The Washington times., 1922-10-16
ELLEN RE|D|S
BITTER ABOUT
LEEDS AFFAIR
Only Wishes Pastors Wife
Would Get Divorce So She.
Could Wed Him.
THE REV. FREDERICK W.

SSSsS
THE REV. FREDERICK W.
LEEDS side of his strange love
affair toith Ellen Reid, altar girl,
,Oas told BY him IN the first IN
stalln,ent of this series, published
in The Washington Times" He eT-
pIained that his presence at a Bos-
ton hotel with Miss Reid aeas
wholly innocent, as theirs toas a
spiritudl loue, without earthly
tai,,t. But his wife, ,chons he left
three months before, engineered a
raid at the hotel, and the minister
and the girl Were arrested.
TODAY Miss Reid begins her side
of the story. IL agrees IN general
Nth the ministers. BUT
Ellen brings IN the "earthty
taint' he rejected as not tttttng
their case and hopes he and his
wife ,ViU be divorced, for Ellen
wants to marry the minister.
fCopyright, 1922. by the Boston Daily
Advertissr)
BOSTON, Oct. IT. love Mr.
Leeds with a great love that 10 pure
ly spiritual. l have never felt for
him the slightest feeling OF earthiy
affection. Nevertheless, I hope that
his wife will obtain a divorce. then
can marry him. / believe that some
day our loneliness will be. rewarded
with perfect companionship.
Ellen Reid, spiritual affinity
thus explains her love for the Rev.
Frederick Leeds. former pastor OF
the fashionable Grace Episcopal
Church in New Haven.
On Wednesday Miss Reid Will face
trial with Leeds in Boston municipal
court. They will be charged with
undue friendship at the Hotel Lenox.
where they were arrested tnree
weeks ago by detectives set on their
trail by Mrs. Leeds.
A Dramatic Love.
Miss Reid received a reporter for
the Advertiser in the attractive front
parlor OF her home in New Haven.
and told the story OF her dramatic
and unusual love.
IT first met Mr.. Leeds two years
ago." she began. From the very
first I realized that he was an un-
usual and high minded type of man.
81 was drawn to him from the first
meeting, but only through the force.
Of his spiritual personality. l felt,
Immediately, that he was different
from other men.
"Our first few meetings were con.
fined to our contact through the
church. was interested in relig-
ious work. and had always devoted
myself to church activities. l had
never, however, met a man whose
ideas seemed so wonderful.
After about q year / was aston.
ished when Mr.. Leeds one day offer
ed me q post as his secretary.
had never thought that was capa-
BILE OF such work. But I was only
too glad for such an opportunity.
People Narrow minded.
What brought me closer. perhaps.
to Mr.. Leeds was the misunderstand-
ing which had arisen in the church.
difference in doctrine. The people
here lin New Haven) are conserva-
tive. They are narrow.minded and It
is hard TO convince them Of any new
religious ideas.
Mr.. Leeds wanted to make the
church more beautiful. He wanted
10 Indke tHc SSTNlCc HlOi otS
and introduce some of the ceremonies
Of the older religions. He has read
so much and has Travelled every
where. He has been educated in
Europe and has q deep sense Of
beauty and an artistic mind.
That was the happiest time OF my
life. We read together and talked
together in his little office. learned
so much in those days. He showed
me picturcs of great cathedrals and
read to me from books Of philosophy
and poetry.
Sacred Memories.
Those evenings are sacred to me
as think back on them. I was
working in the daytime and at night
I worked with him. My duties in
regard to the church were very
simple and pleasant ] was in the
church much of the time. and we
often decorated the little altar and
chapel together.
IT began to look upon him as my
spiritual father. as a guide to what
was right and worthy. I never lost
that ideal of him in spite Of what
the world thinks-and II always
thinks the worst-he has rema med
for me In this light"
Miss Reid is twenty.seven and
! looks many years younger. She is