The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-09-17

watch over her." said Mrs. Sutherland
here as she conferred with the orncers
in reference to the case.
The legal proceedings are for the
Ieturn of Stuckey alone. Mrs Stuckey,
the deserted wife, mingles. amazement
with her grief as the reaIlzaIlon mas
charitable explanations of her nus
bands absence can no longer explain
And yet there are no bitter words IN
wronged wife and the Amusement of
Christian woman that the man whom
she trusted fully in both his relat1ons
of husband and minister could have
done this thing. Mrs. Stuckey had re-
course to her religious faith as she
sought. in conversation to find an ex-
rIanation for the moral fall of her
h .-sband.
Wife Believes Devil Tempted Him.
"I believe the devil must have got
the upper hand of him." she said; Il
can't think of any other way TO ex-
plain it,
And as the conversation proceeded
ever the long story of her marrleo NE
late great depression, she. spoke orten
that theory from the primitive 1altn'
to explain mans downfall.
"I believe the devil got the upper
Rand of him"
HE has always been a devoted
Christian" declared Mrs. Stuckey, "a
worker in the cause always, with more
than the ordinary energy and zeal l
never had the slightest cause to DOUBT
him in his home relations or in his
church work, and he had the utmost
confidence of his church people He
held that confidence here, and now
to do this-why, it can't seem pos
sible."
Believed He Had Been Killed.
''Why. do you know continued
"a
and no word came I believed he must
have written me and that the letter
had been lost. And then when there
was time for him to have written
again, I couldn't doubt but that ne
had some accident / felt he must
have been killed in Kansas City. And
O nthe Saturday night before she her
self went away, just two days before
she left, Lorena Sutherland met me
on the street and said, oh, Mrs.
Stuckey, YOU do look so bad and I'm
so sorry for you,' and she stopped and
kissed me. Oh, I cannot understand
it,
1t was suggested that Mr.. Stuckey
might have a story to tell of how 1t
all came about when he is brought
home But Mrs. Stuckey's faith has
been shaken.
After Trey have done this she said.
g body wouldn't know what to De-
lieve."
Has Been Married % Years.
MI and Mrs Stuckey were married
90 years ego in Texas, when Stuckey
was a farmer. He was then church
worker but had not entered the min
istry. His ministerial work covers a
period of is years. He was successful
in his revival work. Mrs. Stuckey SAID
t;;at there had lately been stories of
previous digressions on the minister S
part but that none of them were true
There mad been no family difficulty In
al! their married experience, she said,
or any suspicious circumstances in the
T. inister's life. Once, about four years
ago, her husband had nervous break
down and was absent from home four
days and then he wrote That was his
longest absence without writing. IL
had been reported that he took Lorena
Sutherland home from church on the
Sunday night before he Gisapp ei1 a.;
held one of the baby's hands and the
other, and we walked home from
church, talking of the service
''I don't believe he loved the girl" she
continued, land yet why would a man,
unless the devil ruled him, lure young
girl away, even If he was tired of his
family and wanted to be free. Only a
day or two ago 1 had a letter from Hi
nois from a friend who knew us in
Kansas City. She had seen the news
paper stories. 1T cannot be possible
she wrote. that Brother Stuckey has
done this and to me it doesn't seem
possible
Mother Sends Tender Message.
Sheriff Latimer carries missives in
sharp contrast to the two absent ones.
That to be served on the minister
is the sharp summons of the law. that
to be given Lorena Sutherland is a
mothers letter of forgiveness for her
wrong and tender call to come
home again.
Mrs. Sutherland's note was hastily
written as the sheriff was leaving.
ct told my daughter" said Mrs.
Sutherland, that while she had
erred in part, she was still my daugh-
ter and I wanted her safe home"
The letter read in part:
your father and I freely forgive
| you for your sin, for we know that
you were led away by some one much
| older than you, and without knowing
the magnitude of your offense. Your
place in the home is still vacant
ready for you to return, to occupy
the same as before you left. We will
welcome you home, and forget the
past"