The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-09-02
PREACHER IN COURT.
Rev. James Vernon Charged
With Grave Crime.
YOUNG GIRL COMPLAINS
SAYS HE ATTEMPTED LIBERTIES
WITH HER.

Rev. James Vernon, a minister of the
Free Methodist church and lately con-
nected with the Gospel mission on
Commercial street as pastor, was ar
rested yesterday afternoon on a charge
of assault and battery, but it Is now
thought that the charge will be
changed to assault with intent to com
nit rape.
Vernon was arrested on a warrant
sworn to by Eilda Swenson. a 19-year-
old girl. VINO has been living with Yer
mons family for several months past
The girl alleged that Vernon came into
her room on the 31st of July while she
was dressing and Selling her he threw
her upon the bed.
She began screaming and Vernon re-
tired to his own apartment. According
TO the story told by the girl to the chief
of police yesterday, Vernon has tried
liberties with her on numerous Occa-
s.oDs.
Vernon and mis- two daughters. one
of 10 and one Of II years of age. Occu-
py apartments on the top floor of the
Alta block, "a East Second South
street. The older girl, Essie Vernon.
and Miss SwenSOn have been engaged
together in the mission work on Com
meTcial street and since March the
in the city, has been living with the
former as a companion.
Miss SwensOn said that when she
first went to Vernon's he began to be
familiar with her and his daughter and
continued TO grow more bold in his con-
duct. She said that he on numerous
occasions, when rObed for the night.
had come into the room where she and
his daughter were sleeping and awak-
ened them.
Miss Swenso. said that this conduct
hid been going on continually since
she had been there and that his con-
duct toward her has been revolving.
The girl said she did not suspect his
intentions because he was apparently
deeply devoted to religion and inn
pressed upon her that he was a pro-
phet of God and would do no evil.
Until she told a friend a day or two
ago she was ignorant of his intentions
Miss Swenson left NeTnon's house after
the alleged assault on July 81 and went
to mission on Second South and
Sixth West streets, where a day OF
two ago she made known her story to a
friend. The girl said that Vernon was
aside from the above mentioned con-
duct, guilty of cruelty to his chill
dren and on one occasion had become
angry and beaten the older girl in
the face and then kicked her out OF
the back door of the mission. After
this she was sent by friends here to q
mission in Victor Colo, where she is
ROW.
AS soon as the girls story was known
she was taken before Judge Timmony
and she SWOre to complaint of as
sault and battery. Vernon was arrest
ed by Chief Hilton and was arraigneC
yesterday afternoon on the above
charge.
He pleaded not guilty and Rev. Rich
ard Wake. who appeared with the de
PENDANT. asked that the case be con
tinued until Wednesday at p. m
The request was granted and Vernon:
bonds were fixed at $10O, which were
given by Rev. Wake.
Vernon strongly denies the charges
made against him. and said he could
think of nothing he had done to give
foundation for them. He intimateJ
that he thought there was some Spit'
work at the bottom Of it, but woulf
not say to whom he attributed th'
spite
He declared that there had beer
nothing the least wrong in his rela
tons with the girl, and said he coulI
not understand the cause of her actor
unless she had been influenced by 9th
ers Vernon appeared to feel the dis
grace of the situation very keenly.