Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-09-29
Free Methodist Turns Car
penter In Order to Live
With Another Woman
THE WIFE HAS HIM ARRESTED
His Companion Was Wife of Mahaska
County Farmer-PeopIe Well Known
at New Sharon and oskaloosa,
Where Preacher Once Did Itinerant
Preachins-oId Story.

Des Moines, Sept. 29.--From a
boarding house on West Third street
past month, Rev. A. l.. Critchloe OF
New Sharon and Mrs. M. f. Merrick OF
Fremont, were taken by Sheriff Valen-
tine of Oskaloosa and Officer Breeding
Of the Des Moines police department
yesterday morning on the strength of
information sworn to by Mrs. Critch-
loe that her reverend husband has been
unfaithful to his home and family and
was guilty Of adultery.
AS soon as they were arrested and
given chance to don their clothlng,
the minister and his companion were
taken to Oskaloosa, where they faced
the charges filed against them.
Despite earnest protestations that ne
was innocent of any crime, declaring
at times, in fact, that there was mis-
take in his identity, the reverend
gentleman with a long Prince Albert
coat and with a distinguished air, fin
ally agreed to go quietly and face the
irate and alleged wronged wife.
Rev. Critchloe is minister in the
Free Methodist church, and his family
has been living at New Sharon until
a month ago, when he left suddenly,
came to Des Moines, met Mrs. Merr1ck
again. and has been associated with
her since.
Tempted and Fell.
The attraction which caused the min
lister to forsake the dignified ways OF
his calling is a comely woman, hand
some in figure, who some time ago was
at q farm house near Fremont with
her husband, the mistress in happy
home.
Then Critchloe came. He was an
itinerant minister and pitched his tent
near the Merrick homestead and was
conducting meetings In the nope Oh
saving the community. His voice rose
in prayer to a high pitch ana TOT
distance of a half mile away, 1t is SAID,
his loud beseechings to the powers OF
heaven could be heard.
The attraction of the minister raged
in the breast Of Mrs. Merrick, and was
enough reciprocated that the woman
left her home and became estranged
from her husband. This breach, hap
neninp two years ago, has never been
healed. and the meeting in Des MONIES
is said to be the direct result VI .iie
attachment then formed.
Mrs. Merrick came to Des MONIES
last March and has been living mere
ever since. About one month ago ReV.
Critchloe arrived on the scene anu
looking up the place where Mrs. Mer-
rick was staying, had her change ner
boarding house. He laid ASIDE ms MN
isterial robes, the emblem OF pure
GOSPEL. and appearing in his shlrt
sleeves followed the trade of his Mas
ter. that of a carpenter. At this trade
he worked continuously until it. was so
suddenly broken off yesterday morning.
Sheriff Valentine arrived in the city
Tuesday and located his people. CALI
ing at the police station yesterday
morning, he and Officer Breeding went
to the house where the preacher float
ing under false colors and the woman
it is alleged, he has wronged, were
staying.
rapid trip up the hill and a care
full stationing of the sheriff to stop any
attempt at flight, the Des Moines Off
Ger went to the door and raped.
.swho's there?" came from a voice
within.
IAN officer" was the response.
A flurried rattle of clothing and the
CLEAN of a gas jet was followed by the
opening of the door and the officers
made known the object Of their visit
The man of the house led the way to
the room occupied by the minister and
in a short time both Mrs. Merrick and
Rev. G. A. Critch1oe of the Free Meth
odist church were dressed in their
street clothing and were under way to
Oskaloosa.
Sheriff Valentine made known before
his departure that the information un-
der which he was acting had been filed
by Mrs. Critchloe, who, with her two
children, had been living at New Sha-
ron at loss to know wnere the hus-
band had gone.
Pleaded Not Guilty.
At Oskaloosa, yesterday, Rev.
Critchloe and Mrs. Merrick were ar
raigned before Justice Pritcnett, ciarg-
ed with adultery. They pleaded not
guilty to the charge and their trial was
set for Monday. Their bonds were
fixed at $500 EACH
The relations between Critchloe and
Mrs. Merrick have been the subject for
gossip among the Mahaska county
people who know them and now
Critchloe has a case pending in the
district court in which he is suing Rev.
| Wesley Shoemake, minister of the
Quaker church, for damages growing
out of statements which he is alleged
to have made about the prisoner
Mrs. Merrick is said to have left her
husband two years ago, and since never
has lived with him. A divorce has
never been granted
--
Sheffield.