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

al other persons who asked that the
prosecutor seek to learn whether
Darnell had violated the marriage
laws.
"If we learn that any previous
marriages without n divorce existed
when he married Miss Vaughn the
evidence will go to the grand jury"
said Case.
Stops at Downtown Hotel.
Rev. Mr., Darnell stopped at a
downtown hotel Monday night at the
request OF Mrs. Vaughn. mother OF
the girl he married last November.
The minister said that he had re.
NAMED downtown of his own Volt
ton. that he did not want To bring
more notoriety on the Vaughn fam
lily.
Rev. Mr.. Darnell and his father
sat In little room at the Saratoga
hotel when visited by a reporter
for The Dispatch.
81 won't talk to SOUL declared
Rev. Mr.. Darnell 1--WE talked too
much now. I'll tell IL all to my
father. but 10 no one else"
With the consent of Darnell. SEN
Tor. some questions were put TO the
young preacher. He sat with his
head bowed. His answers were low.
Were you married TO Ruth
Soper?r
u decline to state"
"why?"
Wei | don't think I ought to-
Are you the father of the child
she says is You're"
1T cannot tell you."
did you live with Ruth Soper as
her husband?'
II don't want to talk about IT,"
Father Very Indignant.
At this point Darnell. senior, de-
manded TO know why his son did
not answer the questions out and
out. He displayed Indignation.
You have made statements which
call for answers TO these questions.
was suggested.
Well" shouted the preacher, I've
been misquoted. They did not tell
IL as | said IL. I'm willing to face
what I have TO face. don't propose
to stand for everything they want
TO pile on me-"
Those are straightforward ques-
TONS" said DaTnell. senior. why
don't you tell the truth about it,"
Doris Will Understand.
They have told lies about me-"
went on young Darnell. "They said
| was mixed up IN woman scrapes
at the University of Chicago. that
they had to fix up lot of trouble
for me. That is lie. I'm not
going 10 tell any more about ii.
I'll see Doris and she will under
stand. If they want TO start any
prosecution, let them go ahead"
'Ill tell you one thing" said OAR
nell, senior i've come here to
find out the truth. I'm going to
get IT, After I've talked with Mrs.
Vaughn and my sons wife I'll know
better how TO proceed. I'm going
to stay untpI've cleaned this up"
Darneli Retains Attorney.
Richard J. Cooney. law partener
of Clarence barrow, was retained by
Darnell as counsel.
Doris Vaughn Darnell, eighteen
year-old child-wife of the minister,
swore undying fealty to him today.
"Iil go with him to India and be
a missionary all my life, il he wants
me to-" she said. That's how
much | love him.
Mrs. Vaughn Darnell is slip of
a girl with blue eyes and golden
hair She married Darnell in No.
vember and had expected to join
him in Kenosha.
She wept today while her mother
and her sister Madge told her that
her marriage with the young preach
err must be annulled, and declared
she would never consent to il.
II know il must all be a terrible
mistake" said the young wife. II
feel sure that my trust i'm him
has not been misplaced"
Such a Lovely Voice.
81 met Mr.. Darnell and fell i'm
love with him when he came to the
South Park Methodist church one
night many months ago to supply the
pulpit for Rev Mr.. Peabody. lie was
so earnest and devoted, and he had
such a lovely voice.
"Oh.,l cant describe the effect
his voice had on me.
Il was thrilled when ! heard his
appeal TO the congregation to be
better men and women. loved
him from that moment" ~.
A search of the record failed to
reveal any proof of his marriage to
TO Ruth Soper on or about October
2. 1913. in Hammond, Ind.
Darnell made the following state
ment:
II am not and never have been
married to Miss Soper of Owatonna.
The baby she has is not my baby.
Because I knew her well and pushed
her baby carriage round people got
to saying the baby was mine. I
repeat that she is not my wife.
Wrote Some Letters.
Il knew Miss Soper at Owatonna.
Mimi, where ! had a church for
some time. We were both students
last year at the University of Chi
cage. After went to Oshkosh
she wrote me several letters. I
answered some of them.
Then she wrote a letter saying
she was coming to Kenosha TO
live. I replied that had no OBJ
lection. She came, but | did not
pay her fare.
Some time after her arrival a
baby was born to Miss Soper. At
that time | was protector of Miss
Soper. shielded her from her
relatives. That was why / wheeled
the baby carriage.
Il will admit my conduct may
have been unbecoming a minister