Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-11-14
Rev. A. J. Wheeler Will Not
Resist Efforts to Return
Him to This Country
DENIES He IS a CRIMINAL
Admits Having Been in This City, But
Says He Ha. Done Nothing Wrong
-orillia People Were Mucl, in Love
With Him, and Resolutions Uphold
ing Him Are Passed From Pulpit.

Rev. A. j. Wheeler. the clever swind-
Ter and prototype OF +. A. Marson. an
other sweet singing evangelist and ex-
horter, who robbed Mrs. Caroline
Strain, OF LeGrand, of $1,000. on the
pretense of being the president and
chief promoter of the great Ovona cure
for cancer, will come back to the Uni
ted States without making resistance
on technicalities. He 50 expresses
himself at Orillia, where he is under ar
rest.
The good people of Orillia are much
wrought up over the arrest of their
DIR. Judkins," and from the pulpit of
| the Methodist church, where DR.. judi
| lSins had been assisting in revival meet
| ings, resolutions We're passed upholdins
him as far as his religious record
| is concerned, and asking fair play and
the withholding of condemnation until
the doctor is proved guilty. Wheeler
admits having been in this city, but
he denies any attempt at wrongdo-
ling.
The Orillia Packet contains the fol-
lowing concerning the arrest of
Wheeler and the local developments in
the case:
Not in a long time has there been
such sensation in Oi.llia as was
| caused by the arrest of DR.. A Judkins,
the evangelist. who was conducting
special services in the Methodist
church. on charge of obtaining money
40, TaJ
Marshailtown Iowa. DR.. Judkins has
been in this neighbourhood for some
months. ard has been conducting evan
gelistic meetings with much success
end acceptance at Severn Ridge. Arc
trea and Hawkestone. short time
ago he was secured by the officials OF
the Methodist church TO assist the Rev.
j. l.. Locke in the special services IN
that church. He had been engaged in
this work for Ave DAYS when taken into
custody.
TT appears that the Toronto police
some weeks ago received a request
from the states 10 look up one A. j.
Wheeler. who was in this country I'M
der the alias of DIR. judkins. They
found that he had been in the city for
four or five days, but had gone on to
the vicinity of Orillia. Particulars were
sent TO Constable Dreyar, and he was
asked TO arrest Judkins IL he should
turn UP here. , Beyond making some
enuuiries the constable took no action
Until Judkins came to town. Having
satisfied himself that the man tailed
with the description given, he then
swore out an information before Mr..
G. j. Booth. j. p. and made the arres:
ON Friday morning.
.'.rhe grand jury at Marshalltown.
Iowa, has brought in en- Indictment
against the Rev. A. j. Wheeler, whose
alias is said to be DR.. A. Judkins, for
obtaining money under false pretences.
Ii is charged that Wheeler secured ST.
shalitown, Iowa. on certain securities
that turned out to be worthless. The
Indictment recites that the DEFENDANT
approached Mrs. Strain and repre-
sented himself to be the possessor OF
certain stock in the Ovona Medical
Company and in various other con-
Germs He said he was the owner OF
various properties thruors the state,
and the recipient OF an income OF $500
a. month. With this and various other
alleged propositions, he succeeded IN
giving Mrs Strain the Impression that
he was a person OF means. He Is said
to have stated that he was DESTROYS OF
taking up his residence in Iowa, but
did not have the necessary cash 70
build a house. AS further induce
ment, 1t is stated he promised TO en-
gage In certain w. c. T. U. work. in
which Mrs. Strain was interested. AS
a result of all this. she handed over
81, 900 on the understanding that he
was to build residence and move his
family to LeGrand. Iowa. This was In
February last. There are also said 20
be other charges agains. him.
DIR. Judkins does not deny his con-
nection with Marshalltown, but de-
clares that he will be able to clear him
self OF all suspicion OF wronguoing
MANY Wild stories have been afloa,
during the week as to Judkinss doinss
and the crimes he Is charged with. Il
has been said that he was securing
mail matter from the Or!llia office un-
der other names. but investigation
shows this was not so. 1t Is true that
the description sent by the police was
OF man both taller and weighing
more than the prisoner. but the photo
graph accompanying it bore strong
resemblance to him.
"Judkins appeared before Mr.. G. j.
Booth. j. p, on Friday afternoon, ana
pleaded not guilty to .he charge laio
apains. him. He was remanded for
eight days, to await the coming of the
officers from Iowa. The latter were
notified. and started at cree for Wash
ington to secure the necessary papers
for extrad!tion Judkins. however, ex
presses Willingness to return to the
states without raising technical objec-
tons.
Mr.. E. A. Wakefield United State.
consul. is watching the proceedings OF
behalf of his government He is much
pleased with the energy and good judg-
ment shown by Constable Dreyer in
connection with the arrest, and with
his care of the prisoner since.
"The unfortunate incident has no;
been allowed to Interfere with the
meetings in the Methodist church
which have been carried on with ever
greater vigour and success. On Sun
day, the Rev w. III. Hincks. LIB.
Of Toronto. preached stirring sermons.
In the evening the following statemen;
was read by the pastor on behalf of the
officials:
Whereas. the arrest of DIR. Judkins
on last Friday at the instance of par