Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-05-03
Rev. D. s. Staebler Asked to Re
sign Passionate After sensa-
tional Charges
WIFE OF FARMER Is INVOLVED
Charles w. Moore Finds Evidence Of
Undue Intimacy Between the Preach
O. and Mrs. Moore and Divorce Case
Results-Love Notes Figure in the
Cass--lowa News.
Special to Illness Republican.

& Special to Tlmes- Republican,
Shell Rock May 3.--A sensation
4 has been caused by the request for the
resignation OF Rev. ID. 8. Staebler, OF
the Methodist church of this city. Rev.
Staebler has granted the request. The
action Of the church board was taken
after the most sensational Develop
ments connecting the pastors name
with that Of the wife OF Charles w.
Moore. a prominent farmer. Moore has
begun proceedings for divorce. The
story Of staebler's downfall is as fol-
lows
I Neighbors are said to have suspect
ed meetings between the reverend
man and Mrs. Moore which have taxi,
en- place FOR some time. but not WITH
the knowledge OF the woman's hua-
band He trusted her and his uns3us-
specting nature was not disturbed by
those who believed not ali was right.
Some time ago the matrimonial sea
became stormy and the Moore Mouse
hold became disrupted. Frequent
Quarrels were followed by 1.-THE an
nouncement that Mr.. and Mrs Moore
had agreed to separate and THAT ne-
gotiations were pending for settlement
on the basis OF $1,000 given to the
wife. Upon hearing Of this arrange
nhent friends OF Mr.. Moofe told him
Of their suspicious CONFORMING his
wife and Rev. staebler. aHd Mr.. Moore
acted upon the suggestion to search
the house for evidence sof his wife's
alleged perfidy.
Sunday night Mr.. Moore took his
wife and two children to the Metho-
dist church, and asked friends to
search the place fSr letters during his
absence. Their .fhunt was rewarded
BY q bureau drawer full OF notes. all
unsigned, but which contained allus-
Ions that plainly pointed out the iden-
tity OF the wpiter
Most Of th4 epistles contained state
srneflts OF bJlrning love and passion
and some Of them named meeting
places. L or two asked the woman
to meet IA at j certain place in Wat
An 81 arformed Mrs. Moore that
he. aebler, would attend a
col at Nora Springs and that
- meet him at Marble Rock
Id q ceftain evening and they would
have the time OF their lives.
Il Others were equally suggestive and
one contained this sentence:
l,rsSx,Yr, alma find
rest. 7. n
M And another:
sIow can / preach next Sunday
morning unless see your face in the
congregation"
During the church hour last Sunday.
Mrs. Moore was secretly given note
~ the minister. She concealed the
paper until her return home. When
she thought her husband was putting
the team in the barn she opened the
note, but was caught reading 1t by her
husband, who returned to the house
sooner than she expected. He charged
her with her guilt, and she confessed.
Confesses His Guilt.
Mr.. Moore laid the evidence before
the official board Of the church and
! they in turn took the matter up with
Rev. j. w. Bissell, Of Waterloo, pre-
siding elder Of the district Together
they went to the home Of Rev. Staeb-
Ter Tuesday and confronted him with
the charges. He broke down and adj
united he had been corresponding
with Mrs. Moore for over a year, but
denied meeting her under improper
circumstances. Presiding Elder Bis
sell demanded his resignation at once,
ana Staebler rendered 1t Immediately.
srhe preacher left Shell Rock last
might In buggy,
To Dismiss Staebler.
s,taebler's case will probably come
hefnra the upper Iowa conference at
sNgannoketa next fall. 1t seems likely
& j swill be dismissed from the church
and ministry. His wife feels the dis
grace keenly.
He Is "a man Of about 45 years OF age
and has been pastor Of the NJ, p.
church the past twelve or fourteen
years. coming from the Evangelical
church, in which he took q prominent
part as pastor. He has two children,
Is boy OF IL and girl of Is years. He
has held pastorates at Monticello and
Laporte previous to taking up the work
at Shell Rock where he was complet-
ing his second year.
Wanted Vacation.
Rev. Staebler while at Laporte acted
oueerly and in such manner as to lead
many OF his church people TO believe
that he was suffering with trouble OF
the brain, often desigr-ted as soften
Ing Of the mental tiss, Since going
to Shell Rock he has c, planned some,
and about six weeks az he applied to
DR.. Bissell for leave Of all ,ence to take
place this summer. DR. Bissell regards
the case as very peculiar and very in
discreet, Rev. Staebler having been
seen out walking with Mrs. Moore, a
member Of the church, on different oc
casions; which gave rise to various
suspicious on the part OF the people
who noted the action.
coLLloEs WITH TROLLEY WIRE.
jos Cannon, Of Davenport, Seriously
Injured, But Will Recover.
Special to Times Republican
: Davenport, May 3.-Collision with a
broken trolley wire resulted in serious
injuries to Joe Cannon, who has been
employed as delivery boy by Frank A.