The Sentinel=record., 1910-02-20
MINISTER SAYS DOOR LOCKED ITSELF THAT SHUT PARISH
 WIFE IN WITH HIMSELF.
Explanations Were Made Difficult by Series of Circumstances Which rate Husband Does Not
 Believe.

Leland, H., Feb. 19.-Lelnd is all wrought up over trouble in the Meth. odist church there of which Rev l.. A. lamrick, a former resident of Aurora. lis pastor, and all because of a call made by the pastor on a woman mem. Der of his church. One arrest has been made and it is expected that the whole affair will be thoroughly aired when the accused is brought to trial.
 MT. Hamrick was at one time a bar. Der in Aurora, following the trade in order 10 earn money enough to put Himself through college He attended Northwestern University at Evanston.
 Rev. Mir. Hamrick strenuously de- .nies any intention of wrongdoing and insists that circumstantial evidence alone has put him in a false light be. fore the husband who. he asserts, was lat one time a prominent member of tho Methodist church and president of he Epworth League
 The trouble was started by call made by the pastor upon Mrs. J. A. Grover, which was interrupted by the womans husband The accusation made by the husband SO wrought upon the pastor that he held no services Sunday and left town. Grover was arraigned before Justice Flaherty on Ia charge of islander preferred by Mar tin Olson. father of Mrs. Grover
 Mir Olson's story of the anair is this:
 Rev ATr Hsmrick went to the home of Mrs Grover just after 2 o'clock Friday night to seek her serv- ices as a singer in his church choir She was just leaving rhe house and had locked the back door The other door had a spring lock and when she invited her caller in the door locked as it shut A neighbor called the young womaus husband on the phone. commented OF his visit, and he left his grocery store for home.
 Hardly had the minister seated himself when there came a tremen. sous rappng at the rear door The other door had been trade and found locked by the wrousht-up husband
 Accompanying the bounding were loud imprecations and many high. pitched, angry words. The minister, not man of the world and unusued to violence. shrinking disagreeable conversation and charges. and fearing turbulence rushed from the other loor as the back was battered down by the husband The husband hesi- tated not to voice his suspicious 10 his wife and later to the wife of the pastor.
 Fuel was added to the flames when Mrs. Grover declared she was going to choir practice and left the house and her husband learned later that no choir practice was held. She haiset ont for church to attend choir prac tice. but. unknown to her, the minis fer had called off the song rehearsal Nothing she could say to her husband on her return could convince him that she had intended attending choir prac. ttce.
 Grover did not hesitate to give his version of the unfortunate situation to This friends Excitement was running high and scores were planning to at tend Rev. Mr Hamrick's church yes terday. However. members of the of fcial board of the church and rela' tiyes of the pastor persuaded him to give mp the services yesterday and he decided 10 do so.'
 My son-in-law was going at fast clip and he minister and my wife were talking over plans that might be made for his betterment. Rev. Mr.. Hamricz was al the house Friday morning with Grover and my wife and my daughter He came back in the evening to talk to her about join ing the church choir.
 Grover shall pay for his unjust ac- cusa,;a7s. My daughters name shall not he attacked with impunity'
 Mrs Grover has been married four wears. She eloped with Grover, her father says. Mir Olson is director of the Farmers and Merchants Bank of Leland and is accounted one of the towns wealthiest citizens.
 NO FAVoRlTIsM SHOWN.