The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-05-04
THE GERDEMANN CASE.
PETE E1-PRIEsr on TRIAL-oREAr EXCITEMENT
AROUND THE coURT-opEEING OF THE PRO-
CEEDINds

PEE E1-PRIEsT on TRIAL-GREAr EXCITEMENT
ABOUND THE coURr-opEEING OF THE PRO-
CEEDNas.
PHILADELPHIA, Pa, May s. 1875.
The excitement Of the hour in ths city is the
beginning or the trial OF John W. Gerdemann, the
recaicltrant Roman Catholic priest, IN the old
Court OF Quarter Sessions to-day. No public an
nounce meut through The newspapers or the call
ing OF the case was made notwths tandng which
the crowds that assembled inside and ont OF the
court room in the corridors and On the sidewalk,
and the excitement that was manifested were
only equalied by the scenes &C tie Beechcr trial
during its earlier DAYS
John W. Gerdemann, as is well known, Is
charged with emoczzling about $4,000 OF the
iunds OF the Roman Catholic Church 81 ST. Bon-
facius Of which he was pastor until the 4tn oflast
November, when he suddenly disappeared, in
company with the lady organst OF MS church.
whom ne made his vile, quietly marrying her in
Jersey Cry. The story OF Gerdemann's arrest in
Baltimore, als voluntary return TO this city With
out rcqulsluon and his release bail, ara oil
100 iamiilar TO the readers OF the HERALD to need
more than suggestlOn this case having at
traced UNIVERSAL Interest throughout the country
on account OF It's exec ptlOnable nature.
Long before TIE court opened every available
spot from when glimpse OF the accused or IN
occasional word OF tue proceedings heard, was oc-
cupled by an cage" crowd, many OF them mani
resting extreme dlspeasure toward the prisoner:
large number Of friends among the least noisy
OF the audience.
The prosecution was represented by James Y.
MCDonougn, William 3. Mann, ex-District Attor-
ney, and BENJAMIN III. Brewster, all acting
by courtesy as assistants to the District Attorney
and representing the Church Of 81. Bonifaclus.
The prisoner was represented by l.. L. Raus!ora
and James III. HeyerIn. Gerdemann sat with
"a smiling and confident lace beside his vile.
ruddy-aced, stout lady, VINO seemed concerned
on account oil her husbands position.
Judge Briggs took mis- Sc and the impanellng
or the jury commenced NJ eleven O'CLOCK. several
names were secured when Mr.. Mann ordered q
Juror 10 stand aside. counsel for the defence oo-
Iected. arguing tnat the commonwealth was con-
1ned TO RS challenges tae charge being msde-
meanor. The question was argued NJ length, ana
the Judge hnally DECIDED tnat tue law ala not give
the commonwealth any advantage not given 10 the
prisoner. but hau placed them both on u level In
minor lelones anu mlsdemednor. lie therefore
refused to permit the Commonwealth TO stand
jurors aside. jury was then obtained without
much difficulty, aud alter they had been sworn
Mr. Mann opened for the people, stating the nature
OF The charges and the confidence OF tae prosecu-
ton in beng able TO prove them.
Inc first witness Tor the people was George
\ Altmelr German, the member OF St. Bonacius'
\ church who swore TO the warrant upon winch
Y Gerdemanu was arrested. Mr.. Mann handed the
Y witness numoer OF DOCKS OF account and asked
4 in whose handwriting the entries were.
Tne Court adjourned before the cross. eXamina-
i ton OF this witness was concluded. The large
\ crowd then slowly filed out TO augment the mob
\ already in the street awaiting the appearance OF
the accused. When Geruemann made his appear
ance with his vile ne was tainted and lnsulted by
one faction ard chcered by another. shouts and
~derisIve cries, threats OF violence, huStLng and
even demonstrations were made against him, but
large force of police were present and promptly
\ drove back the crowd when they became toe
\ threatening.
! probable that the excitement and Inc crowd Will
increase,