Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-09-01
PREACHER ASSAULTED
Hampton Druggists. Billinss!ey
and Watts, Hit Rev. Troy With
Scale Weight.
Mrs. Watts Horsewhips an Ed.
itor - Latter Not Hurt;
Woman Not Arrested.
Bkussists Pay Fines OF $50 and
SIS and Costs-Watts House
Burned.

Special to imes-Republican.
Hampton, Sept. because OF an
article that appeared In a recent issue
of the Chronicle. of this place. alleged
to have been inspired by Rev. DR.. II. w.
Troy, pastor of the First Methodist
church, b. +. Billingsley. druggist
and j. c. Watts. a clerk in his employ
assaulted the preacher and Mrs. Watts
horsewhipped Thomas w. Purcell, ed
itor of the Chronicle. Billingsley this
morning pleaded guilty to assault and
battery and was fined $50 and costs and
Watts fined s25 and costs in Justice D..
w. Parks court.
The trouble and criminal prosecu-
ton, following, have resulted in a
great deal of feeling on both sides. The
trouble between DR.. Troy and Billings
ley dates back six months, when the
minister was prominent in the prosecu-
ton Of certain druggists in the city be-
cause of alleged illegal sales of liquor
As result of the efforts of DIR. Troy
and others Bllingsley was Temperate
ly enjoined from selling liquor, and
naturally he has not had the kindli-
est feelings for those who We're instru-
mental in bringing .the action.
The powder was ignited. however,
by anonymous local item that appear
ed in the Chronicle last week. 1t was
In effect that a certain man had been
in the habit of frequenting a certain
alley on several occasions. Mr.. and
Mrs. Watts reside across an alley from
the Methodist parsonage and Mrs.
Watts took the item as casting per-
sonal reference to her. She visited
Editor Purcell's office and gave him
forty-eight hours to retract the state
ment. Purcell didn't retract and Mrs.
Watts visited him again, this time
with a rawhide whip. She only was
able to land two or three blows before
the whip was taken away from her and
prevented doing further damage. No
arrests followed as result Of this in
cident.
The sequel to the horsewhipping oc-
CURED when Mr.. Watts went to a store
near the Billingsley drug shop, where
DR.. Troy happened to be trading. He
asked the reverend gentleman to ac-
company him out Of doors, as he wish
ed to talk to him. Rev. Troy said that
they could talk as well there as any
where but WATTS said tina he wished to
see him personally on private business.
DR.. Troy accompanied Watts TO the all
ley and as the minister stepped around
the corner Watts struck him in the
face. The preacher warded off the
blows that followed and grapled with
his assailant, finally throwing him
down and sitting upon him. A crowd
soon gathered and the minister quietly
informed the bystanders chat he did not
wish to hurt Watts. and that they had
better take care of him. Before any
one could take a hand and look after
Watts Billingsley rushed from his
store and dealt the preacher a couple
of blows over the head. with what is
supposed to have been a scale weight.
The officers then arrested Billingsley
and Watts. Dr. Troy was not, serious
ly hurt, altho his head was badly con-
fused and somewhat lacerated. He
didn't fill his pulpit yesterday, but
could have done so had not an availa-
Bile substitute in the person of Presid-
ing Elder Albrook been in the city to
supply.
Rev. Troy's action in the matter has
caused a great deal OF favorable COM
ment, as he refrained from doing what
almost any man would, in striking his
assailant when he had been the ag-
gressor. Rev. Troy announced that he
Gid not care to prosecute the men on a
serious charge, altho he wanted them to
abide by the law in the future. There
was talk of bringing an action for as
sault with intent to do great bodily
injury, penitentiary offense, but on
the request Of Rev. Troy himself a SIM
pie charge of assault and battery was
preferred.
Watts Home Burned.
To cap the climax of all the trouble
the Watts home was practically ruined
by fire Sunday morning at o'clock.
There is no thought of incendairism,
and it is supposed that the blaze origi-
mated on the interior, from gasoline
stove that had been left burning. The
loss will be about $1,000, with $1,000
insurance.