Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1900-10-27

4 r 3
Ministers are sometimes recipients
OF strange condolences from people
whose consciences have goaded them to
repentance for sin and a desire to make
confession Rev. j. A. Earl. pastor
OF the First Baptist church of this city.
was told strange story of crime a few.
nights ago by young man who frank
ly and penitently admitted his COM
splicity In an offense the statutory PEN
atty for which is a long term of inn
prisonment in the state penitentiary.
The repentant man declared himself to
be guilty of the crime OF arson in the
burning of a barn and other buildings
on farm near Marshalltown and stat
ed that he had been hired to commit
the deed by prominent attorney of
that city.
few nights ago as Mr. Earl was
going home from the revival services
In the tabernacle he saw man step
out from dark alley upon the side
walk ahead of him and stand as IL
waiting his approach. The possibility
OF an attempted hold-up at once flashed
across the preachers mind and he pre-
pared to defend himself in case neces-
sity should arise. The stranger, how
ever, greeted him in friendly way
and asked to talk with him, which was
readily granted. As the two walked on
toward Mr.. Earl's home the unknown
man told the story outlined in the first
paragraph.
He said that a prominent attorney
OF Mars'halltown. having a spite against
farmer living south Of that city, had
offered him $500 to burn the farmers
barn and other buildings. He was in
abject poverty al the time, being with
out money or employment. and sue
deep conviction Of the wrong he had
done had seized him and he was ready
to make what reparation was in hia
power by going upon the witness stand
and testify to the facts in the case.
He had sought to see Mr.. Earl to get
his advice and had gone to his home
the night before. but the pasto:, had
been out al the time of his call. The
house was locked and the family had
retired, but Mrs. Earl had talked to
him from an upstairs window.
Being without any advice he acted
according to his own best Judgment
and had written to the postmaster at
Marshalltown statement of the facts,
giving his address, and now felt that ali
he could do was 10 walt until he was
called upon to give his evidence in
court. The man declined to give his
name to Mr.. Earl. stating that he was
employed in Waterloo and that 1t would
be only a source of embarrassment to
him to have his offense become known
before the proper time. The man
seemed deeply penitent and said that
the matter had been Weighing upon his
mind for some time. He parted from
the preacher. however, as much a
stranger. far as his identity Is con-
cerned, as when he met him.
1T would appear that the revival
meeting now In progress in the taber-
nacle has been the means OF arousing
the dormant conscience and bringing
about the remarkable confession TO
which Mr.. Earl was called upon TO
listen
COUNTY ATTORNEY APPRAISED. *
The postmaster at Waterloo wrote to
Postmaster Saint OF the confession and
a few days ago the former came 10 this
city and laid the matter before County
Attorney Stone. Mr. Stone saws the
GOulCssSlOIIy IL llOl ~ uS, 10 NOuuSIkuls d.
Johnson relates many peculiar Incl
dents relative to the Faust fire: says he
chopped TO pieces the buggy that was
found in the field near the scene Of the
fire: that he scattered about the papers.
and discriminating documents that were
picked up and which were used as evi-
dence against Faust; that he stole one
of the horses from the barn before he
started the fire and that he rode the
horse to Illinois and then sold it. 1t
will be recalled that Faust claimed at
the time that one OF his horses was
stolen by the man who set Are to the
buildings. The confession also says
that 1t was the Northwestern railroad
with which Faust had had trouble.
who hired Johnson to fire the buildings.
and that 1t was for the purpose of get
ting even with him;3 also that Faust,
who was released on June 6, was seized
as ne left the prison and was spirited
away and that he Is still kept in hid-
ing 50 he can not talk to the auihori-
ties. sjs
Efforts are now being made to locate
Faust ana his relatives to learn
whether or not there 10 any truth In the
kidnapping part of the, confsssion. john
ION. whoever he %. u y stranger mere.
and the ON GERS are not e tneiined ~