The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-01-17
Rev Or. w. D. Mcfarland Denies
His Guilt and = Anxious to 90
East and Clear
Himself.
MOTHER OF THE GIRL ILL
Mrs. Coo is Sick In Bed and III.
Truth Of Her Daughters Death
is Kept From
Her.

Tinted Press Special Wire Servlce.l
PITTSBURGH. Pa, Jan. 17.--Under
Indictment, the Rev. DR.. w. D. McFar-
land. the aged United Presbyterian
minister accused OF causing the
death OF his former secretary. Miss
Elsie Dodds Coe, by performing two
Illegal operations, today waited for the
pittsburgh detectives to bring him
back to the scene of his alleged
crime.
The white haired minister educator
spent last night in the little jail at
Greenville, Tenn, where he was TAX
en- following his arrest at his home
In Cedar Creek, upon the request OF
the Pittsburgh authorities.
He knew he was to be arrested
from newspaper stories, and gave him
self up He says there is no truth In
the charge and he is eager to get to
Pittsburgh to clear himself.
As soon as the grand jury returned
their Indictment against the minister,
detective Berry started for Tennes-
sec. and will reach Greenville today
returning Immediately with the ac.
cuscd, who has consented to come
without cxtradition papers.
Meanwhile friends and relatives OF
Mrs. Elizabeth Coe, the mother of the
dead high school secretary, today are
making every possible effort to keep
the real cause of the young girls death
from the stricken woman, who ever
since her daughters last illness, has
been confined to sick bed. She
was too i'll to attend the funeral OF
her daughter Sunday.
There were only the mother and
two daughters. The father died sever
al years ago.
Elsie, the oldest, was 25 years old
and was her mothers chief support,
helping to keep the little household
together.
Elsie Dodds Coe graduated from the
central high school eight years ago.
She was bright, clever girl and when
she asked for a position as clerk in
the high school Office, Rev. Mcfarland
who was then head Of the academic
department. secured her position.
She soon became his secretary and
was thrown into almost constant as
sociation with the elderly educator.
he friendship grew te an intimate
association of the families of the girl
and the minister. Then the McFarl-
ands moved to Tennessee, where the
Observation-Disclosures took charge OF a
mission. Last summer Miss Coe spent
her vacation with Rev. Mcfarland and
his wife and daughter. She remained
at Greenville FIVE weeks. When she
returned, she realized her plight and
fearing to confide her shame to hei
mother or friends. she sent for DR.
Mcfarland who at one time studied
medicine, to come to her aid. Ply
sicians who testified at the inquest
say the girl in an ante-mortem state
nent told them Mcfarland arranged
for an operation to. be performed by
himself when he arrived in Pittsburgh
This failed Of its purpose and another
was undertaken with the assistance
Of girl friend OF Miss Coe. This gir
did not realize the purpose of Nc
Farland's treatment and believed hin
10 be a physician. AS a result OF ths
second operation the gin began Il
fail RAPIDLY and died last Friday at tht
Homeopathic hospital The inquest
the statements OF the physicians whc
attended the dying girl and the ordel
Tor the arrest of the minister follow
ed in quick succession