The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-08-29
4 VICTIM OF A CONSPIRACY.
"a Priest Who Was Made to Suffer for a
Crime of Which He Was Not Guilty.
Gnjustly Imprisoned as a Convict for Nearly
aYear-A Case Which Caused Great Ex-
element in Indiana Forty Years Ago.

kehtS AAuopteoAs tuiS Sisyf sAO se-SAo~~ ~-~'t
Roman Weinzepfel, who is being treated for
srysipelas. He is now, and has been since 1874
% member of the Order Of Benedictines, one OF
the household at st. Meinrad's Abbey, Spencer
county. Previous to joining the order he had
been mission priest at Evansville, Oldenburg,
and other places, and q teacher of theology at
Vincennes. He is of medium height, has we'll
formed head. fine face, and benign manner
He was born in Alsace. in 1913, and is now past
seventy-three years old. He came to Indiana in
1889, and was ordained priest the following
year.
No one to look at this placid old priest,
would imagine him to have once been the
center of the widest religious excitement and
most outrageous persecution Indiana has ever
known. The injury of that persecution is so
poignant to this day, though two-score years
have passed, that it is with difficulty that he
can be brought to talk about it. even by his
nearest friends. He speaks German and
French, while his English, though wonderfully
accurate, dramatically, has a strong German
accent
In May, 1S41, while pastor Of congregation
at Evansville, he was accused of rape by mar
fled woman named Schmoll, who charged the
crime had been committed while she was at
tending confessional The charge was made
by the husband of the woman, Martin Schmoll,
an infidel, who demanded $500 as the price OF
silence and NOT to bring criminal action. The
priest was thunderstruck, but Immediately
Informed a number Of his brother
priests and some of the members of his congre-
CATION. The woman Schmoll had been loose
character in Cincinnati, and coming to Evans
vile to visit her family, had married the wild
over, Martin Schmoll, the ceremony being per-
formed by justice Of the peace 1t was clear
case of conspiracy, lawyer named Davis form
ing the third member.
The exposure of the matter created the great
est excitement, and the priest had to be placed
in hiding to escape lynching The Catholics Of
Evansville were then few in number and poor.
They were all thoroughly convinced Of the bad
character of the Schmolls, but the storm was so
great their feeble protest was almost unheard.
The priests bail was placed at 81 600 and there
was difficulty to get any one in Evansville to go
upon his bond, as threats were made to burn the
property of any one doing 80. Bail was finally
secured and he was released. AS he would have
been unsafe in Evansville, he left between terms
of court and visited congregations in Illinois
and afterwards in eastern Indiana. 1t was
given out that he had fed, but he was
promptly on hand for trial at the Septem-
Der term of court. The prosecuting
which was granted. Father Weinzepfel was in
the interim to HAYES gone out on the missions
but the bishop prevailed upon not to send
him, threats having been made that he would be
murdered.
In the meanwhile, Schmolrs attorney, Davis.
had been going to Cincinnati with Mrs Schmoll,
cstensibly to get evidence of her good character.
The suspicious of Schmoll were aroused. and
Davis fed not to return. The case was con-
Einued until September, 1843. The testimony
of Mrs Schmol was so fagrantly contradictory
that many publicly asserted that she had per-
iured herself. There was disagreement of the
jury and change of venue taken to Princeton,
Gibson county. whore, on the 9th day of March.
1874 the trial began Rev. August Bessonies
was present as a deeply interested looker-on,
and testifies to the sensation caused throughout
southern Indian by the case. The jury was a
Protestant one-there was then deep-seated
prejudice against Catholics-and verdict of
guilty was brought in, with sentence of five
years bard labor in the penitentiary.
The handouts that had been prepared were
much too large for the lean wrists OF the priest,
and the blacksmith making new ones said in
gruf tones, He doesn't seem the terrible man
he is held to be-"
Speaking of those days, Father Weinzepfel
says, s'In after years was often surprised how
could sleep in prison that night; how enjoyed
undisturbed peace of SOUL feeling quite happy
In the midst Of brutal insults heaped upon me;
when now the remembrance of those days oc-
casionaly fills me with indignation, in spite of
myself"
On the journey handcuffed, to Evansville, the
conveyance was frequently halted when the
Sheriff gratifed the curiosity of those whom he
met by exhibiting his prisoner. Father Besso
MES, with others, who witnessed tbs trial
at Princeton, had adrnonished the little
congregation at Evansville to keep quiet and
make no demonstration, but quite number of
the men of the congregation. nevertheless, came
Forward to extend to the unjustly condemned
pastor and friend their heartfelt sympathy, and
accompanied him on the boat on which he was
taken to Jacksonville prison.
On the boat a plan had been contrived among
the passengers to set the sheriff ashore and lib
crate the priest landing him wherever he de-
sired Father Weinzapfel declined to avail
himself of any opportunity to escape, saying he
would rather be imprisoned and patiently wait
the result than, by fleeing transgress the law.
Schmoll brought suit for divorce from his wife
on account of her alleged intimacy with Davis,
and the revelations then made utterly disguised
ell decent people. Some time after this,
Schmoll, who had removed to st. Charles, Mo,
betrayed himself to have been the inventor of
the foul charges made against the priest Hun
dreds of Protestant ladies of Evansville protested
against the imprisonment of Father Weinzepfel
upon the testimony of such characters and sent
to the Governor petition demanding his
release. Six hundred signatures were of these
ladies. Politics interfersd TO prevent
Justice to the poor priest. A presidential
election took place in 1874 Governor Whit
comb visited Father Weinz9pfel in the prison
1T Jacksonville. He told the priest that he had
been convinced of the injustice of the sentence
pronounced against him, but in case he should
pardon him before the election took place, the
Protestant Democrats would all GO over to the
Wing party. You see." said the Governor,
s'there are cases where innocence must suffer OPP
preston to prevent greater evil"
Tie Governors party was victorious. Mr.
Polk was elected President, but Mr. Polk was
Presbyterian. Could he safely set the Catholic
priest free3 In February, 1S45, President Polk,
on his way to Washington, was given grand ova-
ton. Governor Whitcomb represented Indiana,
and boarded tho presidential steamer to ride on it
to Madison Passing Jeffersonville, the Governor
pointed out to the President and his wife the
penitentiary of Indiana. rs not that the prison
In which Catholic nriasf is2, nr,iatl,r asl,od A..