The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1885-12-12
A PARSON FOND OF KISSING
Charges Made Againsta Clergy.
man by a Girl.
DOMINIE'S PASSION.
His Power Over the Young Lady
Aids Him in Escaping
the Law.

woman VINO was arrested at her uncle's re-
quest while she was kissing the Rev 0. L.
Aschenfelder, Philadelphia clergyman. in
the Courtlandt street ferry house on Tues
which makes it serious case with the
minister. The clergyman said that the girl
had been betrayed by her lover, and that
as a pure act of disinterested friendship he
was going to assist her in finding suitable
home in Philadelphia, where she could hide
her disgrace from her parents under pre-
tense OF being away on visit. The girl
corroborated the minister's assertions, but
resolutey refused to tell her uncle, Frank
B. Crowell, the name of her betrayer.
After leaving the Tombs, Isabella Crowell
went with her uncle to his home in Brook
lyn. MIR. Crowell believed the parsons
story, especially as the girl indorsed it, and
invited him to call at the house. Mr.. Asch-
enfelder shook hands with both OF them
very cordially, and promised to do so after
he had finished an errand.
Up to yesterday afternoon the errand
was not finished, if the appearance OF the
minister at Mr.. Crowell's house was to be
considered an indication OF it. Had he
gone there he would literally have met with
a very warm reception. When she was
away from the parsons influence, and
fully awake to the humiliation of her con-
dition, Miss Isabella began to cry. By the
time she reached her uncle's house and
there ready to receive her, she was quite
ready to confess that the Rev. Mr.. Aschen-
fielder story was lie from beginning to
end, and that lie was actually her be-
trayer.
THE FACTS OF THE CASE.
While the family will spare no pains to
punish the clergyman, they are naturally
averse to giving publicity to the circum-
stances in the case; But the following
facts are given as correct: Isabella Crowell
lives in Hyannis, Mass. 1t is a lite Cape
Cod seaport town of less than 4, 900 inhab-
tants, about seventy-nine miles from Bos-
ton on the Old Colony Railroad. Isabella's
father made a comfortable fortune on the
sea, and when ill health made work weari-
some he retired. Captain Crowell's family
was known throughout the town, and
when, in 1882, the Rev. o. L. Aschenfelder
came there from Philadelphia with good
recommendations and affable manner to
take charge OF the University Church it was
natural that he should become on intimate
terms with the members of it. In this way
he met Belle, the eldest daughter, 10 years
old, bright, plump and pretty.
THE Dominic AND THE GIRLS.
Notwithstanding the fact that the new
minister had a wife and two children with
him, he used to be fond OF taking Belle and
some of her school friends out rowing on
fine summer evenings. Talkative people
said that it was too bad; that Mrs. Asch-
enfelder was a charming little lady, and the
two children were beautiful little creatures.
but the majority OF the people paid no at
tention to the gossips. and the clergyman
was permitted to keep on undisturbed max
ing himself popular with the young girls.
When some one told Captain Crowell that
laughed and said: ooh, nonsense, the man
is married, and, besides, he is as old as l
am"
According to Bellies story the Rev. Mr..
Ashenfelder ruined her, and was intimate
with her for some time without any one
but themselves being the wiser for it. But
about four months ago she told him she
was in trouble and that it would be i'm
possible for her to conceal it from her
friends much longer. He told her to say
nothing about it and he would fix matters
all right. Not a great while afterward he
sent his wife and two children back to
Philadelphia. Two weeks ago Captain
Crowell came to this city to look after
some business. While he was away the
parson left for Philadelphia. A day or
two afterward Isabella left her mother,
ostensibly for IL walk, but instead she took
the train for Middleborough Junction
and sent letter home from there, saying
that she had been betrayed mot saying by
whom) and that she was going away with
the man she loved. There was consterna-
ton and grief at the home and word was
sent at once to Captain Crowell, who was
stopping with his brother in Brooklyn.
THE MEETING PLACE.
Isabella came to this city according to an
appointment with the clergyman ard put
up at hotel. Her parents heard that she
had come in this direction, and Captain
Crowell and his brother looked around a
good deal but they could find nothing OF
her. The girl was taken i'll while she was
here, and as Aschenfeldcr did not come ac-
cording to promise, she began to think she
was deserte ed. However. lie wrote explain
ing his delay and Il meeting was arranged
for Tuesday afternoon ut the Cortlandt
street ferry, where they were going to take
the train for ] Philadelphia. Somehow or
other the girls friends heard OF this meet
ing and they were there with Policeman
McCaulcy to take them in charge. The
clergyman told his story SO plausilby that
Mr.. Crowcil believed him, and he was able
to get away after the Justice discharged
him. When the girl confessed to the facts
it was too late.
1t is believed that Ashenfelder has gone
back to Philadelphia. He is described as
a tall, swarthy man, with black whiskers,
and anything but an attractive appear
ance, though of engaging address. He used
to have church in Philadelphia, but OF
late he has told some of his friends there
that he contemplated quitting the spiritual
field and taking up some commercial pur-
suit. Miss Crowells friends say that an
other young lady in Hyannis was led into
somewhat similar trouble by the same
man.
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