The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-12-10
in the revision of the Clayton Bulwel
treaty.
PRIEST SUES BISHOP.
Charges That He Was Kept
From Earning a Livelihood.

st. Louis, Dec 1O.-Rev. B. F'resen-
borg, priest of the Roman Catholic
church, without a parish, has begun
suit against Ft. Rev. J. Jansen, bishop
of the diocese of Belleville, ILL.,, for 1885,
600. His complaint is that Bishop JAMS
sen has failed and refused to permit ann
to follow his profession as a priest,
thereby preventing him from earning
a livelihood. It is said to be the only
case of the kind ever brought to the at
tention of a court of law or equity
A writ notifying Bishop Jansen that
the action would be brought against him
was taken out at Relleville today by at
torneys for Father Fresenborg- In ac-
cordance with the Illinois law the petit
tons setting forth the cause of action
will be filed later. Lebbeus p. Crlgler
of St. Louis is of counsel for Father
FresenbOrg, and has possession OF the
documentary evidence on which the suit
is based.
STATES CASE OF HIS CLIENT.
I'VE claim" said Mr.. Crigler today,
that Bishop Jansen, by depriving our
client of his right to earn living IN
the diocese of BelIeville, has prevented
him from earning $4,000 and that be-
cause of the action of the bishop our
client was forced to undergo hardships
that resulted in the partial loss to him
of the use of his legs, thereby inf1icting
injuries for which he is entitled to judg-
ment for $4,000.
Father Fresenborg Is 81 years old
He came to this country in 1874 from
Germany, where he was educated for
the priesthood. He was for several
years in the Alton diocese, but in 1890
went to New York, where he had charge
of a parish for several years. In 1896
he was notified by Mgr. Satolli that he
belonged in the BelleVille diocese, and
he straightway reported to Bishop JAMS
sen, asking that he be given work by
which he could support himself.
Bishop Jansen failed to give him a
place, and he was forced to wander over
the country, celebrating mass and per-
forming the functions of a priest in
parishes where there were no regular
Gle finally went to Fargo. N. D., where
he had charge of a small community OF
his Office he was exposed to the fury of
a blizzard and 50 badly frozen that he
There and at another hospital in New
York he was operated on nine times in
that he is famed for life and has difficulty
in going through the services IN the man
" SAYS PENsIoN WAS OFFERED.
During 1896 and 1887 he wrote frequent
provided with work as a priest of the
Bellevi1le diocese, but Bishop Jansen fail
ed to give him employment.
I'm 1888 Bishop Jansen appointed him
to the pastorate of the church at Equal,
ity. Ill, where he served for over a year.
sonville, ILL.,. parish that pays only
about one-third as much as Equality He
protested against this. and after several
conferences with Bishop Jansen they
agreed that he should be retired, sent back
to Germany and given a pension. Bishop
Jansen offered him $500 a year, but he
insisted on having $500, which is the sum
usually allowed retired priests. After sew
eral conferences and a consultation with
me. Father F'resenborg agreed to accept
the $500 proposition Bishop Jansen had
made it in writing-I have his letter in
my desk-but he drew back and refused to
carry out his promise. On this we decided
TO bring SUIT, and the preliminary steps |
were taken today.
Father Fresenborg is said by Mr.. Crigler
to be staying at a St. Louis hotel, but the
lawyer declined to name the house.