Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-09-19
Demands Opportunity to Retute
Alleged Statements Made by
Mrs. Lora Bennett
CLAIMS WOMAN sLANDERED HIM
Echo of Celebrated Jordan Case Will
Be Aired in State Convention of w.
c. r. U. at Cedar Rapids Next Week
Hearing Set Before Executive
Committee on Tuesday.

Claiming that MIS-. Lora "A. Dell
nett, of this city, state corresponding
secretary of the w. c. 7. u, and pres
ident of the Fourteenth district, has
slandered him in the state organiza-
ton, Chaplain Jesse Cole Of the Iowa
Soldiers Home, has filed with Mrs.
Marian H. Durham, state president, a
petition asking that he be given a
hearing to refute such charges, before
the state executive board at the Cedar
Rapids state convention Of the w. c. T.
u. mex, week.
Chaplain Cole has been given the
privilege of appearing before the exc
cutive board, which ce;nprises about
'rty Of the leading w. C. Il. U. wom-
en- OF Iowa, who are state officers of
the union, and district presidents. The
hearing will be held on Tuesday morn
ing, Sept. 20.
Claims Wanton SIane,r.
Chaplain Cole claims wanton SANDER
on the part of Mrs. Bennett, alleging
that to different district presidents of
the state Mrs. Bennett warned them,
and thru them their different unions,
against the semployment of Chaplain
Cole in any way as q lecturer or
speaker. on the ground that he was a
man Of bad and immoral character.
Echo Of Jordan Trial.
The approaching sensational episode
that ill be aired before the state W.
G. T. q is an echo Of the somewhat
celebrated Jordan trial, which had its
inception within the soldiers home.
w. F. Jordan, a former member of
the home, and president Of the Union
mission, was expelled from the institu-
ton upon trial held in January, 1907.
He left the home during the following
March.
Cole is Threatened.
During the interim, between the date
Of Jordan's hearing and his departure
from the institution, Chaplain Cole re-
ceived several warnings to the effect
that IL Jordan were expelled from the
home he, (Cole), ---auld figure in the
most sensational es,- II that was ever
stirred up in a state institution in
Iowa.
Mrs. Bennett interested herself very
much in the Jordan case and inter-
viewed Commandant Horton concern
ing it.
w. w. Hazen, who had been con-
nected more or less with Jordan's mis-
sion. wrote Cole letter, warning him
in a presumably friendly tone that, if
Jordan were dismissed from member
! 1917 {xa ~ =, - ~,
Jordan's friends that Cole was respon-
sible, and that there would result a
scandal that would destroy Coles good
influence in the community.
Jordan is ousted.
Jordan was finally Aousted, and on
Dec. ~, 1907, at Hubbard, Chaplain
Cole was placed on trial before b
committee Of the Northwest Iowa con-
ference of the Methodist church to
defend himself against charges Of inn
morality, preferred by Jordan. In this
hearing Mrs. Bennett was one of Jor-
dams, principal witnesses. Another
witness for Jordan was Mrs. Mary
Southwick, president Of the local w.
C. Z. U. The result OF the hearing
was a comh lete vindication Of Chap
lain Cole.
In February 1908, action was begun
against Jordan by another member OF
the local Methodist church, likewise
member Of the home and Jordan was
placed on a church trial on series
of charges, and he was found guilty.
On appeal, a couple of months later.
the finding of the trial court was sus-
tanned, and Jordan's name was stricken
from the membership rolls of the
church.
Wide Interest in Approaching Action.
There will be a statewide interest in
the approaching action at Cedar Rap
ids, for the case has already attracted
much attention. Mrs Bennett has been
prominent in local, district, and state
w. c. T. u. circles for years, and
there will naturally be suspicion
that, If Chaplain Coles contentious
before the state executive committee
are proved, some action will be taken
within the union in displacing Mrs
Bennett from the important office she
now holds.
| Mrs. Bennett was asked today con-
corning her side of the case, and said
that she did not know that any such
petition had been filed with Mrs. Dun
ham. Further than this she refused to
discuss the matter at all.