The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1915-01-15

nous views OF the Oriental faith.
Authorities have examined baggage
he left in his hurried flight II is said
that he was born in Peoria, ILL.,, OF
English parents who during life in
India had become Mohammedans
and that he was raised in that faith.
Letters From Brooklyn Girl.
4 series of letters from Hester
Priden of Brooklyn, whose nearest
address as found in these letters
was Gravesend. has led members OF
the local church to believe that Oar
nell had cOurted her.
Darnell's statement to his church
trustees declaring he was not mar.
ried TO Ruth Soper of Owatonna and
was not the father Of her child, has
50 aroused public opinion that the
preacher probably would he done
violence were he TO return there.
The OwatOnna woman, whose Owa-
tunna parents contend she was the
legal wife of the man. was popular
there.
In Wisconsin a common law mar
riage is binding
Investigation today failed TO find
in Hammond, Ind. Rev. David Mar
tin. whose name Is said to be sign
ed 10 4 marriage certificate in pos
session of Mrs. Ruth Soper Darnell
at Owatonna. Mimi, Rev. W. NJ.
Martin lives in Hammond, but he
says he never heard of Darnell or
Miss Soper.
His Career in owatonna.
Owatunna. Mimi, January l3.-Rev.
James Morrison Darnell came TO
Owatonna in the fall of 1911 TO be
pastor of the First Universalist
church, where he started an insti-
tutional church. He kept the church
always open. formed clubs of work
ingmen. school children and young
women.
He came along. but fortnight
later brought his bride. Miss Ethel
Sturgeon of Peoria, TO whom H.
had just been married. and who, he
said. was an heiress After a year
here. Mrs. Darnell left for her home
and remained there. Darnell soon
announced he had procured a divorce
and later said his wife had died in
an Illinois asylum.
Splits. Local Church.
Darnell split the local church into
two bitter factions ana was finally
forced TO resign. lie then went TO
Chicago university and preached at
Unity church, a nonsectarian church
in Hinsdale. a suburb Of Chicago.
Before leaving here Darnell had
paid court to Miss Ruth Soper, a
handsome blonde. daughter OF vii.
liam b. Soper, publisher of the DIVA.
tonna Tribune and granddaughter of
the late Charles Hastings. formerly
a wealthy hotel owner and horseman
Of Minneapolis.
Miss Soper went TO Chicago TO at.
tend Northwestern university.
There Darnell renewed his asten-
lions to her. Their Marriage, il is
said. took place i'm October. 1913, but
was not announced in Owatonna UNI
I'll July. 1914. A child was born 10
them the past summer Darnell re-
Gently visited i'm 0watonna. Mrs.
Darnell No. is now at the home
of her parents here, but she refuses
To be interviewed.
Darnell's mother lives in Peoria,
ILL.,. and is wealthy. lie is twenty
seven years old and claimed TO be a
descendant OF the Turkish royal fam.
lily.
HAS Marriage Certificate.
William Soper. father OF Mrs. Ruth
Soper Darnell. said that he purposed
investigating The alleged marriage
of his daughters husband, Rev.
James Morrison Darnell, to Miss
Doris Vaughn OF Chicago. and also
the record OF his daughters mar
riage to the former Owatonna pas
tor. Mr.. Sopher said that his daugh.
ter, who is now at his home. has the
certificate OF her marriage to OAR
nell. signed by Rev. David Martin,
dated October 2, 1913. at Hammond.
Ind. and Witnessed by, Louise NJ.
Jenson.
Father and Son Meet.
Chicago, January 13.-Rev. James
Morrison Darnell, the Kenosha min.
ister. whose mixed matrimonial con-
tracts have come into the limelight,
today faced his father, NJ. Fl. OAR
nell OF Peoria. in a room at the
Saratoga hotel. and spent an uncom-
Portable hour.
Darnell, ST., demanded TO know
just how matters stand between his
son and the young woman who
calls herself Mrs. Ruth Soper Oar.
nell of Owatonna, MINI. and who is
the mother of child of which she
declares the Kenosha preacher is
the father.
While Rev. Mr.. Darnell was figur-
ing out statement for Darnell. SEN
Tor the latter telephoned TO Mrs. Ed
ward +. Vaughn. mother OF Mrs. Dor
is Vaughn Darnell. at the family
home, 1901 Oakenwald avenue. and
arranged To meet her.
Il am going TO find out the exact
situation" said Darnell, senior, who
is a travelling salesman. "If my son
has been guilty, as some If these
people say. he can take his medssine
II he is innocent. l propose to stand
by him."
Detectives Given the Case.
Two detectives were assigned by
Assistant States Attorney Case to
begin an invpsfigation info Pow Mr