Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-01-14
Rev. P. N. Dwello Wholly Exon
Grated From Charges Pre-
ferred Against Him
COMMITTEE OUT SHORT TIME
Required Only Five Minutes for Jury
to Arrive at Verdict - Almost Mid
night Before Hearing Was Completed
Wyatt placed on Defensive, by
DweIIo's Tack.


Methodist church OF State Center, was
completely vindicated shortly before
midnight Wednesday in the decision
of the investigating committee of the
Marshalltown district, following the
hearing at Tama.
The charges against Mr. Dwello were
preferred by ]. B. Wyatt, until recent
ly pastor OF the church at Kenwood
Park. Cedar Rapids Wyatt alleged that
Dwello had slandered and libeled him
In defamatory statements made in
charges of non payment OF debts,
placed before the last session of the
Upper Iowa conference at Mt. Vernon.
The proceedings began in the Metl1o-
dist church at Tama at 1880 Wednes-
day morning, and it lacked but twenty
minutes of midnight before the decision
Of the investigating committee was
given. The committee was out only five
minutes, the arguments having been
finished at 1875.
Not Single Charge Sustained.
Not a single charge or specification
made by Mr.. Wyatt was sustained in
the finding, and not one iota of evil
dence that would tend to pronounce
the charges formerly brought against
Wyatt as ibelous or of a defamatory
nature. was considered by the invesri-
eating committee as having been in
troduced
Dweilo Takes Novel Tack.
Rev. Mr.. Dwello took rather un-
usual tack in ecclesiastical law and by
So doing made himself the aggressor
instead OF defendant and threw the
defensive to Mr.. Wyatt Dwello did not
deny making the charges. but he all
deny that they were either libelous CT
defamatory. Consequently Dwello toox
upon himself to show that the charges,
as made against Wyatt at the last
conference, Were true. While this was
a reversal OF the ordinary method OF
procedure. and was objected to by
Wyatt's attorney, it was permissible
under ecclesiastical law, and was so
ruled by District Superintendent Pit
ner.
Dwello Loaded Down With Evidence.
Dwello was loaded down with evil
dence to sustain his claims. His testil
mony began at about 40, and con-,
tinued until the noon adjournment. He
went on the stand again after noon,
and was on until 6 O'clock, or the time
for the supper adjournment 1t took the
State Center pastor three-quarters Of
an hour after supper to finish.
In his evidence Dwello presented
dispositions of different persons in
yyh ,hol
showing unpaid bills, and partially
paid accounts
Arguments Begin at 10.
It was not until 10 o'clock Wednes-
day night that the arguments began.
Rev. j. F. Black, of Grundy Center, Mr..
Rwelle's associate counsel, was first to
speak. He was followed by Mr.. Dwelle.
Rev. L. L. Leonard, of Belle PLANE, Mr..
Wyatt's attorney, then spoke, and
Black closed. The committee was In
structed by DIR. Pitner, and retired at
1895. The finding was returned five
minutes later.
The ministers who acted as members
of the investigating committee were
Rows. H. o. Pratt, of Tama; N. A. Mer-
shon, of Toledo; A. T. Bishop, nowa
Falls; w. H. Doner, of Geneva; and
j. II. Hayward, of Montour
Unpleasant and 1hankIess Task.
In speaking Of the action DR.. w. F.
Pitner, district superintendent who has
been conversant with the case said to-
day:
1T was an unpleasant and thankless
task to prefer charges against a broth
er minister, and it is only when neces-
sary to protect the church, or the good
name of the ministry, that it is over
done.
'"This was the purpose of Rev. Mr..
Dwello, Rev. w. e. Ross, of Clarksville,
and Rev. G. W. Rogers, of Strawberry
Point, in preferring these charges
against Mr.. Wyatt at the last confer
ence. These charges were withdrawn
on the condition that Wyatt would
leave the ministry. which he did. That
should have ended the matter, as the
end sought was accomplished, but Mr..
Wyatt, feeling himself injured, and
thinking to justify himself, came back
at Dwello with charges of libel and
SANDER.
at will be difficult to persuade the
friends of Mr.. Dwello that the action
was not case of spitework. In defend
ing the action, Mr.. Dwello was put to
an immense amount Of work, and ex-
pense in securing evidence. His vindi-
cation is complete"
STRIKE NOT LIKELY.