The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1874-11-19
A PRIEST ELOPES.
The Rev. Father Gerdeman, of Phi1a
delphia, Departs with n Beautiful
Young Lady and $50, 900 His Career
as q SpeculRtOr and FOrger.

{ The Rev. Father Gerdeman. of Phila-
delphia, Departs with Beautiful
Young Lady and $50, 900 His Career
as SpeculatOr and FOrger.
PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 6.-The very large
i Catholic element in this city was thrown
into state of great excitement this morn
ing by the announcement of the fact that
the Rev. Father John w. Gerdeman, pas
tor of st. Bonifacius Roman Catholic
! Church, in the northern part OF the city,
had suddenly left for parts unknown, TAX
ing with him beautiful young lady, Miss
Whiting, who had previously acted in the
capacity of organist in this church. The
facts made pubic are very meager, but a
personal acquaintance of the parties con-
cerned furnishes the following particulars
of the affair:
. Some time since Father Gerdeman in
duced this young lady to leave the church
over which the Rev. Father O'Neil pre-
sides, and come to his church, offering a
good salary. The young lady accepted,
and the Father being very fine musician
himself, spent considerable time in her
company. An intimacy sprang up be-
tween the two, which soon ripened into
the warmest friendship, and the sequence
was declaration of love on the part OF
the young lady for the gentleman of the
robes. She told friend that she was de-
| termined to have Father Gerdeman as her
! husband, and that she did not care what
the consequences would be. The tender
feelings were reciprocated by the Father,
and when cOnversing with his brother
| priests he would continually dilate upon
| the great ability OF his lady Organist, and
| speak of her with more than ordinary con-
| sideration. Time passed on, and the init
macy became so great that the young lady
would spend the evening at the residence
Uf the priest, and OftentImes did not leave his
abode until midnight, and then in his COM
| panv. Her visits to the parsonage became
| so frequent as to cause considerable
uneasiness to Father Gerdeman's sister,
who acted as hOusekeeper for the Father
and his two assistants. The conduct of the
brother and the lady Organist was so bad
as to disgust her, and the sister returned
TO Germany, whence she originally came.
Finally matters went so far, and the two
became so bold, that one of the assistants
threatened to expose the whole affair TO
| the Bishop. Gerdeman became indignant,
and said his VOW of chastity and celibacy
had not been violated, and that nothing
improper had occurred. However, the as
sistant knew too much for the loving cou-
pie, and the whole affair of the misdOings
of the Rev. John were made plain to His
Reverence Bishop Wood. Gerdeman Gel
ebrated mass on Sunday last, and on Mon
day, which was "All Souls Day. he was
not present at early mass. He complained
of being unwell, and was found at O'Clock
in the morning walking up and down the
yard attached TO his parsonage, apparently
| suffering great mental anxiety. He re-
mainsd at his home until noon of Tues
day, when he suddenly left, since which
time there have been no tldings concern
ing him. This little love affair and fall
from grace on the part of the reverend
gentleman did not constitute all his crime,
for now the most painful portion OF the
story remains to be told. In accordance
with plan in vogue in most Catholic par
ishes, the members of the congregation
| deposited their savings with the priest.
These were receipted for, and six per cent.
interest allowed. Father Gerdeman was
in close confidence with Bishop Wood, and
| thus had freer use of the funds OF the
| parishioners than otherwise would have
! been the case. 1t has now leaked out that
the funds We're misapprOpriated in man
ner which was so rascally as to be beneath
the contempt of gambler, much less
! shepherd of large flock, like the one in
the present case. Gerdeman privately
made his puts and calls in the stock room,
dabbled in real estate, and bought
and sold railroad stocks on call and
FIR time. He induced members of
his parish to indOrse notes for large
amounts, telling them the money was
needed for the church; the cash raised in
this manner he appropriated to his own
use. 1t was no unusual thing for him to
have notes discounted at bank for $4,000
or $4,000 at time, and the very large
credit he was given, on account OF the pO-
sitiOn he held, he prOstituted i'll the most
shabby manner. He bought the large
houses on Morris Square, opposite his
church, and had them decided to his sister.
As forger he was successful, and when
several notes were presented to the makers
thereof his transactions in this line were
Immediately brought to light. Most of
the parishioners had all their spare cash
invested in the priest, and are left utterly
penniless. 1t is supposed the amount of
cash carried off will not fall below S5O,OOO,
and is the result of the hard work of many
poor persons for several years. The in
dignation of the congregation seems to
know no bounds, and the house formerly
occupied by the father has been besieged
all day long by the persons who had funds
intrusted to his keeping. 1t was sorrow
ful sight, men and women weeping and
wailing their loss, and threatening him
with such a speedy visitation of justice as
would soon end his existence upon the
surface of the globe. The minds of the
losers were somewhat relieved by the an
nouncement fIom Bishop Wood that all
persons having deposits with the now out
cast would receive what was due them.
Gerdeman is about 30 years of age, was
born near Cologne, Germany, and is man
of excellent education. He is light COM
plexioned, about six feet in height, and
of heavy build. The female who accom-
panied him in his new role is Protestant,
and about % years of age, very pretty and
intelliA Aent. The detectives are on the
| track of the runaways, and will no doubt
soon overtake them.-Cor. N. y. Republic.