usual. after that my resig-
nation VIII be placed in the hands OF
the board for them TO act as they sec
fit, and I pledge myself in advance to
be entirely satisfied with the result"