Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-05-29
Pastor of the Methodist Church
Does Not Keep Memorial
Sermon Engagement
HAS BEEN DRINKING HARD
Spends Few Days in This City, and
Leaves Small Hotel Bill unpaid-G.
F. stansberry, Trustee of the
Church, Receives Telegram Saying
He Will Not Return.

| The town of Gilman has a sensation
in the sudden disappearance Of Rev. j..
A. Johnson, pastor OF the Methodist
church of that place, who was expect
ed to preach the memorial sermon
Sunday morning at 1890. Union serv-
ices of the Congregational and Meth
odist churches had been arranged, and
he congregation was surprised to see
Rev. Chambers, pastor of the Congre-
gational church, in the pulpit. 1t was
not long before The sensation became
noised about town, and nothing else
has been talked of on the streets OF
Gilman today.
At . o'clock Sunday morning G.. III
Stansberry, one of the trustees of the
church, received n telegram from Rev
Johnson, dated Des Moiues. He said
that he was not coming back, and ask
ed Mr.. Stansberry to see that his goods
were shipped to him. A letter was also
received by Mr.. Sta sherry today. and
in this more explicit information re-
garding the disposition of the pastors
goods was given.
Has Been on Spree.
The fact of the matter is Rev. Mr..
johnson has been on II spree in this
city. This became known ut Gilman
thru Les Lavender. who drove the
pastor from Gilman to Marshalltown
last Thursday. Johnson hired a team
at the Imler barn, and Lavender was
sent along as driver. Lavender says
that the preacher drank freely from
III nd hNyf 6a
time he reached Marshalltown he was
intoxicated. According to Lavender
the preacher was not satisfied with
that which he took from his grip, but
frequented and drank at several sa-
looms, and invited MIN to drink with
him. AT the Windsor hotei, where ~
A. Johnson, Gilman registered and
stopped Rev. johnson left Saturday
afternoon, without having paid for his
last two meals. He went south on the
Great Western.
In the parsonage, Mr.. Stansherry to-
day removed old bottles and at least
one quart of whisky showing that the
pastor has enjoyed his quiet hour
study to his heart and stomach's con-
tent.
Johnson's action here Friday, which
became noised around among few OF
the church officers became even more
prominent when the T.-R. arrived Sat
urday evening. In the police court
news was the notice of the arrest of
one "a j. Johnson" on a charge al
dsorderly conduct This led to the
report and belief that Rev. Johnson
was the man arrested. The T.-R.
was asked from Gilman to investigate,
with the result that it is known that
the Johnson referred to in the police
court news is not Rev. Mr.. Johnson.
The Johnson arrested was much
younger man, and was a laborer,
weighing not over 100 pounds. Rev.
Johnson weighs over 200.
Mr.. Stansberry in conversation with
the T-R today, said that the affair
had caused a great sensation in Gill
man. Rev. Chambers, who preached
the memorial sermon, was given only
on hour and half notice, and the
audience was shocked when it learned
of the Methodist pastors escapade.
Presiding Elder w. f. Pitner, of this
city, was placed in possession of the
IRIS information from Gilman, and
will go to Gilman tomorrow to inves-
tigate.
Rev. Johnson stated in his word to
Mr.. Stansberry that he was going to
Trenton, Mo, called on account Of the
illness of his mother. DR.. Pitner says
that Johnson has been at Gilman only
about three weeks. having succeeded
Rev. w. II. H. Bunch. He is 80 years
Of age, and is a pastor of the Metho-
dist Protestant church, and a member
of the Illinois conference. He came to
Gilman from Rockport, ILL.,, a small
town across the river from Louisiana,
Mo.