The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1897-10-29
BOTH SIDES OF
CASE HEARD
Rev. Utley and Rev. Durant Talk About
the Beer Drinking Episode in
Mitchell.
A Savage Prairie Fire Destroyed Consid-
erable Property Last Monday in
Lisbon and Beulah Townships.
HELD UP A WHILE
HELD UP A WHILE
Attorney Spansler Demurred to the Com.
plant Of Roy ColWell and Was
Sustained by Judge Smith.
STATEMENT BY MIR. UTLEY.
Gives His Side of tho Situation as to why
He Left Mitchell and His Church.

Gives His Side of tho Situation as to Why
He Left Mitchell and His Church.
Last Friday Rev. VIM. Utley, about
whom so much has been said of late
concerning his departure, from Nit
chell, went to Sioux FalIs and while
there gave out y statement TO The
Press in reference to his departure and
why he was discharged, and this state
ment is replied to in the same issue of
The Press by Rev. Frank Durart, who
was connected with the affair, 80 far as
beer drinking was concerned, and this
he admits, but with the other rumors
concerning Mr.. Utley Mr.. Durant was
in no way connected.
AS the situation is now understood,
and as was explained by one of the
members of the committee, Mr.. Utley
was discharged for the beer drinking
escapade and for certain conversation
OF an immoral nature indulged by him
with other parties, but the prime cause
was for the escapade in question.
The supposition was that Mr.. Utley
intended to return to Mitchell, but a
letter received fom him by The REPUB-
L1cAN stated that he had changed his
mind and would go east to arrange for
the payment of debts contracted by him
while in the city for the Peoples church.
That the situation might be thoroughly
understood the statement given out by
both gentlemen to the Sioux Falls Press
is published below in full:
Rev. VIM. L. Utley, late of Mitchell,
was in the city yesterday, and TO re-
porter for The Press related the cir
oumstances leading up to his recent
dismissal from the pastorate of the
| Peoples church at Mitchell. 1t will
| be remembered that there has been
considerable discussion of his dismissal
at Mitchell during the present week,
which has been covered in The Press
der that the statement of Rev. Mr.. Ut
Press, may be better understood, the
|
Rev. Mr.. Utley organized the Peo-
apparently doing we'll, having gather
ed around him respectable congrega-
tion. Last week, however charges of
immortality we're preferred against
him, and he was dismissed from the
pastorate by the Peoples church com.
mittes. Rev. Mr.. Utley left Mitchell
| In wi pto$ lo
hind him that the work of the Peoples
church would be dropped, as sufficient
funds to carry on the work had not
been forthcoming. Upon the publica'
tion of this statement the church com.
mittee gave out the statement which
appeared in The Press of yesterday
purporting to relate the facts in the
case.
81 left Mitchell on Monday last, er
route to Iowa to attend wedding,
said Rev. Mr.. Utley. Sat the time ]
did not intend to return to Mitchell
but in view of the published statements
in regard to the unfortunate affair in
which 1 was involved, determined tt
go back there and have settlement ir
statement concerning it.
| w LILO LII m1tCu0lA 1uot bAo 4s0V
Frank Durant, pastor of the Episcopa
church there, and we became very init
mate. One evening, in company witt
travelling man from Sioux City, Mr.
Durant and myself called at the Lock
hart restaurant upon two young wo
men who live there. Beer, cheese anC
sand wiches were served, of which eacf
partook, and the man from Sioux Cit,
| -,
the part Of all concerned was hardl.
that of gentlemen, to say nothing of th'
cloth.
"From this place We went to Web
ber's restaurant, where more beer wa
served, but here l refused to drink an.
more. While in the rear OF the restau
rant the Sioux City man suggested tha
trip to public resort be made. in
formed him of certain house l ha
heard of, and the kind of fentertainmen
furnished by the inmates, and the
went back to the restaurant. Mr.. Dur
ant was not present during this conver
sation, and got his information coz
corning it from the man from Siou
City.
rences, Mr.. Durant took occasion to te
certain members of my congregation {
the unfortunate affair. His purpos
seems to have been to injure me, an
he has successfully accomplished h
end. OF course the committee me
and the matter of further work in Mi
chell was out of the question for me.
81 do not deny that l did wrong, {
that have done wrong. I simply wis
to state that the whole affair is tt