The New York herald., 1874-11-15
GERDEMANN ARRESTED.
The Fugitive Priest Of st. BOniface,
Philadelphia, Arrested.
Preparing to Embark for Bremen
with His Bride.
HIS DEF e NOE.
He Is Taken Back to tin g
Quaker City.

BALTIMORE, Nd, Now II, 1874.
John w. Gerdemann, the ex-priest charged with
the embe Zzlement OF some $4,000 while acting as
pastor OF ST. Boniface's church, Philadelphia, was
arrested here to-day while entering carriage to
embark on the steamer Ohio for Bremen. Marshal
Gray received telegram AT about halEpast ten
O'Clock from Captain Hens, chief OF the detective
force OF Philadelphia, requesting that Gerdemann
be arrested for embezzlemenr and larceny, and
the detectives would be on in the train which
would reach here at eight O'Clock this evening
The Marshal detailed Detective Phelps 10 make the
arrest. Phelps repaired 10 the Eutaw House,
wnere Gerdemann was stopping. Gerdemann's
vile had just entered the carriage and Gerdemann
was about TO follow, when the ofiicer informed
him that he was wanted ar the Marshal's ONCE.
Gerdemann expressed little surprise at the arrest
and his wife was perfectly Cain, merely saying
tnat she never expected to be placed in suca SIT
uatlon. The carriage was driven rapidly to the
Marshsls ONCE, and Gerdemann, when informed
OF the charge against him, said that, inasmucn as
his trip TO Europe was broken mp, which he was
about 10 make to save his wife the annoyance OF
newspaper criticisms, he would prefer returning
TO Philadelphia TO going anywhere else.
LOOKING AFTER HIS PASSAGE TICKETS.
he asked permission to drive to the house OF A.
Schumacher Co., agents OF the Bremen line OF
steamers, which was granted him. The agents
offered TO refund the money ior his tickets,
with twenty-five per cent on, but Gerdemann,
considering this an imposition, deciaed to hold
them to fun accounting, asserting that 10 two
weeks time he would be Tree, and should then
proceed on his journey. He had at the time on
his person bills or exchange to the amount OF
$4,000.
Upon his return to the Marshals ONCE, where
his wife was awaiting him, he was permitted to
70 where he pleased under the escort III an offcer
requsition. as he was perfectly wilIlnv TO accom-
pany the detective 10 Philadelphia and meet MS
accusers face TO iace. His wife, though quiet and
I dlgnlfed In her bearing, manifested deep arec.
| ton ior her husband, and expressed her aererm-
nation to cIing to him under any and all crcum-
stances.
| ARRIVAL OF THE PHILADELPHIA OFFICER
| Detective w. Wood reached the city IN the eight
rest. When % charged hm WITH II having ui embezzled
| and stolen funds and other property OF It. B0ni-
lase's &c church rlsdephia, and and Is based en- n an
ously estimated ut from $40 600 to $3.50 Oo0 though
Gerdemann says he ieit Philadelphia with but
| $4,000 IN his POCKET. Gerdemann Immediately ex
| pressed desire TO accompany Onlcer WOOD with
out lormaiiy OF requlsltiou, and he and his wife,
rapidly to the Philadelphia depot, irom whence
they tooK the 10 40 r N. train TO tnat city
Mr.. Gerdemann IL u hne.ooking man, well edu-
Gated, ot course, and, withal possessing the mad
ners ana bearing S q gent!sman he came , to
| where ne stu0ied for the priesthood. He was or
dalned after reaching this country and oniciated
| sequently transferred to Philadelphia, wnere ne
| Du 1T 81. BOnllace's church.
Tue vile OF GerdeMann Is handsome woman,
very prepossesslng In appearance and ladyiike Iii
her manners rne Impressions produced upon
avorapie to the prisoner, and the nope was t,eely
\ expressed that he would be able to extrcate him
| self from his present embarrassments
PUBLISHING DEFENCE.
Gerdemann published lengthy card In the B al
tlm0re Sun this morning, defending himself
| winch In all probability Ied to his Whereabouts
| being known and mis- subsequent arrest He
tackled and the malicious SANDER having been
spread broadcast over the land, leel 1t my duty
Ssnos Uhurcn 's rs,ec.na III It's peculiar I ssasss
and wiI please Coo. never return 70 IL. For tnls
Ssr &c ss wo S
ing, Pa.-on tue Atm inst, before Reformed min.
ster OF Jersey city, with the Iull consent OF ner
parents, In the presence OF The minister's amisble
lady and OF o brother priest"
HIS FINANCIAL AFPAIRS.
In regard to ais financial specuati0ns he says:-
~ now come to the only charge wisn to defend
myself agalnst-tne charge OF dishonesty. Nv
ess Of iast July, when bother pries1 a. and a."
join ty bought 7O6 shares OF Pennsylvania, deposit.
Ing as margin eacn $500. In August we bought
1000 shares. On this investment we made jointly
Investing IN IN New York and Erie an ana Reading Ri
bought bought TWO 1 houses WITH the full knowiedse se and
permission OF the Bishop. In one mousse I lived
with my assistants, without ever charging the
cnurcn u cent Tor rent. AS to my bond specula-
tions invested $500 in the German Bank oi Potts.
vllle which | sold lately at heavy discount to
Mr.. Maggie, IN order TO pay deposition.
s'Tne amount took along with me did not quite
reach the sum OF $4,000. l, Tor my part. look upon
this sum or $4,000 as . rather small reward Tor
more than ten years. labor; besides. over $500 OF
what took were actually perquisires, DC. One
thousand dollars OF II my sister can have at any
time, since Tor all her hard work for over ten years
she has never taken, or would take, any remuner-
alton IN money. On the houses there are mort
cages to the amount OF $4,000 which borrowed
In order to pay claims against the church. The
interest on the one mortgage Of $500 have paid
out of my own money. The other OF 50, 400 was
loaned rom rhe Building Association, and was
also my money. did not leave the houses 70 my
sister, but gave them distinctly and unreservedy
II publicly now repeat what wrote to Bishop
Wood that Will send all my savings during life
toward paying on the debts OF the church. not as
o debt owe TO justice ont as penalty due 10
Jolly"
Mr.. Gerdemann fursher stated that since his de.
parture from Philadelphia he has travelled openly,
registering in his own name. He nrst went with
the lady to Jersey City, where ne was married
thence TO Chicago, where the brioe and groom
remained one day at the Palmer House; thence to
St. Louis, where they took house, intending to
reside there but for the newspaper publication,
which reached them and called for the card
printed.