Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-11-18
WHEELER EN|[RS A
PLEA, NOT Gully
Is Arraigned In District Court
Before Judge Burnham at
8 O'Clock
WILL MAKE NO STATEMENT
Prepares a Recital of His Side of the
Case, But Attorney Will Not Allow
Its Observation-Disclosures, Me-, Paper
Tells of WheeIer's carreer-Improp-
err Conduct Loses Him Two Churches.

er Conduct Loses Him Two Churches.
Rev. A. j. Wheeler was arraigned
before Judge Burnham, in the district
| court, this morning at 8 o'clock. AMI
entered a plea of not guilty to the
charge of obtaining money by false
pretenses, as preferred in an indict-
| ment returned by the August grand
jury Mr.. Wheeler asked to be rep-
| resented by his counsel. who entered
the plea for him. He stated that he
was indicted under his correct name.
The defendants counsel had but
very little to say In connection with
the entry of his clients plea, further
than to inform the court that he
thought II would be impossible to try
the case at this term He would not
state definitely that tle case would
not be tried, but intimated that sat-
isfactory arrangement had been made
with County Attorney Northup, where
by the case would be continued by mu-
tual agreement Wheelers bonds have
been fixed at $1,000. and it Is not at all
likely that he can furnish them. The
court room was crowded with curious
lot of spectators, who were anxious
to catch glimpse of the prisoner.
Among the spectators were number
of the leading third party workers.
who were intimate with Wheeler when
he was doing such good work for the
party during the campaign of 1902.
Will Not Make Statement.
Rev. Wheeler will not make the
statement of his case, for publication
over his own signature as expected.
The statement was to have been ready
today, and the T.-R. was informed
by Mr.. Wheeler Tuesday afternoon
that it had been prepared and had been
sent to his lawyer for approval. The
attorney informed the T.-R. this morn
ing that he would not consent to have
any statement of any kind published,
and that he had SO informed Mr..
Wheeler. The attorney said that he
would Immediately withdraw from the
case if his client made any statement
of his case. for he didn't want to be
hampered In the trial by something
that the prisoner might say in public
print.
Wheeler's Career.
The Kennebec Morning Journal. Au-
gusta, Me-. publishes a sketch of the
career of Rev. Asaph ]. Wheeler, be-
ginning with his birth, at the little
town of Carthage, in that state. 1t
may, or may not be a significant fact
that Brother Fred" Marson was also
native ofIMaine. Brother Fred" was
also a promoter, an evangelist and
preacher
According to the Maine paper
Wheeler has been In disrepute before,
and on two occasions lost pastorates
of churches because of improper con-
duct One of these churches was at
Concord, N. H., and the other at Au-
burn. Me. The Journal says:
wheeler. altho only 80 years of age,
has had career filled with stirring In
tidents. Born as a twin in Carthage,
Maine, the son Of the Rev. John C. and
Bethiah D. Wheeler, he entered the
ministry of the Second Advent demons
nation at the age OF 10. with only a
common school education. He was a
natural born orator and was iInmed-
lately successful. His first pastorate
was over the Second Advent church in
the SOS. at Lakeport, N. H.. While
there he met Miss Lois L. Plummer of
that place, native of Moultonboro.
He remained in Lakeport about year,
and then accepted the pastorate Of a
church in New Haven, Conn. While
there he was married to Miss Plum
mer, on July q, 1885, at Lakeport, his
father being the officiating clergyman.
the bride being eight years his senior.
Wheeler remained in New Haven four
years, his passionate being brilliant
success.
about 1888 Wheeler accepted call
to the Centre Street Second Advent
very popular, and began the publica,-
ton of religious magazine, entitled
the Christian Reporter. weekly. His
Concord pastorate, begun with such
brilliant promise, ended after three ard
one half years, because of charges Of
improper conduct The church corr
Quoted hearing and dismissed him.
For some time prior to this Wheeler
had been prominently connected with
the cause of temperance. and had gain
ed reputation as a temperance ora
tor. AT the time of his dismissal from
the pastorate of the Concord church,
the Law and Order League of New
Hampshire, recognizing Wheeler's
ability, elected him secretary, and for
four years or more he held the dual
office. of secretary and prosecuting Of
ficer of the league. In this position he
won much notoriety by his vigorous
and fearless prosecutions all over the
state.
I'm 1895 the finances of the organi-
cation met with reverses on account of
i'll luck in prosecutions and from other
causes. The executive committee de-
cided that 1t was not advisable to pay
Wheeler the salary which he had been
receiving unless he could make the re-
ceipts pay the bills. In June Wheeler
was deposed as secretary. He went
to the home of his parents in West
Leeds, Me-, where he remained for
some months
wheeler was next heard Of as pas
tor of the Second Advent church in
Auburn, Me- For time he was popu-
lar both as pastor and preacher. and
he remained in Auburn some two years
or more when his pastorate ended rs
in Concord.
while in Maine Wheeler retained