Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-12-10
Denies That He Made Any
False Representations In
Obtaining Money
AMOUNT BORROWED
Says the State Will Fail to Prove That
He Acted Other Than HonorabIy in
His Transactions - Temporary EN-
barrassment in the East tho Cause
of the Delay in Strain Payment.

Rev. A. ]. Wheeler, who Is a prisoner
In the county jail awaiting trial on a
charge OF obtaining money by false
pretenses, has prepared statement for
publication of his side of the case, as
requested by the Times-Republican on
the day after Mr.. Wheeler arrived from
Orillia, Can, in custody of Sheriff
Shoemaker. AS explained in these
columns at that time. Mr.. Wheeler was
denied the privilege by his attorney.
The latter has reconsidered his in
|structions, and has signitied his willing
ness to the publication OF the state
ments as given in Mr.. Wheeier's COM
munication.
Mr.. Wheeler's bonds will probably
be arranged in about a week. Warren
Howard chairman of the prohibition
county central committee, Will be his
bondsman, and Is awaiting now east
ern securities which Mr.. Wheeler Will
furnish. papers for which were sent
to New York Wednesday,. In Mr..
Wheeler's communication he denies
that he made any false representations
in securing the money from
Mrs. Caroline Strain, of Lee
Grand, and that he invested the
money as he claimed he would. in
stock In the Ovona Company. Mr..
Wheeler Will endeavor to meet the pay
nents on the notes, which Mrs Strain
holds, and which are now past due.
The communication from the prison,,
is as follows:
Editor Times Republican I have
been asked to make statement In re-
gard to the case against me and my
defense, and have delayed, for ona
reason. because, as a prisoner, l could
not Judge OF the effect. even of a plea
Of innocence, nearly as well as IL l
were at liberty. Another reason. As
you know, was because of the ex-
pressed wish of my attorney, but that
has been now Withdrawn.
Il have hoped to obtain bonds. so
that my statement might be- made at
least as free man. but the length OF
time 1t takes for letters to go back
and forth to my friends in the east
indicates that / can not be free for
some days. so ! will say briefly, nov.
that I deny completely and fully all
false representations claimed to hay.
been made to Mrs. Strain. That
borrowed $1,000, was true, ard that !;
was to invest in the Ovona Company.
was true: that all my statements to
Mrs. Strain were also true. I say now.
understand the state will have TO
prove those statements to be false
before It can claim to have made out
case and. with my knowledge Of the
facts. it will fail to do so.
II have had much misfortune, es-
pecially in this matter, but / am not
guilty of intentional wrong doing.
am going to bend every energy to pa3
Mrs. Strain, as she should have her
money, which she would have had be-
fore this, had 1t not been for some
temporary business embarrassment
had In the east. have brought my
family here. hoping to make a home.
and to live down the evil effects OF my
arrest hope my friends, and even
you. will aid me In having a fair
chance In this struggle. I send you
with this statement from friends and
neighbors in the east. which. II you
publish this letter, I desire printed
with II.
Mr.. Editor altho your publications
In regard to me at first were harmful,
only hope you may never suffer d
small part OF the shame and Disgrace
which feel has been unjustly heapei
upon me since my arrest and confine-
ment in this jail. You have printed
references to a few letters in my be-
half have many more OF the best
kind from good men, who seem not
to have lost confidence in ME, and l
trust they never may have reason to
do SO.
Yours truly,
"a. j. WHEELER"
In addition to the statements is ap-
pended testimonial from leading busi-
ness men, twenty-five in number, re-
siding in and about Craigeclare, N. Y.
Mr.. Wheeler's old home The endorse,
ment Is as to the character OF the
prisoner, and their faith in him as q
moral and upright citizen. Among tn.
signatures. which are all duly certi-
fed to before notary. are those NJ
the publisher of the Craigeclare paper
and the postmasters OF the several
horoughs that comprise the town OF
Rockland.