The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1865-05-13
A Piece of scendal.

A Piece of Scs.ndal.
The first act in drama of scandal was
on Saturday performed at the Police Court
in this city, in which the Rev. Joseph Wit
tsinaer, formerly Of ST. Joseph's (Ca,hclic)
church, figured as the leading character
doubtles his first appearance before An au-
d!ence not OF his own choosing. Be that
as 1t may, in stage parlance, he drew a full
house, vet we cannot say that his debut Gre
ated much enthusiasm. He made very
short speech, similar to those made by all
others who have previously occupied the
prisoners box. AS we said in the outset,
the first part Of the play only was enacted,
therefore we cannot at present state what
the denoulnent will he. The particulars of
the case. so far as we can learn. are sub.
stantially as follows:
About the first of March last, the rever.
end gentleman above named eloped from
this city with one Ann Margaret He'll, wife
OF Or. Franz He'll, taking with him it is
alleged $500 in money belonging to the lat
ter. A week or SO later the doctor adver-
fused the runaways in one of the German
papers OF the city, which we translated
and published on the Goth ultimo, offering
$50 reward fer the apprehension Of Witte-
mier. He evidently considered that his
w.'e was worse than useless, therefore he
offered no reward for her. In this particu-
ldI ue PROBABLY aCteO wisely.
The injured husband. not content with
taking the above step started to ferret out
the parties himself, and day or two since
succeeded in tracing them to No. 40 City
Hall place, New York, where he found
them occupying the same apartments, and
TO all appearances, living as man and wife.
With the assistance of apoliceman he soon
Gagged the birds, and the latter arrived in
this city with his prisoners on Saturday
Y.,> 81, -,
raigned on the charge Of adultery and lar
ceny. to which through their counsel, they
plead met guilty." The counsel for the
accused asked for an adjournment but as
a matter o! accommodation, and by com.
mon consent, the New York officer was
placed on the stand, in order that he might
give his evidence and go home. He testi-
fed that he arrested the parties and found
them living to all appearances as man and
wife, and under the Aam0 OF Mr.. and Mrs.
Winters. Their furniture consisted prin-
cipally Of one bed, two trunks, and one or
two boxes, which would naturally lead to
the conclusion that the differences drawn
by the policemen were correct. So far as
we can learn, no acts OF criminality can be
proven against the accused /; yet the wo-
| man, since her incarceration, has admitted
we are informed that this is q fact. The
case was adjourned for further hearing
until Saturday next.
Gentlemen in the city who know Witte'
mier, inform US that he was consecrated 9
Priest about a year ago by the Bishop, and
| assigned to st. Joseph's Church. While
preaching to the congregation of the latter
place, DIR. He'll invited him to visit his
house, and he accepted the invitation
making himself, of course, perfectly al
home. The doctor is himself nearly sixty
years Of age, and his wife only twenty
! four. Witternier and the latter became
very intimate, more SO, apparently, thar
the laws OF the church allow, and subse
quently eloped, leaving bewildered con
gregation, and an indignant husband, al
amazed AT his disappearance.
! Wi,teInier is young man not more thar
thirty years of age, about five feet in heigh
and has rather roguish appearance gen
orally. Ii all the stories told of him ar
true, he is rascal beyond redemption
and the sooner he is furnished with apart
ments ut the State Prison the better
Among other things. he is accused of re
yealing secrets contided to him by younI
ladies at confession, and making light o
them. We give these statements just a
we receive them and for what they ar
worth. He has many friends in the city
all Of whom, while expressing themselve
indiynane at his conduct in this case, de
sired to become security for his appearan
at the formal examination. His bail wa
fixed at g, 600 with two sureties, and tina
of Mrs. He'll at the same.-Detr0it Tribune