The evening world., 1894-08-09
SAYS BAlLAUFF IS NO REV."
Wife No. l Declares He Is Not
an. Ordained Clergyman.
VIII Charge Him with Bigamy When
the Desertion Case Is Over.

Rev" Paul Ballauff. who is under
arrest in Brooklyn, charged with aban-
donment by his wife, will also be called
on 70 answer to a charge Of bigamy.
Mrs. Ballauff No. l, who preferred the
charge of abandonment, said to-day
that she would bring the bigamy
charge as soon as the other was dis
posed OF.
Ballauff II one half of the statements
made concerning him are true, is either
insane or a scoundrel without con-
science. Mrs. Ballauff says he is not
an ordinary clergyman, yet he has
officiated At marriages, offered prayers
at funerals and occupied the pulpit
each Sunday.
According to Mrs. Ballauff's statement
he came from Hamburg seven years ago.
He met her one day when she was Miss
Wilhelmina Seller and they agreed to
become man and wife, though no cere-
He worked his way into the good
graces of Rev. William Hamilton, pas
tor OF the Allen Street Memorial Church.
New York. to whom he stated that he
was anxious to become a minister. He
was told to study hard and did so for a
year. He was finally allowed to occupy
the pulpit one Sunday and preached a
given charge Of the Eight Street Mis-
sion at a weekly salary Of 1915.
Mrs. Ballauff says her troubles began
was informed by neishbors that i he was vas
out with other women. and she watched
him. She caught him one night in the
church after prayer-meeting, with one
he said, he was giving religious instruc-
ton. although the gas had been ex-
SIC forgave him, but the following
stances with the daughter OF the woman
he was with the night before.
There was a, scene and she struck the hie
w wAH and pf in At too Of desperation she
rushed to a corner drug store and pur-
chased some Paris green. Returning to
the couple she swallowed 1t In his pres
a wish that he be permitted to preach
her funeral sermon.
The police took her to BELLEVUE Hos;
PPital. where the doctors said o she would
learning she had never been. married to
Ballauff summoned him and performed
the ceremony. there and then. This
acted better than he doctors medicine
Ballauff then went to Brooklyn,
rented an unused building neal. East
New York. and started church. At
this point Miss Tlllie Richter, Ger.
man girl. with S-~ressive eyes and a
winning manner, came into his life
She lives with her brother at Barley
street and Atlantic avenue.
He paid me great attention" she
said to-day. land / learned to love
him. A week ago last Sunday we went
to Jersey City, and were, married. He
said he was not married to the other
woman. but I thought it best to look
into II, and my brother and l went to
New York and found he was married
/ spoke to him about 1t and he said
that when the other woman was on
what they supposed was her deathbed.
the Rev. DR.. Hamilton asked him II
he would take care OF her, II she re-
covered. and he said he would. This
was In the presence OF witnesses, and
the minister said It was legal mar
riage. | don't think he meant to do me
any wrong. He's locked up now"
I Mrs. Ballauff No. 2 said she did not
know where Ballauff was ordained a
minister, as he always evaded the ques-
tion when asked
There are a number Of young couples
in various parts of Brooklyn who are
anxious to know whether they are legal
ly married, as Ballauff performed The
ceremony.
The alleged minister will have a hear
ing in the Gates Avenue Police Court
next Tuesday morning