Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-05-16
REV. N|CKAAk'SS|ORY
Defense in the Sioux City Church
Trial Making q Hard
Fight.
-
Accused Pastor on the Witness
Stand in His Own
Behalf.
Submits Papers to Prove Alibi
and Denies Miss Batman's
Allegations.
Special to Times-Rcpublican.

Allegations.
Special to Times-Rcpublican
Sioux City. May 16.-The defense is
having its Innings in the church trial of
Rev. Wickham, the pastor of the First
Christian church here, who is accused
of too intimate relations With young
lady member of his church. Wickham
himself has been on the stand and has
|attempted to prove an albi. He is max
| Ing Il strong Defense and unless the
prosecution can explain alleged discrep-
| ancles in the dates on which certain
criminal acts of Wickham are said TO
have occurred its case will be material
| ly weakened
Rev. Mr.. Wickham is standing the
might be expected. altho his inflamed
eyes indicate many wakeful hours. His
| face looks thinner than usual, and his
mind does not act as readily as at the
beginning of the trial. Mrs. Wickham
and the two daughters Mamie and Ed
ma, have maintained their apparent
Mrs. Wickhams face SHOWS the results
of her anxiety. Many of the older men
and women comprising the jury show
plainly the effectsof the unusual hours
they have been obliged TO keep for tha
past ten days. and 1t is certain that
many of them will not be able TO attend
every session and secure vote unless
the trial ends soon
The nrjnrit1o1s a,,1.- Jrt
for the defense was to the effeet that
ON August /, when Miss Cora Ratmau
| alleges that the minister Went driving
with her. and was with her until &
o'clock. that he VAS at home by $50
o'clock, had supper and was a. the
church at about Sis o'clock TO accom-
pany hay rack purity TO the home OF
II. ~. Johnson The defendant also in
troduccd two copies of his weekly
church paper. The Sunbeam TO show
that the issue of Feb 10 reported Miss
Cora Ratman as having gone TO her
home near Holy Springs. for visit, and
the issue of Feb. "a stated that she had
returned on the preceding Tuesday
This testimony was introduced to dis
prove the testimony of Miss Batman
that he was With her in Sioux City on
Feb ~ He also testified that he be-
lievsd that he preached in Akron. la
on Sept l4.sanother date when the com.
planning witress alleged that he was
Intimate with her, and he said that GER
tain people in Akron We're of the same
opinion. altho he could get no posi-
| tive evidence to that effect.
| Iiev Wickham testified that he made
! III rule never to call upon young
single woman unless her parents were
present, or his wife or one OF his
daughters accompanied him, and that
the only time he remembered calling
upon Miss Ratman was during the last
Week in June. when both himself and
Mrs Wickham We're invited To take tea
nj her home. AT that time he said Miss
Batman reproached him for not calling
uopn her, which he alleged ne answered
by saying that Mrs. Wickham had been
away, and he made ii Il point never to-
call upon young single women during
her absence. He admitted writing one
letter 10 her from Akron. while holding
revivals there. when he asked her tn
act as missionary superintendent for
the state work. The following answer
to the letter was introduced and read:
j will take the work and do the best
can with Gods help. The church has
been getting along nicely during your
absence. ! was called away to attend
grandma's funeral. She looked so peace
full and nice that l wished was in hel,
place Your sistsIin Christ.
CORA B4ATNfAN"
The defendant denied that there was
any enclosure in the letter as alleged.
unless he might have enclosed the etter
from Secretary Denny, of the district
board. regarding the mission work
which Rev. Mr.. Wiclsham in the letter
asked Miss Ratman To take up.
The long cross-eXamination Of the
witness apparently developed but little.
except that the minister often visited
married ladies. made no distinction be-
tween the younger and older members
OF the congregations. and held that
twenty minutes or half hour was long
enough for such calls Trustee Johnson
asked II number of questions concerning
the story told by Miss Batman, warn
ing the minister to be careful To tell the
truth, as he was under oath.
Il always tell the truth, no matter
whether l am under oath or not, re-
piled Rev Mr.. Wickham.
The conclusion of the cross-examina-
ton consisted of questions regarding
the minister's conduct on the night OF
October 5. during the carnival. when
the prosecution alleges he was out rid
ing with n young woman outside of his
family Rev. Mr. Wickham denied alb
solutely that the charge had any
orr