Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-07-26
MINISTER ARRESTED.
Rev. Queen, of Mystic, Charged
With Bigamy.
LODGED IN JAIL AT CENTERyILLE
Claims to Have a Cousin In ottumwa,
With Whom He Will Communicate
In Regard to His TroubIes-Story of
the Sensational Affair.

| tbS SStlSdlIOIldI HI1dIEs
Mystic, Ia, July 26.-(SpeciaD- THE
pastor of the Christian church of this
place in the person Of Rev. Zachary
Taylor Queen, who claims to have a
cousin in Ottumwa by the name of
John Queen, a travelling book agent, is
under arrest charged with bigamy,
preferred by James Queen, of Ban
croft, Neb., who claims to be his son,
and has been lodged in the Appanoose
county Jail lat Centerville. The pre-
llm1nary hearing of Rev. Queen will be
mad tomorrow. Both sides of the
story have been secured The Ne
braska Queen sticks to it. that he is
right in the matter while the minis
ter says it is mistake, altho he adj
mlts that he is acquainted with the
woman who is said to be wife No. 1.
Rev. Queen was placed under arrest
Tuesday evening and when interview
ed in regard to his troubles said
1T is an outrage that minister of
the gospel should be placed in such a
position for a crime charged against
him about which he knows absolute
~ nothing. | am entirely innocent of
the crime for which l am arrested
and will produce the witnesses to clear
myself before the courts and in the
minds of the people. Twelve years
this spring graduated from Louisville
Baptist Theological seminary, having
preached according to the faith of the
! Baptist church for nearly seven years.
| have since been ordained by the
| Christian church, having preached in
towns in Iowa, Nebraska and Arkan-
sas. | formerly resided in Stanhope,
Iowa, which city l call my home, and
during my residence in Bancroft, Neb.,
purchased farm near the city, but
did not stay on the same long. l
spent the past winter in Walnut Ridge,
Ark, and in Stanhope, Neb. having
arrived in Mystic during the last week
in January.
81 had never met my wife," pointing
to Mrs. Queen, said to be wife No. 2,
who was with him in the county Jail
at the time, until my residence in
Mystic, altho l had heard of her thru
friends. Mrs. Queen was formerly
Mrs. Anna Hardenbrook and has lived
in Mystic several years. The young
man claiming his name as James
Queen and residence in Bancroft, Neb..
is a perfect stranger to myself and
claims that his mother Mrs, Zachary
Taylor Queen, formerly Miss Cathe-
rine Clark, of Bancroft, Neb, was
married to myself over thirty years
ago. l know the Clark family quite
WELL having now in my possession a
group picture Of several members of
/ fhn fo Ky Il oct icit o;4,
was seven years ago and at that time
was not aware that had ever been
married. l have a cousin, John Queen,
travelling book agent, who resides in
Ottumwa, and l will probably write
him regarding my unfortunate posi-
ton. understand that James Queen,
who claims to be my son. is SO years
old, and that he states mis- mother is
SIS years of age. If such should be
the case l must have been married
man at the age of three years, and
my parents should have shown better
judgment" Mrs. Queen was over
from Mystic this morning, and was
very careful to be present in the Jail
cell when the reporter secured his in
terview. Reverend Queen looks to be
man of 40 to as years of age, is
of heavy statue, reddish hair, wears a
mustache, was attired in suit of
black worsted He is somewhat deaf
and states that he is oftimes quite
forgetful.
The Other Side.
James Queen, the son, who swore
out the warrant for his fathers arrest
is young man of about 80 years Of
age. He came to Mystic Tuesday and
saw his alleged father who refused to
have anything to do with him or recog-
nize him as his son. Queen, Jr., then
swore out the warrant and had his
father, arrested as heretofore related.
He was also seen and tells an entirely
different tale. He says that the man
held under arrest for bigamy is his
father and that he and his mother
were married about 81 years ago in
Iowa: that his father is about So years
old. He says that his father is min
lister of the gospel and resided in
Oxford, Neb., with his mother until
about seven years ago when he left
and had not been heard from until
recently when he was traced to Mystic.
His mother, wife No. /, was telegraph
ed for and is expected to be here by
Iluety, Lie udy SCI lOI lllS preliminary
trial. Queen, Jr., thinks that his father
is not right in his mind and says that
evidence will be produced to prove be-
yond doubt that he is guilty Of
bigamy.
When the Reverend Queen mar
ried wife No. 2 last May he gave his
age as 35 and maintains that that is
his correct age. The marriage records
show that a license was issued to him
on May 10.
Motto to Homeseekers.
On Tuesdays, May 1st and 18th,
June 5th and 10Th, July Sd and 18th,