LeMars Daily Sentinel: Tuesday, August 19, 1924

PREACHER DENIED ALL ALLEGATIONS
SAYS WIFE HAS BEEN THORN IN HIS FLESH SINCE HONEYMOON DAYS

Denying the allegations of his wife in her $25,000 damage suit
for alienation of affections, Rev. John E. Hill, Merrill minister, declares
that he will do everything in his power to help Mrs. Stinton, the pretty
widow whom his wife accuses, to fight the case.

Rev. Mr. Hill, who is in Sioux City during the serious illness
of Mrs. Stinton's father, told his side of the story to a Sioux City Journal
reporter Friday morning. He declared that his wife's suit for damages is an
effort to discredit the testimony which Mrs. Stinton intends to give in the
trial of his suit for divorce.

Mrs. Hill began suit against Mrs. Stinton for $25,000 damages
Thursday, claiming that Mrs. Stinton had stolen her husband's affections.
Rev. Mr. Hill, who was pastor of the Methodist Episcopal church at Merrill
until recently when he resigned, at present is suing Mrs. Hill for a
divorce. He charges cruel and inhuman treatment.

Widow Denies Charges

Mrs. Stinton, the defendant in the alienation suit, is a widow
of about 30 years of age. Her husband died recently, but during his
lifetime both Mr. and Mrs. Stinton were members of the church where Rev. Mr.
Hill preached.

Mrs. Stinton stated that she could not imagine how Mrs. Hill
could bring such charges against her. She added that she has never been
alone with Mr. Hill at any time and that until Mr. and Mrs. Hill separated,
she never was in the company of Mr. Hill when his wife was not present.

Mrs. Stinton said she has known the Hills for about four years,
although it has only been about a year and a half that she has been in
intimate terms with them. She stated that there had always been trouble
between the Hills as long as she had known them.

"Mrs. Hill has no grounds for bringing such charges against me
and I will fight the case to the limit," she stated.

Rev. Mr. Hill came to Sioux City July 26 to place his mother in
the Methodist hospital here. She died August 10.

Always Had Trouble

Mrs. Stinton brought her father to the hospital July 29 and now
is in Sioux City attending him. He is in a very critical condition.

Following the death of his mother, Rev. Mr. Hill remained to be
near Mr. Hammond, father of Mrs. Stinton, in the last hours.

In speaking of his wife, Rev. Mr. Hill stated that during the 20
years of their married life there had always been trouble between them. He
charged Mrs. Hill with having an uncontrollable temper, and with constantly
nagging him. He said his wife continually was referring to a neighbor as
being the kind of man she would pick out for her second husband.

Mr. Hill states that he is making his home with his father, in
Aurelia, Iowa. He stated that to the best of his ability he contributes
toward the support of his two daughters. The elder girl is 19 and the
younger is 14 years old.

Mrs. Stinton has lived in Merrill for quite a few years, said
the minister. "She always has been highly respected in the community where
she lived and I shall do all in my power to help her fight this case," he
declared.