Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-01-17
SOCIAL uPHEAvAL MAY eE RE.
SUIT OF SUIT AGAINST kEo.
kuk RECTOR.
COURT PRocEEoINos MAY
BRING OUT STORY OF SHAME
Minister Sued for Breach Of Promise
Claims He Played the Good samari.
tan and Shielded Others Who Had
Errsd-Woman Of Mystery Plaintiff
In cass-Ministsr's Past UnrsvsaIsd.

Keokuk, Jan. 17.-Members of the
fashionable st. Johns Episcopal church
congregation were stirred greatly Sun
day by hints of a o-called Inside"
story about the identity Of an s-year-
old girl, charged with being the daugh-
ter by illegitimate birth of the Rev. r.
c. McIlwain, rector emeritus OF ST.
Johns church and for forty years its
pastor, who has been made defendant
In breach Of promise suit for $4,000
brought by Rosa Haga Of Tulsa, Okla
1t is said that If the Rev. Mr.. Nell
vain is forced to resort to extreme
measures to clear himself Of the en-
tang clement in which the suit has
placed him he may lay bare the details
of one Of the most sensational scandals
existing in the high life" Of the city.
Eight years ago. according to the
story, there was born to pretty young
girl. then a member of ST Johns and
now prominent in society, babe whose
father is said now to be the head of
one of the leading business concerns OF
the city.
Minister Averted Scandal.
Seeking to avert scandal, the two
young parishioners went to their rec
tor. The Rev. Mr.. McIlwain, it is said,
took the child when it was only a few
days old and entrusted it to the care
of the woman who is now suing him.
According to the Rev. Mr.. Mc1lwain's
attorney, William C. Tim herman. the
minister has contributed $40 weekly 10
the child's support.
The Rev.. Mr.. McIiwain denies, how
ever, that if the case comes to trial he
will tell anything which will uncover
scandal that would bring disgrace on
any one. II will not need to do that"
he said. The woman will have to prove
that l offered her marriage. l have
no fear as to the final outcome"
Life Of Woman is Obscure.
Rosa Haga is about so years old. Her
past life is somewhat obscure, little be-
ing known about her here. She has
been known as woman of mystery and
it is said she has reared several chill
dren, the names of whose parents have
been held in secrecy.
Likewise is the private life Of the
Rev. Mr.. Mcllwain practically un-
known. Even pensioners closest to
him have been unable to drag from him
the history of his past. He came to
Kcokuk more than forty years ago
from New York and since then esti-
mates of the real estate he possesses
there have ranged from $4,000 to
100000.
Lives Quiet Simple Life.
In Keokuk. while rector of the lead
ing church in the city, and regarded
highly thruout the state for his knowl-
edge of ecclesiastical matters. he did
not mingle with other ministers nor
did he evince interest in church meet
ings Of any character outside Of his
own congregation. He refused a hand
some parish home which the church
offered to erect for him at any time.
to live in a barnlike house in
one of the poorest parts of the city,
wood and cooking his own
The one suit of clothes which
he has worn for at least ten years has
turned from black to green.
Despite his eccentricities and mys-
terry parishers loved and respected him
deeply.
The Rev. Mr.. McIlwain has devoted
much of his time to business affairs,
being a money lender to the poor. He
charged usual rates of interest and in
variably took a mortgage on the prop
erty.