Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-11-03
TRIED BY THE CONGREGATION.
The Rabbi and the Man he Wanted as a
SOn.in.law.

THE LOVE AFFAIR OF GEO. sxrMAN AND MISS BERN
STEIN INVESTIGATED 3y THE MEMBERS OF THE
| CoNGREGArIoS-srEMAS ExoNERATRD AND
COUNTER CHARGES AGAINST THE RABBI IGNORED.
| Members Of Ada Israel congregation have
been investigating the love affairs of Geo. Sie-
man, an inmate of the Soldiers Home, and
Miss Mali Bernstein, daughter Of Rabbi Bern
stein. The publicity given to the circumstances
attending the breaking of the engagement was
such that many members felt that the congrega-
ton had been scandalized As already published
in The STAR, members Of the congregation. on
October 7, preferred charges against Nathan
Horn, the tailor, of No. 62s street northwest.
Mr.. John J. O'Neill, acting as counsel for Horn,
prepared an answer to the charges, which was
! nied by Horn. -,-~,,.
| The first charge against Horn was ''For con-
| duct unbecoming member and brother in
scandalizins our rabbi in the several newspa-
| pers Of the city" g. -.
| How THE NEWS WAS GIVEN OUT.
In answer, Mr.. Horn submitted the statement
| Of Mr.. John J. ONeiIl. his counsel. MIR. O'Neil
| admits that without Horns knowledge he gave
the facts concerning tho betrothal and the
breaking of the engagement to STAR re-
porter. In his statemea. Mr.. ONeill says:
Marriage end divorce are public property, in
asmuch as misery loves cor: pany and society is
interested therein. 1 first heard OF Sieman's
| prospective marriage through common report
| and took no further notice other than casual
remark as to the great disparity in their re-
spective ages, their social condition and future
| prospects, Curiosity, however, exercised upon
his ordering wedding suit and from the COM
mon chat incident to tailors and shoemaker's
shop, elected tho whole subject, which was
looked upon a possible joke and upon
which comment Was made" Mr.. O'Neill
then makes reference there made to
Sieman's bank account and to how the
adventure cost Siemlan nearly 500. The paper
then goes on. " and at once gave the matter to
STAR reporter without consultation or knowl-
edge OF Mr.. Horn, and thus the STAR WAS the
first paper i'll the city in which it appeared,
and only by this statement does he Horn
know who inspired the first Of the Stars arti-.
cles on the subject. and now add that if there
Is any scandal il publishing the truth il is sim
!. ply and alons a clerical scandal for which the
rabbi. and he only, is responsible"
THE CHARGE OF BLACXMAIL.
The second charge against Horn was stated
as follows: For trying to cxtort money from
the aforesaid rabbi under threats Of blaclmail."
In answer TO this charge Horn stated that Sic
man was his friend. land being otherwise
1rlendless, the matrimonial negotiations were.
by the acquicscence OF those interested. in n
great measure left to myself, the fickioneSs of
| which lost TO me much valuable time without,
apparently, the hope or promise OF a consider
alton. On Siemans withdrawal from the en-
gagement, Mr.. Horn said, i suggested, adj
vised and obtained for the Young lad the gem
erous compensation of $3.50, as the amende
honorable. in consideration OF her preparation
and undue ha3ty outlay. Her father. although
disappointed in this sum, because OF its no.
having been larger. ana with the manifest de-
SIRE 10 discourage the nu2tiais III toto. between
the date of Sieman's notice OF with hawaii and
the date fixed for their consuuimf ton, made to
me. in good faith. the followiny prop ,sition:
If Sieman should marry my d,nys,ter you get
nothing. but il he should not iaarI. her then
you get $50. In consideration OF your services
Sienan having abandoned the marriage pro-
ject. demand was duly and repeatedly made
upon the rabbi 10 comply with his promise, but
the demands have been refused and ignored.
In final interview may have repeated TO him
the legal opinions OF oGlers. that the entire
business was a species of blackmail.''
Tho third charge read as follows: For scan
daiizing the name OF our worthy congrega-
| ton The answer states that the first charge
that the charges be quasheI. as not having
been sustained. Accompanying the answer is
brief, setting forth a history of the case.
CHANGES AGAINST THE RABBI
Appended to the brief were charges made
against the rabbi by Mr.. Horn as follows:
First, by breach OF the Holy Sabbath in his
receiving money OF that dav. Second. for
knowingly acquiescing and willfully conriving
! In the Dissertation of the day and the profanity
OF the sanctuary during the holy Institution OF
tho recent song fast by amenber of his family
deyOting said time at his home to idle court
ship. Third for divers other acts prejudieiai
to religion, and Offering scandal to the Holy
Ra5binicai order" These charges were daily
signed By N. Horn, the name of Geo. Sieman
appearing az witness. The charges against
Horn were investigated. and he was exonerated
The charges against the rabbi were voted on,
and was decided that unless they were with
drawn they would be tabled. The investiga-
ton, 1t is stated, came neac causing u serious
dissension among the members OF the congre-
CATION. bu. the matter has now been settled
satisfactorily 70 all parties concerned
Rockville Gicaninys.
WHAT IS GOING on IN MosrGoMERy coUNrY-A
MINISTERS HOUSE noBDED-PoLIrIcAL NOTES.
Correspondence OF The EVENING SCAR
ROCKVILLE, Nov. 2, 1888.
The marriage of Mr.. b. Frank Monday and
Miss Ida. daughter of A,r. Albert King. of this
place, is announced to take place November Il.
In the cases OF the five persons in the sew
enth district, whose nance were charged to be
Illegally on The registration books. the Circuit
Court to-day decided that the names of Solo
mon Fowler jr., end solomon Fowler, ST.,
were there properly and should remain. The
cases Of Henry Hoyie, John DUgan and Chas
d. Pierce were hoard and are held sub curia by
the court. The application "F JAS II. Howard
(cclored) to be placed on the list Was refused
The twelve cases from the tcnth district will be
heard tomorrow.
While .hc family of Rev. Alfred +. Graham,
of the Presbyterian church OF this place. was,
absent several days from home the house was
broken into by thieves and ransacked from
top TO bottom. The family returned this even
ing and found that nothing o, iauch value had
been taken. Bureaus trunks. &c., had been
broken open and the contents scattered
about. but the thieves were evidently after
money and did not care to take articles that
might be identified. '... ".-r E.
A democratic meeting. held Mt Takoma Park,
last night. was addressed by Col. Wm Kilcour
and II. Maurice Talbot. OF this place. A sim
liar in ;eiI.,g VIII be held at Nolands store. on
the It'll street pike, near Wheaton, on satur-
day night. s. A. NJ.
A Last Can for Votes.
URGENT APPEAL OF TIE NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC
COlIIITrEE.
The democratic national committee has
issued an address to the people of the United
States. 1t eulogizes President Cleveland, and
while speaking of his reelection By the sup
port OF all the voters except faction of The
republican party. as q certainty We. Mt the