The menace. [volume] (Aurora, Mo.) 1911-1920, 1913-10-25
MARY LASENAN TO SUE CONVENT
The Story Of This Woman When COnObOrsied and Told in Court
W. Arouse the kshoB-EfOrs 10 Murder Her and Conceal
! Her Story VIII be Answered BY Law Suit That
Il ~ VIII Make Rome How-Bnye Men
III Win Take Up the Fight

The Menace since last June VIZ
- recall the publication In these
columns Of the facts concerning tie
escape OF Mary Lasenhn from = con
vent AZ Mt Angel. Ore. on the night
of June 26th. and the story of cruelty
ana persecution a. related BY her 10
Rev Leon l. Myers. OF silverton. ore.
10 whom she went Immediately for
protection and assistance.
on the night OF her night from this
Institution, Miss Lasenan stated
briefly her reasons for escaping. gave
a brief history Of former prosecutions
md svore 10 the truthfulness OF the
rAme before a notary public. About
AZ months ago" she said. having
previously escaped from a convent In
ne east, I was kidnapped while walk.
Ing from my place OF work 10 my home,
% the streets OF Portland. and taken
1s a prisoner and confined In the con.
Tert al Mt Angel. ore. While there
was forced 10 do all manner OF servile
york a. a penance for my past sins.
was abused by the priests and
mother superior from time 20 time. To-
night the priests from many parts OF
ne valley have gathered themselves
al Mt Angel and are holding drunken
ngy. Their unmentionablo treatment
of myself and other nuns who have
taken the black veil became unen-
Durable 10 me. I made my escape
while they were engaged In the even
ing meal. ! know n they catch me
this time they will murder me. I have
known several nuns 10 be murdered
IN this way, but would rather lie than
submit myself any moro 20 their u.
centlous treatment When I first en-.
lered the convent I supposed was
givlng myself into a llfo OF consecra-
tion and service for my Master. But
after took the black veil they told me
plainly that was TO be TO the priests
what the concublnes were TO Solomon
and David and other men of old Bible
times"
These facts. together with details
Of Miss Lasenan's escape. were first
published In the Silyerton Journal,
Silverton. Ore. and later In The Men.
ace. As a result of the publication,
the editor OF the Journal. Mr.. ]. =.
Hosmer. was sued by the officials OF
ne Mt Angel convent for $4,000
manages. and the grand Jury. sitting
4k Salem. recently returned an indict-
nent against him charging criminal
Nbel. II Is understood that these cases
viii come 20 trial at the forthcoming
tsrm Of court
Importance Of Lasenan Case.
While the cases OF Hosmer are i'm
portant. they are only the result Of the
much larger case. that OF the nun. and
Il Is evident that the Romanists are
rubhing the Hosmer cases with all
posslble speed for the very good rea-
cor that not only their cases against
Hosmer. but the whole Roman Catho-
I nc system. will be knocked into a
cocked hat when Miss Lasenan's
Tory Is told and coroborated In court.
The first and most important thing
n the present time is to authenticate
- story. Our readers are aware Of
The fact that numerous cases come 20
IIsht which are sufficient within them
selves to burst the Catholic church in
this country, but the old churuh is so
we'll versed in criminal tactics that
she Is usually able to put the soft
pedal on all exposures and throw dust
IN the eyes Of the people until they
ate blinded into forgetfulness.
There is every reason 10 believe
hhat what Miss Lasenan says is the
} truth. the whole truth and nothing
but the truth. and IL il develops that
such is the case, the Roman Catholic
hierarchy will be absolutely stripped
Of all its pretended piety, and the
pussyfooted sisters OF their assumed
innocence, for this story will bring
cd something more than the ordinary
f1puted abuses OF converts aud nun
11ries.
What the Lawyers Say.
rhe patriots In silverton who were
Instrumental in getting the initial
facts In this case before the people
ave secured the very best legal talent
ahd they. too. are OF the opinion that
they have a genuine case. One Of the
rjrominent attorneys in the case. in a
letter 10 The Menace. says:
Because OF the astounding nature
OF her story had more than half ex.
pected to hnd In Miss Lasenan a
woman OF neurotic tendencies with
perhaps an active and fully developed
physique. in which the suppression Of
sexual tendencies. by reason OF her
Environment. had produced that form
of hysteria known TO slienists as a
, manifestation OF nymphomania, in
Nhich the subject thoroughly believes
<erseh to have been the object of
&rhorous advances by male persons
<Ith whom she Is thrown. and because
- her own thorough belief in the mat
- ls able 20 tell a convincing story
- hose who do not appreciate her
r1Fsical and mental condition
4 found nothing Of the kind in Miss