Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-02-01
REV. VICTOR N. PATTERSON,
WHO pEsgRrEo IOWA WIFE
IN EAST. Y
MAKES PEACE WITH CHURCH
AND ATTACKS FORMER BRIDE
Misdssds, Asks Forgiveness Of
Church, and 10 Restored to Clerical
Riahts-Aeeussd Of Making Mis-.
statsmsnts 70 Church Board.

waterloo, Feb. 1.-Another chapter
has been written In the strange career
OF Rev. Victor NJ Patterson. for two
years pastor Of the Union Congrega-
tional church in this city, News from
Middletown, n. Y, is to the effect that
Mr. Patterson, who is about 30 years
Of age and who disappeared from
Howells, where he was pastor of a
church, a year ago when certain dis
closures were made in his marital life,
has reappeared in that city and asked
that the official board be assembled
and clear him of charges that had
been hanging over him when he left
Feb. %, 1910. The dispatch says that
the members of the board accepted his
explanatory statements. and expressed
the hear,iest good wishes for his future.
Gave Wrong Statement.
The dispatch says that he had mar
ried a young lady of Waterloo. Iowa
He claimed to have lived with her but
short time, which was true. as he de-
serted his bride of a few weeks at En-
metsburg, Iowa. His explanation to his
official board was to the effect that he
had found after his marriage that he
had been deceived in his bride: that he
had received a decree of divorce from
her and that he hoped his life was not
com pletely wrecked.
The facts in the case are that Pat.
'terson deserted his bride and she
grieved over his absence, not know
ing where he had gone or what fate
had befallen him. She subsequently
learned that he was paying court to
a childhood friend in Brooklyn, n. Y
and expected to marry her as soon as
her health was restored, as she was
an invalid at the time, The young lady
was from an old and highly esteemed
family in Brooklyn and was a member
of the Parkville Congregational church.
1t was thru her pastor. DR.. Pyle, that
Patterson's marriage became known.
Wife Given Divorce.
Mrs. Patterson, as soon as she
learned that her husband was paying
attentions to another young lady and
expected to marry her. laid her case
before the county attorney Of Emmett
county, and she finally was awarded
a divorce and alimony In the sum Of
about $4,000, which was to be paid
in installments, with q certain sum
paid down. II Patterson had not
agreed to the payment OF alimony. Il
10 said. he would have been brought
back on q state warrant to answer to
the crime Of wife abandonment. Pat
terson also was obliged to sign a
statment generating his wife from
all blame and giving her clean bill
Of character. This was insisted up
on by the attorney because the report
had come to Emmetsburg and to Wa
terloo thru correspondence that Pat
terson had made statements affecting
his wife's character.
Left After Expose.
1t was not long after the news
reached New York that Patterson
had wife in Iowa, that he disap-
peared. Nearly everybody in Water
loo had forgotten the case until their
was attracted by the dis
patch from the east. That dispatch
reads as follows:
Niddletown, n. Y. Jan. 31.-After an
absence from this vicinity of nearly a
year. during which time nothing was
heard from him, Rev. Victor NJ. Patter-
SOL, 1OTIIeE PopQldl pdSloi VI tiiS
church of Howells, n.
Y, returned to Howells today and ask
ed that the official board of the church
be called together that he might clear
himself of charges that had been hang
ing over him since he suddenly left the
pastorate on Feb. %, 1910.
Mr.. Patterson went from Brooklyn to
the Howell Congregational church as
pastor in the fall of 1909. 1t was given
out that he had a fiancee in Brooklyn.
When he left Middletown he went to
Europe. He appeared before the Off
cial board of the Congregational church
today and stated he had married a girl
In Waterloo. Iowa and had lived with
her but short time as he found after
that he had been deceived in
her. He said that he had secured
divorce from his wife and hoped his
life was not completely wrecked.
The members OF the Official board ac-
copied his statement, and expressed
the heartiest good wishes and hope that
the Young minister's troubles We're mast