The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1889-08-30
A QUEER ELOPEMENr.
The Wife Of q Noted Chicago Politician
Elopes With a French Catholic Friest-A
Phenomenal Clerical Migrate.


The Wife Of a Noted Chicago Politician
Eiopes With French Catholic Frisst-A
Phenomenal Clerical migrate.
CHICAGO. Aug. 2L-Mrs. Michael Nc
Donald. wife of the famous ex.ga-nbler,
politician and three times millionaire. OF
this city. has eloped with a Catholic priest.
July "a Mrs. Mcdonald left her home os-
tensibly for the purpose of visiting her
mother at Tiffin. o. She did not 60 to
| Tiffin, but joined Rv. Father Joseph
Moysant, assistant pastor of the Church
Of Notre Dame, Vernon Park place
and Sbley street Since the day
Mrs. Mcdonald left her home no
one has seen her in the neghborhood
except once, three days after her de-
parture, when she returned to the house
dressed in the garb of a nun. Her visit
was so timed that her husband would not
see her.
Hugh Mullaney. the coachman. and Mrs.
Johanna Goudy, the housekeeper. knew
Of Mrs. McDonald's intrigue. but neither
said any thing to Mr. Mcdonald until his
wife had been gone two weeks. Mullaney
said Mrs. Mcdonald had sworn him to
secrecy.
Mrs. Mcdonald is forty.four years old.
Her priestly parem0ur is not at ali a man
who would ordinarily fascinate or attract
woman. She is tie mother Of four chill
dren and the grandmother Of two.
Moysant mad been established at Dixon,
ILL.,. for the past three months. He was
sent from Notre Dame into retreat at
Bourbounafs grove near Kankakee, for
neglect of his duties in the church and
because of his bibulous habits. He did
not return to Notre Dame but went from
Bourbounai's grove to Dixon, where he
remained until the elopement.
Mcdonald said last night: ''This fat
greasy French priest has sat at NV table
countless times. He has blessed my food
and has even had my little boys go down
on their knees that he might bless them.
He first came TO nv house two years ago
last July. My wife, who had been to
church. came home and told me she had
met poor priest whom she had invited to
visit Us. l made no objection. The fel.
low came. His shoes were filled
with holes; bis dress was slovenly, and
bis manners We're very offensive. But in
spite of all this my wife fell violently in
love with the fellow. He seemed to have
her charmed. He even put her up to rob
me ut night, not only of the money that
was in my clothes, but Of shirts, hand
kerchiefs and stockings. He was a fire.
quent visitor at the house. He would
eat five and six meals a day and
drink my beer by the bucketful. They
had their meeting places at the Grand
Pacific Hotel. thu Palmer House and the
Sherman House. My wife kept all these
clandestine engn Eements in the garb of q
nun. The scoundrel l am convinced,
planned TO poison me or get me out of the
way in some manner. for he circulated a
story that it woull not be great while
before there would be a funeral at Papa
Macs Is he always called me-"
Mrs. Mcdonald when she left home had
about $3.50 in money and between 81, 00J
and IS, 90 worth of iswelry.
In 1si5 Mrs. McDonsld ran away with
Billy Arlington, the minstrel, and mar
ried him in Gin rinnati. although
she was then the wife of McDon-
aid. She was at this time an in
valid and it was thought she was near
the grave. When she returned to Chicago
she said nothing about her escapade. but
complained about her lungs Mcdonald
sent her TO Denver for the mountain air
The next thing he knew she was in Cali.
fornia with Arlington. Mcdonald lost no
time in getting to the slope and reclaim
ing his wife whom he brought back to
Chicago.
1t was learned last night that Father
Moysant led Mrs. Mcdonald to the altar
of Notre Dame Church just before they
left town and there performed the mar
rage ceremony by Slipping plain gold
ring on one Of her fingers and pronounc.
ing her his wife. 1t is believed that the
priest and his victim have gone to New
York