Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1921-08-15
BRIDE, DAUGHTER
OF PRIEST KILLER,
Tells HER STORY
Catholic Bishop Laws
Birmingham Tragedy
To Propaganda

BIRM August 15.-Mrs.
Pedro Gussman, daughter of Rev. Ed
win R. Stephenson, former Georgian,
who killed Father Coyle, Catholic
priest, last Thursday evening because
the priest had married his daughter
to Gussman, a Catholic, smiled
through her tears to reporter as
she described ho wshe outwitted 'ev-
erybody in town" whe she got mar
ried. She went to Bessemer, where
the license was procured, but unable
to find a priest there, she and Guss-
man returned to Birmingham, and
were married by Father CoyIe.
1T would have been thrilling ro-
nance had it not been for the tragedy
which followed" she said.
The case of Richardson will be
placed before the regular grand jury.
August %, Solicitor Tate has an
nounced.
Declaring that while she loved her
father she could not go to see him,
Mrs. Gussman told of what she said
occurred before her marriage to
Gussman, Her parents, she said, were
going to force her to marry another
man this fall. This man, she said, had
been divorced and she could not mar
ry him under the tS4ets Of her re
ligion.
when I was ready to take my
first communion" the young wom-
an continued, "ny father locked me
in a room and mistreated me terri
bly,. was confined from Friday until
Monday when | was permitted to go
work. Instead of going to work |
went to the home of a friend, but
they returned me to my parents.
Then l was taken to Texas. / escaped
at Texarkana, but was found by my
mother and brought back to Birming-
ham.
"Since my return, ! have been un-
der8constant surveillance. Two weeks
ago ! wds permitted to go uot. | OBJ
tanned Job in department store,
where [ was employed at-theu time Of
my marriage do not want to see my
father"
Rev. E. P. Allen, bishop, of Mobile
in his sermon at the pontificial, high
requiem mass. Saturday at st. PauPs
church called on the people of Birm-
ingham to show a broader spirit Of
charity and to stand for rigt and jus
tice.
"This priest has suffered much in
recent years" said the bishop, amidst
intense silence, and the sobs were
audible all throughout the large aud
ience, which packed the church to its
capacity, with hundreds on the out
side and~et every exit unable to gain
admission. cover and ever again
threats of death made against him,
ubt he went on with his work, remem-
bering-w we'll the words of his Master,
t'As they prosecuted Me, SO will they
persecute YOU
: 81 we'll recall years ago when | Wis
tied this city what cordial welcome
| received not only at the hands of
the Catholics and those who saw in
me the representative of the church,
but also those of other faiths, who
gave me a most cordial welcome and
showed in many ways their broad
mindedness and spirit of charity and
goodwill.
"What has brought about the
change to present conditions? What
has caused the citizens of Birming-
ham to call in non-descript mounte-
banks to villify us and the Holy Cath
olic church?
Politicians Blamed
"This deed which occurred in this
city on Thursday night os the out
come and elimination of propagan-
da carried on by a few unprincipled
politicians. This is the work of those
who have carried on this propaganda
of hatred against the church, the
Sisters of Mercy, its hos pitfalls and
chaitable institutions and all that
goes with them,
''Do you believe this unfortunate
man who shot down Father Coyle
while sitting in a swing would have
committed such an act if he had not
been led to belive that this church
and the things for which Father
Covle stood were enemies to human
ity?
"These few unprincipled polite
ians are really responsible. They are
th emiscreants who have allowed the
people Of this city to be misrepre-
sented to the world. What terrible
Indictment to the community that
does not put such men where they
belong and teach them the principles
of right and justice.
''Dear brethren. Father Coyle is
dead, and for us it remains to use the
cloak of charity. He was a native OF
Erin and as one who is a descendant
of those who came from over there,
] can understand that he could not
forget the wrongs inflicted on his ma
tive land and the share England had
in it, and Of which we hope Eng
land may soon rid itself. But he, was
also an American citizen, and the
telegram which / read to. you from
the boys of the Twenty ninth Divis-
lion. who appreciated his kindness
while at Camp McClelland and his
many other acts, shows that he loved
this country.
And now comes couple, the man
a member of the church and the girl
la Catholic of several nyanths stand'
ling, and he performs the marriage
cerem6ny. He had no controversy
IsoSfar as / have been able to. learn,
with the man who shot him. but he