The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-05-20

twenty-five, very slight of build, and
weighs not more than 80 pounds. She
wore a plain black silk gown and a
black straw hat, almost without
trimming. On the witness stand she
gave the impression Of great spiritu-
ality and earnestness, and through
out her testimony she frequently re-
ferred to her religion and her
church. Tears came to her large
blue eyes when she spoke of her av-
ersion to Rushfelt, and her duty to
herself, her church and to posterity.'
In reply to questions by her attor-
ney, E. M. Swartz, Miss keown said:
Il met Rushfelt at the general
conference at Lamont, Iowa, eight
years ago, and when he had known
each other only three days he said to
me, You are the kind of wife |
want That was when l was leav-
ing Lamont for home. A day or so
later he followed me to St. Joe,
though the conference hadn't clos
ed yet and he was a delegate.
| 81 told him then | didn't love him.
but ever since he has been forcing
his attentions upon me. He said he
had received evidence six different
tines that | was to be his life com
panion; he said l ought to marry in
the church, that all of my sisters
had married out of the church and
that their marriages had been fail
ures.
He called at my home here, and
made great impression on my peo-
pie, especially my mother, because he
is a man OF good character, is relig-
ious and has a good position; but |
told them didn't love him, and that
l couldn't marry for money, as there
had been too many lives ruined in
that way.
But my relatives kept urging me
to marry him, saying that my work
in the factory was making me ner-
vous and weak, that 1 couldn't keep
it up always, and that l would never
get a chance to marry again.
The witness told of the marriage
at Lamont, how the ceremony was
performed by her uncle, minister
of the church, and that her father, a
brother and three cousins attended.
She was so overweight at the time,
she said, that she didn't realize what
she was doing. Immediately after
the ceremony she left her husband
and returned to st. Joe alone.
What effect did these visions OF
Rushfelt have on your mind?" asked
Judge Allen.
"Well, I've always. tried to live my
religion" she answered, "and when
he said the Lord might punish me if
didn't obey His will, it had an effect
on me-"
did you believe in these visions?"
y@n = 49, 4 r. In
him, If you get them, why it is that
don't get them?' and he answered
that l didn't humble myself enough,
that ! wasn't sufficiently humble Of
spirit
What office in the church does
Mr.. Rushfelt hold?"
Hes an elder, and is entitled to
preach 5f%
"And you say you went into the
marriage ceremony against your
will?,''' ].
81 cried all through the ceremony,
and after it was over couldn't let
him touch me-"
Were any efforts made to per-
suade you to drop this suit asked
Swartz.
"Yes, my relatives told me had
gone before a notary public and
sworn to thirteen separate lies, and
that l would go to the penitentiary
for ten years if didn't withdraw the
suit. told them Id rather go to
the penitentiary for ten years than
live with Rushfelt single week"
The witness old of Rushfelt's be-
ing in St. Joe today, and of the eff
forts he made to meet her. A letter
he had written her since the cere-
mony was offered in evidence, and
given to the court to read. 1t con-
tanned an admission that there had
been no marital relations.
A sister Of the plaintiff, Mrs. Anna
Fullick testified in her behalf In
reply to question by the court Mrs.
Fullick said: "Rushfelt has harassed
her nearly to death. He doesn't
seem to know what the word NO
means"
Marriage is civil contract, not a
sacramento contract" said the court
in passing on the case, "and the
court is not permitted under the law
to take miracles into account. The
fact that she does not love him has
no effect whatever on the contract,
but the court can consider the fact
that she is devoted member of her
church, and that she was Influenced
by the so-called visions of this priest
of her church.
"She was persuaded to believe that
there was a divine appreciation Of
her marriage with this man, and this
was the controlling influence on her
mind, to an extent that she did not
enter into the marriage of her own
free will. This being the case, the
marriage will be annulled. st. Joe
News-Press, May IA.
State Game Preserve Will Raise
5000 Pheasants.