Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-03-09
GROVE FALLS
OFF The WAGON
klDNAPER WHO TURNED EVAN.
GELIsT, QuARRELs WITH CAB.
BY, THEN TAKES DRINK.

Chicago, March S.--Pat Grove, kid
naper and evangelist, has Joined the
army of innumerable saints who have
fallen from grace. Some weeks ago
Grove, whose chief claim to fame up
to that time had been the part he
played In the Cudahy kidnapping. sud-
denly became converted. He was taken
up by the W. G. T. u. and the churches
and sent forth as q new Billy Sum
iday. The church and temperance pub1
| tlications spoke highly of his work.
The newspapers devoted columns to
his meetings Early yesterday morn
Ing Grove spoiled 1t all.
About 1 o'clock the evangelist and
two companions, who looked not the
least like evangelists. drove up to a
saloon on Quincy street. Every per-
son in the party, according to several
yeractous onlookers, was in highly
unevangelical state.
Cabby Wants His Fare.
The party had no sooner got out of
the cab than a heated argument began
between Grove and the driver The
cabby wanted his fare Grove said he
didn't have 1t. They wrangled for a
few minutes and then Grove an
nounced that he knew the saloon
keeper at whose door they had stop
Iped.
They entered the place and Grove
asked the proprietor to lend him 50.
Nothing doing" said the saloon
man. Business isn't so good that ]
can give money away"
Il didn't ask you to give me any
money" said Grove, Il want a loan.
Good night" said the saloon own-
er, I'm just closing the place.
Well" said Grove, turning to the
bar, give US drink. anyway
| The party drank, but when the bar
keeper asked for money Grove said he
didn't have any.
| The argument might have gone far
ther than mere words. for the bar
keep" was young and impetuous, but
the owner Of the place waived the
of peace.
Owner Wants Peace.
Then Grove and his party wandered
out into the street, and few seconds
later the cab, heavily laden and guided
by man who grumbled volubly. dis.
appeared into the night.
| Grove made his evangelistic debu
in Evanston In January. when h,
spoke to a large crowd under the aus
pices of the w. c. T. U. Prison Reform
| League.
At that time he talked extensiyel,
on the life Of crime he had led, ant
among other things boasted:
I've had more gold in my time thai
could carry away, but stolen goI,
has lost its charm
Grove also had a good deal to sa,
about the saloon keeper and the brew
er.
II want to tell the brewer, the dis
til.cr and the saloon keeper" he an
nounced, that they are tresspasser
on society, on the home; that the,
take food from children's mouths an,
the nurse from the infant"
! His Sincerity Doubted.
\ Denizens of the underworld win
have watched Groves movements eve
since he was taken up by the tmper
ance people were free to state tina
they are skeptical as to the sincerit,
of Groves conversion.
Hes the same old Pat" said one O
TIL I'M last night. He's working tn
church folks for what there is in
for Grove. He can't leave the booz
alone, though. He's been getting hi
skin full regular ever since he got re
ligion. I don't know how he puts
over"
Grove arrived in Chicago about tw
years ago. 1t had been long tim
: since the town had had a real "ba
man." and in certain circles he wa
received with acclaim. After a whil
however. Grove began to pbll on n
admirers.