The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1870-08-24
A CLERICAL SEDUCTION.
Il Young Munster Seduces a W;dou
and IS Hsldto Bal in 5000,

A letter from Ocenomonwoe, Wis
consin, published in some of u
western exchanges, gives the follow
ing account of a case Of seduction, at
that watering place:
The rural delights which charac-
terize the even tenor of life at this
delightful little Watering place have
been interrupted and relieved by a
sensation of the most spicy and ex-
citing nature. The Rev. Frank r.
Girard, a youthful licentiate, who
had recently dedicated his love to the
Christian Ministry, has just under
gone a preliminary. examination on
the charge of seducing o charming
young widow named Kitty NJ. Ely
Both the complainant and defendenc
had born the most irreproachable
character, the former being the
daughter ofthe hoteEkeeper ut Nash
otah station, ard the latter well-known
from having become a divinity stu
dent at Nashotah College. 1t seems
that the Rev.. Glrard had boarded
with MI. n, the father of the de-
fendant, during his, college course, and
it had been supposed for several
years that the couple were engaged
to be married. Alasl for the frailty
of poor, weak, human nature. When
her ardent lover proposed to her,
about Christmas time, that should
yield TO him the privileges OF a hus
I'D. before he hal given her the
name ots wife, her love and connubial
recollections proved too strong for
discretion and she consented. It was
not long before she suspected herself
e 'c:ente. and appraised her reverend Sc
ducer of her apprehension. He tridi-
culed the suspicious, but finally believe
when nature commenced to show I'm
mistakable signs. He induced her to
take several nostrunls which he had
provided, in the expectation that
they would produce abortion. Every
thing failed however, and the young
widow commenced, rs time prog ess
ed and her condition became more
and more imminent, to urge Girard
to marry her and thus screen her
from shame. He put her off from
time TO time, aud at length yieidedto
her opportunities by giving her a
written promise of marriage. About
Il month ago she demanded of. him
i~mperatively that.he should fulfill the
promise. otter ~endeavoring 10 put
her off with various %pretenccs, he fin
ally, as a dernier resort, said that he
had 4 wife living IN Switzerland, and
to marry her would render him liable
TO imprisonment in the penitentiary.-
The enraged victim of clerical licen
tiorsness instantly called her father,
and burst into q passionate confession
of her condition, charging the shrink
ing wretch before her with the. crime.
Girard stood speeehless with contu-
sion and terror. Her father, as wa
to be expected, stepped to his room
an | got his revolver, and was only
prevented from shooting the man Of
God IN the spot by the expostulations
OF his daughter, who represented that
by doing this. he would make her
shame all the more certain and I'M
remediuble. Girard, however, left
without saying ordoing anything that
would relieve the mind of the unhappy
woman. A warrant was issued
against him and the preliminary ex-
animation was held on Monday be-
fore Justice Carpenter, of this place.
The lady's- testimony was very full
and complete from beginning TO end
and was perfectly damnIng to the &c
cused. She entered the testinio-
ny of himself, and he was bound over
in bail OF 5000, to the November
term of the Circuit Court. Girard
was sustained by the sympathy of a.
large number Of professional brethren
amcng whom may be mentioned the
distinguished names of the Right
Rev. Bishop Armitage, the. Rey. DR..
Cole, the nRev. Mr.. Wilkinson of
Milwaukee, who evidently. believed
that this charge of seduction and bas-
tardy was a malicious persecution
ve:y rich developments may be look
ed for.