Uncle Dempsy Etheredge and the preacher man

Sometimes, while browsing back issues of vintage newspapers, a guy comes across an item he'd like to know more about --- like this one involving Dempsy Etheredge (1851-1896), my uncle some generations removed. It was published under "Police Items" in The Chariton Democrat of Saturday, Oct. 17, 1874. Dempsy was 23 at the time:

"On the 12th ult., one Dempsey Etheredge, of Russell, was arrested upon the information of Rev. W. N. Colgrove for proposing at gunpoint a speedy funeral in this vicinity, with said Colegrove as the corpse. Esq. Brown, before whom the case was pending, advised the enraged Etheredge to give a bond to keep the peace or go to jail. Dempsey gave it, and retired, cursing law and justice that prevented him from shooting a preacher."

That's Uncle Dempsy's tombstone in Bethel Cemetery (above). I don't have a photograph of the gentleman himself, nor any indication that his nature was unduly violent. He worked all his life for the C.B.&Q. Railroad and was a highly respected conductor when he fell beneath the wheels of his train during 1896, age 46, and died as a result.

The Rev. Mr. Colegrove, age 36 in 1874, was a Civil War veteran and an Episcopal deacon, ordained during 1869 by Bishop Lee at Christ Church in Burlington.

From June 1, 1869, and for some time thereafter, Colegrove was assigned as missionary in the southern half of the Diocese of Iowa’s Western Convocation District, serving parishioners at St. Michael's Episcopal Church in Russell as well as scattered Episcopalians in Osceola, Creston, Garden Grove, Corydon and Centerville. He lived during part of that time at least with his family in the Episcopal rectory in Russell, reportedly the first two-story house built in that community.

By 1874, Colegrove also was serving as missionary in charge at St. Andrew's Church in Chariton. Curiously, that assignment was yanked during October of 1874, about the time of his run-in with Uncle Dempsy, although he remained a licensed deacon until June 22, 1881, when the license was withdrawn because he had “abandoned the communion of the (Episcopal) church.” By that time, Colegrove had returned to his native Elmira, New York, and continued to live there until his death in 1915.

There's at least one other indication in Chariton newspapers that the Rev. Mr. Colegrove had a few troubling issues. The Chariton Leader of April 17, 1875, published this item among District Court Proceedings:

"State vs. Rev. W. N. Colegrove, for assault with intent to commit rape on Miss Sadie Scott; indicted at this term; plea of not guilty and continued, defendant being held under $500 bonds."

I wasn't able to determine the outcome of this case either. Although Uncle Dempsy was a Presbyterian and Colegrove, a Baptist turned Epsicopalian, it seems quite likely that there was more to their dispute than a theological disagreement.