The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-10-02
WAS He IMPRUDENT?
Sensational Trial of the Rev. J. B.
Wolfe by the Illinois
Methedists.
The Pastors Story Has Sadly Sus-
picious Sound-Bishop Foss
Presides.
.Neso Z orb Sur, Special Serrtos

DanvNa, Ill.,, Oct. 2-When the trial Of
Rev. ]. B. Wolfe of Beardstown was
hN9a&ht mp in the Illinois Methodist con-
ference by Bishop Merrill lively tilt was
precipitated, and 1t was apparent that
the case is to prove an engrossirg feature
OF the session. Bishop Merrill announced
that Bishop Cyrus D. Foss Of Buffalo
would preside at the trial, and when the
selection of the trial committee of fifteen
was commenced the excitement opened.
The attorneys for the accused minister
and the church had fixed up a list of jury
men, but this attempt to take the matter
out of the hands Of the conference was
promptly squelched and the selection was
left to the presiding elders. When the list
was read the defense challenged several
rames, and the entire morning session
passed before the committee was elected
When the trial committee met Bishop
Foss mmediat ely ordered that all report
ers and persons not members Of the jury
be excluded from the room. The commit
tee organized, the Rev. Mr. Wolfe was ar
raigned, and the findings Of the lower
church body. which tried Wolfe last spring
and found him guilty of charges Of i'm
morality, lying and classifying and highly
imprudent ministerial conduct, were pre-
sented.
The evidence in the case Is largely doc
umentary. and is to the effect that Wolfe
occupied room at the Ashland hotel with
a woman known to tho landlord not to be
his wife. A few days after Mr.. and Mrs.
Wolfe were both in Ashland and stopped
at another hotel. During his stay, the min
lister went to the hotel where he had been
on his previous visit and started to erase
his name and that Of the woman from the
register. He had not completed his work
when the landlord said he would have MIN
arrested unless what had been erased was
restored. This was done, and the register
introduced in ha
Wolfe admitted all this at his previous
trial. but claimed to have mad no relations
with the woman except those Of friend
and adviser. He told the following story
OF his actions in Ashland
Il was walking up the street when I
was met by woman, who accosted me
and explained that she knew me. having
feard me preach and that her own name
was Wolfe. she being a member of fam
lily living at Clinton. The woman told me
she was In distress and Iced and wanted
to know if she could not have my spiritual
advice. She looked like a very respectable
woman. and as she ask ed If we could not
go somewhere and have talk, suggested
that we so to hotel near by. This was
done.
This happened at about 8 O'Clock In
the AFTERNOON, and as we both wanted to
wash our faces we were shown to 4 room
at the hotel. There the woman told me
her story at length and I gave her some
money to help pay her way to St. Louis
where she said she had relatives. She
promised to return the money I loaned
her Being very tired. after time I Law
down on the side Of the bed and before
long went to sleep. The woman had gene
from the room after half hours CONVEX
sation but came back about O'Clock fo,
further conversation. and this accounts
FOR our both being in the room when called
to supper"
Wolfe has been a member Of the confer
ence thirty -four years and has filled an
pontments of the highest rank. He wa
secretary Of the conference for sevara
years and has been a presiding elder an,
a delegate to the general conference.