Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-10-01
REV. i. q. TAYLOR, MINISTER AT
MT. PLEASANT, ARRESTED.
IN DECLARED TO HAVE TWO WIVES
Voluntarily Returns to Old Home in
Wilmington, Del, to Face Charges
Of an Alleged First Wife-A Popular
Student and Successful Minister.

student at the Iowa Wesleyan
university, married and living at Mt.
pleasant and last year the pulpit sup
ply of the West Mt. Pleasant circuit of
the Methodist Episcopal church re-
turned voluntarily to his old home in
Wilmington, Del. last week to face
the charge of bigamy preferred by an
alleged first wife. He was arrested
and released under bond of $1,000.
Splendid Record at Minister.
Rev. Taylor was one of the bright
est students at the Iowa Wesleyan I'M
iversity. He was popular with both
faculty and students and his work
"a a minister both in the regular
charge which he had held at Avery
for one year and in his last appoint
ment as supply minister in the West
Mt. Pleasant circuit was of the most
satisfactory and highly creditable
character. The news of his arrest up
on so serious charge and the con-
sequens disclosure concerning his al
legged past life have produced the most
profound sensation at the university
and in the church circles where he
40 known.
The Sensational Developments.
The points in the story which have
lead up to sensational developments
have been brought out by the investi-
of the Mt Pleasant district in which
Rev Taylor was working and Presi-
dent ]. w. Hancher of Iowa Wesley
AMI university in which the young man
had been student last year and in
which he was again entered as stu
dentf or the coming year.
Married in 1897.
According to the story of the al
legged first wife Mrs. Agnes Maser
Taylor, she was married to Taylor
May %, 1897 at the residence of her
street. Wilmington, Del Rev. George
i. Wolf pastor of the First Methodist
church officiated. They lived togeth-
er for three years, during which time
"a son was born. while about six months
after Taylor is alleged to have deserted
Her, another was born" after his mar
riage," she says" Taylor was accepted
by the conference and was assigned to
two ministerial charges from both of
which he was removed and his license
to preach was revoked because of I'M
ministerial conduct"
Taylor then came west and entered
Taylor university in Indiana. AT the
close of the year his alleged first wife
says he returned to his home and re-
manned with her for few months and
that Taylor left this time claiming
that he was to lecture for the w. G.
T. u, though she says he did not con-
tribute to her support he wrote to her
regularly for time. Later the letters
stopped and she heard no more from
him. Mrs. Taylor secured employ
ment in a silk factory and says she
supported herself and two children.
Meets Rev. Lambert.
Taylor,it seems from the reports soon
gave up the lecture platform and Sc
cured employment as canyasser for
a portable yapor bath contrivance He
worked his way along the Burlington
finally reaching Ottumwa where he
met Presiding Elder Lambert N
Hearing the story of his struggle for
an education Rev. Lambert who was in
need of several supplies in the Ottum-
wa district put him to work in a small
charge at Avery Taylor did salts
factory work and was transferred to.
the Martinsburg church.
While at Martinsburg Rev. Taylor
! young lady Of high character and good
family. Rev. Lambert OBLIGATED at the
marriage. At the beginning of the
school year last fall, Rev Taylor was
transferred to the West Mt. Pleasant
circuit in order that he might reside
in Mt. Pleasant and attend the Iowa
Wesleyan university for the purpose of
continuing his studies.
A Brothers Visit,
Shortly after his removal to Mt.
/ Pleasant, a brother of Rev. Taylor,
/ came to Mt Pleasant and visited for
/ q week. This brother upon his return
!. to his home at Wilmington, Del, told
a sister of the alleged first Mrs. Tay-
lor of his visit to the home of Rev.
Taylor, and OF the work which the.
brother was doing both in the church
and the school.
Upon hearing the report the alleged
first Mrs. Taylor wrote to DIR. Hanch.
er, president of the Iowa Wesleyan
University, who in connection with DR..
Myers, investigated the matter. The
result was the evidence obtained sol
strongly corroborating the story of the
alleged first marriage that Rev. Taylor
was called to account.
1t is stated that he has admitted all
the facts in the case as claimed by the
woman making the charges except the
fact of the marriage, which he denies.
He admits that his life while at home
were rather wild and that his relations
with Agnes Maser. who claims to be
his wife, was not approved by society.
but declares that his relations with the
girl were never sanctioned by mar.
riage ceremony or a common law mar
riage.
DIR. Hancher and Dr. Myers are doing
everything in their power to get the
truth of the matter without regard to
who may suffer. II Rev. Taylor is
guilty he will be punished but if it is
found that he is innocent they will
stand by him to the end. The result
of the trial, which is to be, held next
week at Wilmington, Del, will be
a. xyo ad xrrti6 th<, x<S,,& a.. -,