The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1904-04-28
PREACHER GOES TO JAIL
Rev. l. B. Taylor, Formerly of Will
mington, Del, Gets -Four Years.
HE HAD ONE WIFE TOO MANY

Second Mate Declares Her Intention
Of Remaining True TO Him During
His Imprisonment ard Viii Claim
Him Later.
Des Moines, Ia. April 95.-Rev. l. b.
TAYLOR, regarded as one of the brightest
ministers Of Iowa Methodism and the
protege of Dr. Hrncher, Of Iowa Wes-
leyan University. was sentenced to four
years in the penitontiary for biGamy.
AS the minister smilingly accepted
the shackles ne avowcd that be Will yet
marry the prosecutriX. Mrs Taylor No.
.. lie was not the least east down by
his sentence, and when The sheriff APP
pearod to take him TO prison the
preacher caily remarked: I'm glad
it's an over Lees go
The second Mrs Taylor, who was
formerly Florence Graves. a belle of
Nartinsbuig. Ia.. says she will help
the minister 90 keep his vow to claim
her later. She says. too. that She will
make dresses, wash bake or do any
honorable thing to earn a livelihood
for herself and two babies until the
erring preacher SIS released and is free
to clasp her 20 his heart again.
Taylor resided in Wilmington. Dell
where he met and wooed his first wife
and the mother OF two children. Short
" after he bad been ordained in the
ministry of the Methodist church he
became concerned in shady deal. and
DESERVING his faithful Delaware wife.
"a, came 20 Iowa and began eyangelis-
tie work
One town which was stirred by the
young mans eloQuence was Martins
burg. Scores joined the church and
vowed to lead a new life. Taylor was
also the idol of young and pretty
women who attended church. He met
Florence Graves, daughter of Martins
burgs richest man. Enyious eyes
looked upon the sweet-faced and pure
minded girl who had won the catch OF
the season in MarunSburg. Later when
the pair were welded. Dr. Hancher,
president Of Ohio Wesleyan University,
who had been attracted by the young
man. procured a pastorate for Taylor
and arraneed for him TO take a course
of advanced study in his school.
For - months wife NO. ? lived in
blissful Ignorance. Taylor had written
20 brother in Delaware telling OF his
wonderful success in the west as
minister. Re had so oyerdrawn the
story that the brother determined TO
come west ana share i'm Taylor's gio-
rlas. He arrived in Mount Pleasant
and learned the secret OF TaylOr's dou-
bic marriage. For the sake Of the beau
tiful woman and the prattlins babe he
met nj his brothers home he decided
IN keen the secret But an unexpected
quarrel came. firing of the presence
OF her husbands brother. Mrs. Taylor
asked the visitor to cut short his stay
The brother angrily left and return
ing to Wilmington. told the whole
story. Wife No. ! demanded vengeance.
Confident that he could smoothe the
matter over, Taylor took a trip to Del
aware. He was arrested. but could not
be prosecuted under the Delaware laws
because he had not married both wom-
en- in that state Mrs Taylor No. J..
however. was successful in securing a
court sentence for desertion. and Tay-
Tor was compelled to give a bond to
oav s25 per week aimony.
Since his conviction Mrs. Taylor has
given birth 10 the second child. Despite
the admoniuou of parents. she has con-
stantIy communicated with her hus-
band. She has insisted that she will
never live with her father, nor Will she
renounce the man she loves on his chill
dren When prison bars open again to
free the minister Mrs Taylor says she
will await the divorce which wife no. ]
will be asked to secure. and that so
long as her jail-bird husband remains
rrns 81 will not forsake him.
The action OF Mrs. layior mas 1851
her the support which her father Is
able to give, and she has established
dressmaking shop.