Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1882-06-08
NO. 49,.
HIS DEAD SECRET.
ADark Blot on the Rev. George {. PEN
ncIl's Life.

nCll|S Lie.
NEW YORK, May 22-The Rev. George
C.. Pennell on April 10, 1852. while he was 4
theological student in this city, married his
cousin, Miss Mary Hannah Shroeppell, OF
n. y. In the following June
their newly born male child was taken from
the mothers bed, and she was told that it
was dead. Upon her recovery she returned
to her native place, where she continued to
pass under her maiden name When she
died it was found that she had bequeathed
her property to the Syracuse Home Assocla-
ton. The child however, did not die, but
was taken away by its grandfather, DR.. Pen
nell, a physician, and when it was nine weeks
old it was intrusted by him to Raphael REM,
of 63 Lorimer street, Brooklyn, to be reared.
The following dispatch from Deadwood ap-
peared in a newspaper, yesterday, under date
Of Saturday:
George C.. Pennell, rector of st. Johns
Episcopal church, died suddenly this morn
ing of inflammation of the bowels, aged 81
years, leaving wife and two children. The
remains will be sent to New York for inter-
ment. Mr. Pennell was graduate at Colum-
bia college in 1853, served as assistant rector
of Trinity, rector of ST. James, Buffalo; st.
Marks, Newark and in other clerical posi-
tons in the east. He came to DeadwoOd i'll
1SSO'
The scandal of the Rev. Mr.. Pennelrs
youth slumbered for a quarter of century,
only to blight his career at the zenith of its
prosperity. To escape from it. he gave up
his church in Newark and went to the far
west When his child was given by its
grandfather to Mr.. REM to be boarded at an
expense of 81 a week, the latter was told
that its name was Robert Fulton Crosby.
Dr. Pennell paid the board until three
months before he died, and then, after MIR.
REM wrote to Mrs Pennell, lawyer called
and settled what was due. No more money
was paid, but Mr.. REM supported the child
until he was u years old. After that, he
permitted the young man to live with INN.
Upon the meagre facts gained from the old
German who protected him, the youth set
out to establish his identity. In April, 1880,
a copy of New York paper containing the
following tell into the hands of Mary f. De-
lany, of Dutchess county:
ANY person who attended young lady
during childbirth June 10, 1852, in Houston
street, under mysterious circumstances, al
dress Henry Fuehrer, II Mauger street.
Brooklyn, E. d.
Mary Delany had done sewing for a Mrs
Crosby Just after her confinement in Houston
street. She saw the husband every day.
He was young and boyish, and was called
George, while he called his wife Molly.
They spoke of their childs being out" and
being out" They were in haste to have the
clothes made, as Mrs Crosby said she de-
sired to 60 home to Oswego to her mother.
Persons who lived in the house at the time
spoke suspiciously OF the couple, and thought
there was something strange about them.
The husband, who was only known as
George Crosby was student IN the Column
bia college, and wore Students badge ON
the left lapel of his coat.
Subsequently Mary Delany was at a SER
vice in Trinity church. and this Mr.. Crosby
officiated She inquired his name. and was
told that it was the Rev. Geo. G. Pennell, OF
Newark. Through her and Others step by
STEP young Pennel reached the point where
he established his identy as the son of the
Rev. Geo. c. Pennell and Mary Hannah
Schroeppel. He found record of their mar
rage upon the books of the Second street
church in Brooklyn EX-AttOrney General
Daniel Pratt had received the secret of Miss
Schroeppels life from her lips just before
her death. and he wrote to young Pennelrs
counsel as follows:
''lf the boy is the son of my late friend, he
was born in lawful wedlOck. Further, per-
haps, it is not prudent for me to say. will
only add that the plot of no romance ever
read by me equals the actual history OF that
case taken from the commencement to the
present time The heartless abandonment
of good confding woman by her husband,
with the frauds and deceits practlced upon
her by her father, exceed in atrOcity anything
we read in the most exaggerated novels OF
the day"
The relatives of Miss Schroeppel recognized
young Pennell as their son, and her property,
which was bequeathed to charities, was re-
stored to him by the egatees. A suit against
the Rev. Mr.. Pennell 70 recover So, 444 for
the youths board from June 25, 1868, to June
81. 1873, which was in reality suit to es-
tablish Pencils identity, was secretly set
tied last fall. In closing up the litigation,
the counsel for the Rev. George G. Pennell
furnished young Pennelrs counsel with
letter admitting the paternity of the child,
and other essential facts, but Mr.. Pennell
never recognized his son. He married
second time and had two children. He main
tanned proud reserve with respect to the
scandal, and many of his friends believed at
first the suit against him was an attempt ut
blackmail, but the facts that gathered about
him were so invincible that he was obliged
to succumb to them. He quilted rich par
ish to seek retreat in the mining region Of
the West, but his spirit was broken, and
until his death he was haunted by the eX-
pOsure of the secret of his life.
Airing the Beds.
1t must be false idea of neatness which