Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-01-03
Minister Who Conducted Meet.
ings Here Last Summer
Charged With Rape
ALLEGED VICTIM A YOUNG GIRL
Frances Worden, Until Recently Of The
City, Makes Serious Charge Against
a Des Moines Preacher-Girl is Only
10 and First Met the Minister Here,
When He Was Conducting Revival.

Rev. John Wesley Hook, an evangel-
let who conducted series of tent meet
ings in this city last summer, is under
arrest at Des Moines on charge Of
rape. The complaining witness in the
case is Frances Worden. aged IS,
daughter of laborer who resided, un-
til recently, on Woodbury. street, but
who now lives in Des Moines. The girl
first met the preacher, 1t is claimed, in
this city. The assault is alleged to have
occurred while on the way home from
church. Rev. Hook. however, denies
that he has committed any crime, and
gives as the cause for the unjust accu-
sation spitework because of his demand
on Mr.. Worden to pay his rent.
The Wordens, 1t seems, upon going
to Des Moines about two months ago,
have been occupying b part of Rev.
Hooks home. Rev. Hook is now affili-
ated with the union Of the three
Churches Of God, which was recently
effected in East Des Moines. lie has
been conducting revival meetings dur
ing the past few years turnout the
state, and he claims for his meetings
here that they We're among the most
ever held by him anywhere.
The Des Moines Capital, in speaking
of the case, says:
when taken before the police magis-
trate yesterday afternoon to answer to
IA charge of rape Rev. John Wesley
Hook, of Ills Court avenue, Indignantly
denied that he had assaulted Frances
Worden, the 13-year-old girl by whom
hn is accused. He stated to his friends
that the accusation Is false and without
foundation and that when the trial OF
the case is held on Jan. 6 he will be able
to prove by competent witnesses that
he has been falsely :naligned.
Rev. Hook was found about 1880 In
the afternoon by Officer Ed Crawford.
The warrant was served and the preach
err went with the officer without MUIR
muir except to say that he was falsely
accused. He denied any knowledge
whatever of the crime and stated that
the charge had been brought against
him as spite-work. He admitted that
he had been married to six different
women, but stated that the record at
the court house will show that he was
divorced from five of them for good ana
sufficient causes. His sixth wife. with
whom he is now living, says that she
does not believe word OF the cnarge
against her husband and that on tne
contrary she knows that he can not De
guilty as charged In the inrornaatioh
on file before Judge SiiVara-
.Rey. Hook denies the statement
made by Mrs. Wcrden relative to e:
offer to settle her rent for her II she
would keep the story quiet. He admits
that he was called into the Worden
anartments, but states that he denied
the charge there made against MIN
and that he would make no trouble
about the rent If the family would only
move out.
"Rey. Hook and the Wordens first be-
came acquainted at Marshalltown dur
ing the revival services held there last
summer. The Wordens moved to Des
Moines two months ago. They are poor.
Rev. Hook permitted them to occupy
part of the basement in his home at
nominal retnal. The father has been
working about the city at odd jobs and
the mother has been working at res
taurant at 222 East Fifth street. The
members OF the family are devoutly re-
lisious and attend services at the mis-
sion every night. The father first
learned of the crime committed against
his daughter when he was at the
church last Monday evening. He was
so aroused by the story that he threat
ened to run from the house and engage
the minister in physical encounter.
Several of the brothers and sisters at
the mission prayed with him until his
spirit was Gained.
Mrs. Worden's Oldest daughter IS
better known as Mrs. Hattie Secrist.
Altho not yet Of age, the mother says
that her daughter is widow. There
are several other children in the family,
among whom is a grown brother, who
resides at Marshalltown and is en-
ployed on the Iowa Central railroad. He
had not known of the charge against
the minister until 1t was published thru
the newspapers"
Rev. Hooks hearing has been set for
Tuesday, Jan. 6.
WOULD CONSOLIDATE SCHOOLS.