Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 222, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 September 1912 — Wilbur Criswell Tells His Side of The Story. [ARTICLE]

Wilbur Criswell Tells His Side of The Story.

Wilbur Criswell, from southeast of town, whose alleged assult upon his wife last Thursday evening caused “considerable excitement, claims to have been done considerable injustice by the view the public took of the affray. He states that he and his wife separated after he had become convinced that she was receiving the attention of apother. He states that a few days after their separation he found her walking the streets of Rensselaer and that he took her to the Rensselaer Hotel and provided a bed for her and gave her some money. He says that she has remained at the hotel since that time, working as a servant. He said that after she had left him, he took their four children to the home of his parents, where they have since been cared for. He thought he could not have her with him or them any more. Later, however, he thought over the matter and realized that to bring up the children without a mother was a difficult task and he determined to try to persuade her to return to him. He tried to get to talk to her but cSuld not. She appealed to Officer Critser, claiming that he intended to kill her and Officer Critser searched him one night tp see if he carried a revolver, but he was unarmed and says that he never carries a weapon and that the thought of injuring his .wife never occurred to him.' On last Thursday evening he was standing near the Rensselaer Garage when he saw his wife going down Front street. He followed her and called to her, he says, and finally ran up to her and asked her to talk to him. She said that he wanted to appeal to her to return to their children and he caught of her arm. She pulled and he held to her and she screamed for help. Both were pulling, according to his story, when she fell down and he fell on top of her. They were in this position when her cries for help brought out several residents near Front and Rutsen streets. He states that he had no thought except to get her to listen to him, thinking that his appeal might cause her to return to his home. Both Mr. and Mrs. Criswell are large in stature and of great strength. He claims that she was pulling with all her might and he was holding on with equal determination. Mrs. Criswell says that her husband always provided well for herself and their children. Neighbors say that he is an industrious man and worked hard all summer; Criswell says that he Was willing to take her back to his home and continue to work for their support and happiness, notwithstanding the things that have occurred. Mrs. Criswell has not carried out her threat to have him arrested.