The San Francisco call., 1908-11-08
Rector OF Church, Under Pres
sure, Admits Tender Atten-
tiOns to Missing Maid
Edna Reynolds, Chnm of VAN
ished Miss, Bares Story OF
Love Affair OF Her Friend
Minister Admits Receiving Edna
in His Secluded Study
Day After Day
Denies Facts at First. but
Finally Breaks Down Under
Questioning

st admit I put my arm
around Miss Edna Clark and
kissed her-probably more
than once. But this was
only as a part of my priestly
duties. These were the
words OF Father Payson Young.
rector of the Episcopal church of
St. Mary the Virgin, uttered by
him last night.
The admission had to be wrung
from him and with it came a great
light as to the reasons for the
mysterious disappearance OF the
Alameda art student, who had
gone to his rectory seeking re-
Iigious consolation and priestly advice.
/ stronger. however. than the admis-
sions OF the priest. more stable than
his confession and OF greater import
than his argument were the statements
OF Miss Edna Reynolds. closest friend
Of the missing girl, who last night
/ broke the silence Of the past harrow
ing days and said that Miss Clark had
/ told her of a love affair existing be-
tween her and Father Young.
| The two confessions. coming upon
4 IN ,-so
down the entire monument OF deceit.
lies and rumors of lies which had seen
erected since the young girl left the
shelter of her mothers homafand fed
4 to secrecy The confession OF the one
fitted into the confession Of the other
There was no conf1ict-except as TO the
extent to which the love affair was
carried
According to the statements made by
Miss Clark TO Miss Reynolds there ex-
listed at the least partial engagement
and without doubt clear understand
ing According to the priest n was
nothing more than priestIy sympathy
for one in distress. a platonic friendship
founded on the common basis of a
search for happiness and enlightmenr.
Miss Clark told her friend that she had
sat In his lap and had been kissed BY
him with the full fervor of a lover.
Father Young maintained that the kiss
was but a priestly salute. a brOtherlS
token of deep sympathy. a sacerdotal
mannerism- His arm had encircled her
waist: but how then could the chaste
salute of a mentor and guide be proper
| Iy administered unless the fair girl
saluted rested in his arms2 Perhaps
he had kissed the girl more than once.
I %EaN Of
counted for by the fact that she was in
constant trouble
GIRL THOUGHT LOVE
But whether the kisses and embraces
were given as cheering tokens Of
sympathetic priestly heart or as man
TO woman one point was made evident
and that was that the girl took them
for the latter. Toward the end he
seemed 10 have spoken to her sharply
and she did not see him for TWO weeks.
Il am so blue" she mOaned to her
friend. Miss Reynolds. Il have not
seen my clergyman for 10 days. A
few DAYS later she disappeared And
lher disappearance last night. with the
exception of a very probable motive.
was as deeply surrounded in mystery
as before
The sensational incident OF the en-
tire affair was when the priest adj
mItted his system OF comfort He had
\ evaded. lodged argued and pleaded
in vain Prior 70 this Miss Reynolds
had broken her long silence and made
known the misery which was tugging
AZ the heartstrings OF the Alameda art
student She had done her best in
fnaing the girl BY informing the miss
/ ing girls mother and the detectives
/ but 10 the public she was silent her
one aim being TO save the church from
a scandal hoping that Miss Clark
would return within a few days As
I day after day went by without the re-
appearance of her friend she began 70
doubt the wisdom OF her course. and
yesterday made public the entire con-
/ Adences which had been made TO her BY
Miss Clark
Father Young did not know OF Miss
Reynolds statements 20 the press
Earlier IN the day he had given to-
tally different interview. declaring that
he knew nothing. that there was moth
ing between him and the girl and that
the probabilities were that Father Vim
/ cent was responsible for the girls dis
appearance.
He was interviewed a second time at
night He started with the same tale.
but was quickly brought to a realiza-
tion of his situation by the direct. sim
pie question:
Did you ever kiss Miss Edna Clark
The priest dropped back. a deathly
pallor overspread his countenance. and
with trembling fingers he pulled out
| his handkerchief. he covered his face