Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1885-04-25
A Statement.
DEADwooD, April IL, 1885

| DEAD"ooD, Apfli III, 1880.
To THE EDITOR OF THE TINES:
The following letter was addressed b.
me to the Rapid City Journal, which
that esteemed paper for want of space or
other reasons did not publish in yes.er
days issue. / think speedy settle
| nent Of the affair mentioned therein of
tie greatest importance and the clear
ing up of all doubts and difficulties so
necessary, that | ask you for publica-
ton Of this do not possess a co; v,
but the letter was in substance rs fo..
lows:
DEADwooD, April Z, 1885
EDITOR OF THE JOURNAL:
Ia your last issue Of April 2, ] read
that Rev. A. Nigeant resumed charge of
the congregation at Rapid City, which
statement was affirmed by the reverend
gentleman before his sermon last sun
lay, with the announcement that the
bishop had pronounced him innocent of
the charges made against him, and that
he (the bishop had directed me to give
publicity to the sentence. / therefore
think it is my duty to make the follow
ing strtement:
During the months of July and August
1854, the Rev. A. Nigeant, then i'm charge
of the Catholic church at Rapid CITY.
was accused of deeds not only unbecom.
ing Christian minister, but even n
gentleman. When these accusations
were made public and so boldly that "A
kind Of credit was given to them, con-
sdcred to be my duty to lay the matter
before ecclesiastical tribunal.
Before ] sent the report to the bishop
informed the reverend gentleman Of
It's contents, handed him the affidavit OF
Mr. Rogers and Mr. f. Baker, asking
him at the same time 10 vindicate his
honor by proving the falsity Of the aft
davits and prepare his defense. The
case laid before the bishop was this:
l Mr.. Dunning publicly accuses the
Rev. A. Vigeant of immoral deeds
g. The report is spread in Rapid City
and throChout the Hills :.
B. Mr.. Rogers and Mr.. Baker corrobor-
ate the report by adding new statements
affirmed by their sworn affidavits.
The defense Of Rev. A. Vigeant was
this:
To No. l: lie brings an affidavit from
Mr.. McTigh, stating that the accusa-
ton of Dunning is false. Also a letter
Of other parties stating that Dunning is
man of bad character.
To No. 2: The Rev A Vigeant lays a
paper before the b shop sigNed, or pur-
porting to be signed, by large number
of residents of Rapid City and vicinity,
statingvthat they do not believe the re-
port. To this is added a petition claim
ed to come from 'the best church going,
paying. people," as also by many prot
estant, asking the bishop to reinstate
the reverend gentleman to his Office and
allow him to continue his service in
Rapid City.
10 No. 8: The afidavits of Messrs.
Rogers and Baker state that the facts
contained therein took place in the In
,ernational hotel, Rapid City. during
the month Of March, 1884. The facts re-
lated are so intimately connected with
the time, that the statements must stand
| or fall together. To this it is answered
by afiidavits. signed by the proprietor
Of said hotel and his clerk, that the rev.
erend gentleman did not occupy a room
in said hotel after March l. Other
proofs are produced showing that
Messrs. Rogers and Baker are devoid Of
character. These are both sides of the
case as laid before the ecclesiastical
tribunal, and the bishop decides that
there is not sufficient evidence-in fact
no evidence-ef the guilt of Rev. A.
Vigeant, and that he considers him IN
nocent Of the charges brought against
him, allowing the reverend gentleman
to officiate. The words Of the bishop Ia
me are: "Rev. A. Vigeant must have
a chance to arrange matters, regain his
good name, and vindicate his honor and
that of the religion whose minister
he is"
Much, and very unpleasant commen,
has been made on this affair. l shall
not res; till the guilty party is punished
and those who did so much by their ac'
} cusation, those who gave malicious aft
davits, and those who, ny words and
deeds, caused the unspeakable sorrow
and grief to many hearts, are reached
by the law and matters cleared up, s(
that the truth be known.
, Yours, most truly,
PETER RosEN.
Inr ouiy, ~ Work ior us at tneir own homes
ortnncs for all workers absolutaiv ass,.na 1