Los Angeles herald., 1891-03-21
FLEMING IN TROUBLE.
THE LEADER OF CHAUTAUQUA Ac-
CUsED OF AssAULTING A GIRL.
Anna Peterson's Story of an Attack on
Her Person-The Arrest of the Minister.
He Claims That it is Conspiracy.

A considerable sensation was caused
in local religious circles by a rumor that
was bruited about yesterday afternoon
to the effect that Rev. Samuel j. Flem-
ing, young Methodist clergyman who
was most prominently connected with
the Chautauqua society, had been ar
rested upon warrant charging him
with having, on the 1lth inst, assaulted
a young Danish servant maid, named
Anna Peterson, with intent to commit
rape. ~. sF
At first the news was generally dis
believed by those who knew the young
clergyman, but on inquiry the report
was confirmed, its foundation being the
fact that Fleming had been arrested,
taken before Township Justice Stanton
upon such charge for arraignment,
and admitted to bail in the sum of $4,000,
with Major w. G. Furrey and J. G. Har-
per as sureties, to appear for examina-
ton at | 80 o'clock this afternoon.
The facts in the case, as gathered
from the complainant's statement to the
district attorney, are as follows:
At the time the alleged assault was
made Mrs. Fleming was absent from
home. The servant girl had been caring
for sick child and was somewhat worn
out. Just before retiring Fleming ad-
vised her to take glass of wine, which
she refused. She then retired to her
room and got into bed without disrob-
ing. She says she had been sleeping
some time when she was awakened by
some persons hand on her breast, and
finding her dress unbuttoned. What
was her horror upon opening her eyes to
find that Fleming was lying beside her
in bed. A struggle, she says, ensued
and the man did all he could to quiet
her, telling her that 'it was all right;
that II it was not, God would not have
made them"
The girl fought to preserve her honor,
and finally the man was obliged to de-
sist further efforts, and after making her
promise not to inform Mrs. Fleming up
on her return home, left the room.
Upon the arrival Of Mrs. Fleming the
girl notified her that she could no longer
remain in the house, but refused to give
her reasons for leaving. She came to
this city, and to some friends told her
story. They advised her to make Mrs.
Fleming acquainted with the facts, and
on Wednesday evening she went out to
South Pasadena and did so.
1t appears that Mrs. Flemingsbelieved
what the girl said, for the next day the
wife refused to see her husband and or
dered him from the house, telling him
that she believed he was guilty.
A mysterious story in connection with
the affair was current yesterday after
noon, to the effect that some one had
chloroformed brother-in-law of Flem-
ing's, with the purpose of preventing
him from talking to the girl and hearing
her statement. The story was that
Fleming called on the. brother-in-law,
told him his trouble, and the latter
stated that before deciding what to do
he must see the girl and question her.
1t is then stated that Fleming called on
the brother-in-law early the next mora
ing and soon left and that the man was
later found under the influence of mar
cotic, presumably chloroform. Mr..
Fleming could not have hoped that such
a desperate measure would have any
story is but an outgrowth OF the talk
caused BY the arrest of the young cler-
gyman.
Mr.. Fleming, when interviewed by
HERALD reporter in the township court
room, just after being admitted to bail,
denied the whole story, and claimed
that it vase scheme put up by M. j.
Winans, whom he recently sued for dam
ages in the sum of $4,000 for defama-
tion of character, after he had been ac-
quilted of the charges preferred against
him by Winans before the Methodist
conference. Mr.. Fleming, however, was
not very communicative, pleading as an
excuse for not saying more that he had
not yet seen his attorney, G. ". Pendle-
ton, Esq, and further that he knew
nothing about the matter beyond that
he had been arrested. and that an at
tempt was being made to ruin his. repu-
tatiOn.