The Unwelcome Embrace

Mrs. C. A. Prouty, the Cheney woman who was kissed against her will by Rev. W. C. Hamley, has taken exceptions to a recent statement made by the preacher, in which he seeks to belittle his offense, though admitting that he kissed the woman. Rev. Hamley recently left Cheney after admitting the theft of a pair of trousers from a Cheney store, also after trying to pledge the woman and her husband not to say anything about the affectionate embrace which he bestowed upon the woman, during the absence of her husband. In a public letter, she says: 'He insulted me the first time he called. He gave the little boy 5 cents to go and gather some flowers, and as soon as the boy left the house he came to where I was sitting and threw his arms about me and kissed me. Mr. Hamley seemed determined to accomplish what he attempted to do while he was at our house. He held me by main strength. He kept begging me to kiss him, and put my arms around him, which I refused to do. I have not told the worst of Mr. Hamley's talk yet. Mr. Hamley is not a man of God, and is not to be trusted.' Hamley said the theft of the trousers was an absent-minded pleasantry.