The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1915-01-14
(From Wednesdays Daily

The Rev. John Wesley Carter, d. D.,
who was succeeded as pastor of the
Henry M. Simmons Memorial Church
here by Rev. James Darnell, this morn
ing gave out very interesting inter
view on this now much talked of case.
Mr.. Carter holds that the faint of in
sanity is in Darnell in some place and
insists that the officials of the Uni
tartan Church will ultimately seek to
have him examined to ascertain his
mental condition. The following
statement was written by Mr. Carter
and is published without comment:
DR.. Carter, the evening supply of
the Simmons Memorial church during
the last two years, said when inter
viewed today:
| Mr.. Darnell is sad disappoint-
ment to me. He was a brilliant speak
er and had many qualifications of
strength. The revelation that he had
wife in Chicago was shock to me. It
is a pity that so promising young
man should end his usefulness to society
in such an odorous and tragic way.
/ have known Mr.. Darnell about
three years. He was pastor of church
in Owatonl1a, Mimi, which was burned
and rebuilt during my passionate there
of five years. About seven years after
left the Owatonna church, Mr.. Darn
ell came as new and young pastor.
/ have v;ited OwatonEa every summer
since leaving some ten years ago. And
| ON two visits met Mr.. Darnell and
learned much Of his work from my for
mer Pensioners. When he came to
Owatonna he brought with him Ethel
Sturgeon of Avon, ILL.,, whom he intro
| duced as Mrs. Darnell. It has recently
| been revealed That Mr. Darnell procur-
| ed a license to marry Ethel Spurgeon
in Chicago but the ceremony was never
performed. Although they lived to-
gether as man and wife, for some time,
| in the Owatonna parish. After time,
Mrs. Darnell left Owatonna and Mr..
Darnell reported that they were di-
vorced, and that last year she died. It
| has now been discovered that Mr..
Darnell needed no divorce or annull-
ment having never been married to
Miss Sturgeon, who is now living in
Illinois.
/ have known Ruth Soper from lit
tie girl. After his alleged divorce Mr..
Darneu gave Ruth Soper noticeable at
| tention which was at once commented
upon by the parish. Arrangements
were made by which Ruth Soper soon
entered Ryder Divinity school, Chica-
go, to prepare herself to become the
wife of Mr.. Darnell Both Mr.. Darnell
and Mss Soper told me that they were
sure that they loved each other. In
September, 1913, Miss Soper left for
| Chicago and Mr.. Darnell followed her
to the University of Chicago. On Oc-
tober 3rd, 1913, Mr.. Darnen and Miss
Soper went to Hammond, Indiana, and
were secretly married there by re-
tired Baptist minister, but the minister
did not record the marriage at the
county seat, which is Grown Point. He
writes that he considers Mr.. DarneH
legally married to Ruth SOBER and that
| Crown Point does not enter into the
/ case.
On July 10, 1914, baby boy was
born to Rev. and Mrs. DarneE at Owa-
tonna. Mr.. Darnell came on a few
days later and their secret marriage on
October Bird, 1913, was made public in
the Owatonna papers. Mr.. Darnell an
nounced that he would take his wife
and baby to a new parish as soon as
one was procured.
After varying experiences, here and
there, Mr.. Darnell, greatly to my sur
prise, appeared in Kenosha as a candi-
date at the Simmons Memorial church.
When we met face to face, he drew me
aside for a walk. He begged of me
to give him this last chance to make
good. He seemed so sincere, and So
pathetic, that he melted my heart. For
the sake of his wife and baby and be-
cause of his earnest appeals to be given
another chance, [ let him go on. The
trustees Of the church did not ask me
even if I Lad ever known him. They
liked him and until yesterday [ be-
lieved he was making good, and /
was so glad.
Miss Ruth soper has always been a.
good girl. She is now the innocent
victim Of this man who las wronged
her. Mr.. Darnell has betrayed my con-