The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1908-06-10
AN ALLEGED SENSATION
Methodist Church Circles Stirred
Over Disposal of Certa n Property

The Capital at Des Moines has been
publishing scare head articles on
the discovery of how Mr.. Daniel
Francis of that city had disposed of
his property worth some 100000. 1t
is alleged that Rev. Thuresson now
of the nenison church. but who was
formerly pastor of Asbury church Des
Moines had Goae something which
was not fair in inducing Mr.. Francis
to deed his property for certain
benevolent purposes. and that he went
with Rev. Brown we'll known Meth
odist minister. recently to the Francis
home and took legal papers against
the protest of the widow Of course
all knowing Rev. Thuresson knew
that he would not commit any acts
of doubtful character. He was
interviewed on Monday by repre-
sentative of this paper and set mat
ters at right in plain statement as
| follows:
Rev. Thuresson states that MIR.
Francis decided his property for the
building of home for superannuated
preachers. about three years ago. He
wished to leave his property to some
charity and he wished to leave it in
bulk so that it might accomplish
something. He asked the advice OF
Rev. Thuresson as his pastor and later
corresponded with Judge Henderson of
Indianola, Mr.. Brown and others for
a period of AZ year before the deed
was executed. All the terms were
discussed in the presence of Mrs.
Francis. 1t was Mr.. Francis desire
that his property should be admins
tered in such manner that his wife.
who had had little business experience
might be provided for. and that after
her demise the property should go to
the purpose indicated. The deed was
made out about three years ago.
Recently Mr.. Francis wrote to
Sec'y Brown telling him that he felt
the approach of death and asking him
in case he should rot return from the
General Conference in time to see
him. that Mr.. Brown would go to the
house and secure certain papers neces-
sary for the administration of the es-
tate. In his letter he described just
where these papers would be found
Rev. Thuresson was in Des Moines
where he delivered a baccalaureate
s rmon and Sec'y Brown asked him
to accompany him to the Francis
home. Mrs. Francis received them
with pleasure and assisted Sec'y
Brown in securing the papers accord
ing to her husbands $ directions.
Rev. Thuresson feels confident that
the CORES spondence which Mr.. Francis
had with the church officers before
the deed was made sure. The testi-
mony of the witnesses to the deed.
all of whom are of the highest stand
ing will completely exonerate any
one from the charge of undue in
| fluence and prove that the deed in
question but carries out the long
and we'll thought out plan of Mr.. Fran
CTS in which his wife fully concurred.
The estate is valued at between
$50. 900 and S75 900. 1t was provided
in the deed that Mrs Francis should
- we'll cared for during her lifetime
and the deed goes into detail as to
her care. 1t is further provided
that the conference must raise a
fund of $50 600 to maintain the home
to be erected by Mr.. Francis gener
osity. which condition has already
been met
The tournament brought a host Of
people TO town, whose presence we
should be pleased 10 notice. but we