Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-10-12
Shutdown
In Chicago
GangFeud
TELLS OF SEARCH
FOR DOUBLE" FOR
AIMEE MCPHERSON

Los Angeles, Cal, Oct 11-[P1-
Mrs. Lorraine Wiseman- Sielaff. the
states star witness. detailed on the
witness stand here today her charges
that she was engaged by Mrs. Aimee
Semple Mcpherson, evangelist, to
produce a woman to pose as the cot
tage companion of Kenneth G. Orm-
iston, radio operator at Carmel,
Calf, lastlMay.
A recent confession by Mrs. Wise
man led to the conspiracy charges
on which Mrs Mcpherson, her
mother, Mrs. Minnie Kennedy, and
others, including Mrs. Wiseman, are
being given a preliminary hearing.
The state alleges Mrs. Mcpherson
lived ten days at the Carmel cottage
with Ormiston, following her mys-
FERROUS disappearance last May, and
that she attempted to manufacture
false evidence in an effort to support
her story that she was kidnapped
Mrs. Wiseman testified she entered
the Mcpherson case in San Fran
cisco, where she was employed as q
stenographer, at the request of a
"Mr. Martini who is understood to
be the man named In a John Doe"
warrant in the Mcpherson case.
He has not been arrested.
Martin produced newspaper clip
pings about the Mcpherson case and
said the evangelist must be cleared,
Mrs. Sielaff testified. Martin then
told her, she said, that "of course"
it was Mrs. Mcpherson at Carmel;
otherwise / would not want you to
help"
The witness said she went to Los
Angeles and met Mrs. Mcpherson
and Kennedy. telling them she knew
the evangelist was not the woman
statement. Mrs. Mcpherson paid
her $50 the day after her arrival, she
testified.
Mrs. Kennedy asked her to pro-
duce the little lady" who occupied
the Carmel cottage and instructed
her to go to Carmel to interview per-
sons who had identified Mrs. Nc
Pherson.
Mrs. Wiseman said she reported
that number of persons at Carmel
were certain they saw the evangelist
at the cottage and told Mrs. Kennedy
she was sending east for the little
LADY, to pose as the cottage woman.
A few days later she told the evan
gelist and her mother that the lit
tie lady" was on her way, and sug-
gested 1t would be better for the
little lady" to be her sister.
Mrs. Mcpherson then suggested
Mrs. Wiseman was the woman taken
for herself at Carmel and had her
purchase dress, hat and q pair
of goggles similar to those worn by
the Carmel woman, the witness said
Mrs. Mcpherson also had her arrange
her hair so 1t would resemble the
evangelist's, Mrs. Wiseman said. She
spent between seven and nine nights
at the Mcpherson home, sleeping in
the evangelist's own bed.
Mrs. Mcpherson and Mrs. Ken
nedy had discussed an affidavit to be
made by the little lady" known as
Miss X" Mrs. Wiseman said. and
in a notebook, suggestions for the
affidavit.
Miss X" arrived from Philadel-
phia, Mrs. Wiseman said, and was
driven to Salinas, Calf, where Mrs.
Kennedy had arranged to have the
affidavit drawn up in the office of
Judge Bardin. Roland Rich Wooley,
attorney for the evangelist, was
present in Judge Bardins office on
August 10, when Miss X" was
brought in and the affidavit drawn
up by Judge Bardin, Wolley and Mrs.
Wiseman, the witness said. Mrs.
Wiseman declared she furnished the
information contained in the affidavit
from the synopsis in the notebook
given her by Mrs. Mcpherson.
Mrs. Wiseman said she swore to an
affidavit. one copy of which was sent
by airplane mail to 'Mr. Martin" in
Chicago. The affidavit stated that
her sister was the woman at Carmel
under the name of Mrs. Mcintyre and
that she (Mrs. Wisemanp was at
tempted to right a great wrong"
Mrs. Wiseman then identified the
Miss X" affidavit which also was
hear by Keyes. 1t stated that the
signer was "McIntyres" companion
at Carmel and that she wore her hair
long at the time.
The witness then said she brought
"Miss X'' direct to Los Angeles by
automobile from Salinas. She went
to Mrs McPherson's home, seeing the
evangelist and Mrs. Kennedy. She
advised them she had brought Miss
X" down and told her about the affi-
davits. Mr.. Wolley was to make an
appointment with District Attorney
Keyes for Mrs. Wiseman.
Court adjourned at this point with
Mrs. Wiseman's story uncompleted.