New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1889-08-28
Eloped With 4 Roman Priest.

Mrs. Michael Mcdonald, wife of the famous
politician and the three times millionaire o
Chicago, has eIoped with Catholic priest
July "a Mrs. Mcdonald left her home osten
sibly for the purpose of visiting her mother
at Tifhn, Ohio. She did not go to Tiffin, bu,
joined Rev. Father Joseph Moysant, assist
ant pastor of the church of Notre Dame
Vernon Park Place and Sjbley street Since
the day Mrs. Mcdonald left her home no one
has seen her in the neigh borhood except once
three days after her departure, when she re.
turned to the house dressed in the garb OF a
nun. Her visit was SO timed that her hus.
band would not see her. Mrs. Mcdonald is
forty-four years old. Her priestly paramour
is seventeen years her junior and not at all a
man who would ordinarily fascinate or at
tract woman. Mrs. Mcdonald is the moth
er OF four children and the grandmother OF
two. Hugh Mullaney, the coachman, and
Mrs: johanna Candy. the housekeeper, knew
OF Mrs. McDonaldss intrigue, but neither
said anything to Mr.. Mcdonald until his
wife had been gone two weeks. Mullaney
said Mrs: Mcdonald had sworn him to Sc
erecy. Moysant had been stationed at
Dixon, ILL.,. Tor the past three months. He
was sent from Notre Dame into retreat at
Boqrbounals Grove, near Kankakee, for
negtecting his duties in the church and be-
cause othis bibulous habits He did not re-
turn to Notrc Dame, but went from Bour-
bounals Grove to Dixon, where he remained
until the elopement.
Mr. Mcdonald said: ssThis fat, French
priest has sat at my table countless times.
ae has blessed my food, and has had my lit
tile boys get down on their knees that he
might bless them. He first came to my
house two years ago lastJuIy. My wife, who
mad been to church, came home and told me
she had met poor priest whom she had in
vlted to visit US. Imade no objection. The
fellow came. His shoes were filled with
holes, bus dress was slovenly and his man
ners were very offensive But in spite of
all this my wife fell desperately in love with
the fellow. He seemed to have charmed her.
he even put her up to rob me at night, not
only OF money that was in my clothes, but
OF shirts, handerchiefs and stockings. He
was frequent visitor to the house. He
would eat five and six meals day and drink
my beer by the bucketful. They had their
meetingplaces at tbs Grand Pacific hotel, the
Palmer house and the Sherman house. My
wife kept all these clapdestine
engagements in the garb OF
a nun. The scoundrel, am convinced, plan
ned to poison me or get me out of the way
IN some manner, for he circulated the story
That 1T would not be a great while before
there would be funeral at Papa Macs as
he always called me-
Mrs. Mcdonald, when she left home, had
about 81. 500 in money and between $4,000
and 20. 900 worth Of jewery She has prob
ably turned all this stug over to her para
mour: In 1875 Mrs. Mcdonald ran away
with Billy Arlington, the minstrel, and mar
RED him in Cincinnati, although she was then
the wife of Mr. Mcdonald. She was at this
time an invalid, and it was thought she was
near her grave When she returned to Chica-
go she said nothing bout her escapade but
complained about her lungs. Mcdonald
sent her to Denver for the mountain air The
next thing he knew she was in California
with Arlington. Mcdonald lost no time in
getting to the slope and retaining his wife.
whom he brought back to Chicago. It was
learned that Father Moysant led Mrs. Nc
Donald to the altar of Notre Dame church
just before they lett town, and there he per-
formed the marriage ceremony by slipping
plain gold ring on one of her fingers and
pronouncing her his wife. It is believed that
the priest and his victim have gone to En-
gland. Before she left town Mrs. Mcdonald
pawned $4,000 worth of diamonds for $500.