Year: 1874




The very large Catholic elenen
in Philadelphia was thrown into ;
state of great excitement last Fri
day morning by the announcement
of the fact that Rev. Father John w
Gerdeman, pastor of st. Bonifaciu'
Roman Catholic church. in the north
ern part of the city, had suddenly
| left for parts unknown, taking with
him beautiful young lady, Miss
Waiting, who had previously acted
in the capacity of organist in this
church. The facts made public are
very meagre, but personal acquaint
anee of the parties concerned fur
hishes the following particulars Of
the affair:


Some time since Father Gerde
man induced this young lady to leave
the church over which Rev. Father
O'Neill presides, and to come to his
church, offering a good salary. The
young lady accepted, and the Father
being very fine musician himself,
spent considerable time ih her com.
p4hy. An intimacy sprung up be-
tween the two, which soon ripened
into the warmest friendship, and the
consequence was adeclaration of love
upon the part of the young lady for
the gentleman of the robes. She
told a frisnd that she was determin.
ed to have Father Gerdeman as her
husband and that she did not care
what the consequence would be. The
tender feelings were reciprocated by
the Father, and when eonyersing
with his brother priests be World
continually dilate upon the great
ability of his lady organist, and
speak Of her with more than ordi-
nary consideration.


Time passed on, and the intimacy
became so great that the young lady
would spend the evening at the resi-
dence of the priest, and oftentimes
| did not leave his abode until mid
night, and then in his company. Her
visits to the parsonage became so
! frequent as to cause considerable
uneasiness to Father Gerdeman' S
sister, who acted as housekeeper for
the Father and his two assistants.
The conduct of the brother and the
lady organist was so bad as to dis
gust her, and the sister returned to
Germany. whence she originally
! came.


! Finally matters went so far, and
she became so bold, that one of the
assistants threatened to expose the
whole affair to the bishop. Gerde-
man became indignant, and said his
VOW of chastity and celibacy had not
/ been violated, and that nothing i'm
proper had occurred. However, the
assistant knew too much for the low
ing couple, and the whole affair of
the misdoings of the Rev. John were
made plain to His Reverence Bishop
Wood. Gerdeman celebrated mass
on Sunday last, and on Monday,
which was "All Souls Day." he was
not present at early mass. He com.
planned of being unwell, and was
| found at o'clock in the morning
walking up and down the yard at
tached to his parsonage, apparently
suffering great mental anxiety. He
remained at home until noon Of Tues
day, when he suddenly left, since
which time there have been no It'd.
ings concerning him.


This little love affair and fall from
grace on the part of the reverend
gentleman did not constitute all his
crime, for now the most painful por-
tion of the story remains to be told.
In accordance with plan in vogue
in most Catholic parishes, the mem.
bers of the congregation deposited
their savings with the priest. These
were receipted for and six per cent.
interest allowed. Father Gerede.
man was in close confidence with
Bishop Wood, and thus had freer
use of the funds of the parishioners
than otherwise would have been the
case. 1t has now leaked cut that
the funds were misappropriated in q
manner which was so rascally as tC
be beneath the contempt of a gamb,
Ter, much less a shepherd of large
flock. like the one in the present
case-Gerdeman privately made his
puts and calls in the stock room
dabbled in real estate, and bought
and sold railroad stocks on call and
for time. He induced members OF
the parish to indorse notes for large
amounts, telling them the money
was needed for the church; the cash
raised in this manner he appropriat
ed to his own use 1t was no un
usual thing for him to have notes
discounted at bank for $5 900 or So,
900 at a time, and the very large
credit he was given, on account oi
the position he held, be prostituted
in the most shabby manner. He
bought the large houses on Norris
Square opposite the church. and Rad
them decided to his sister. AS 6
forger he was successful, and wher
several notes were presented to the
makers thereof his transactions il
this line were Immediately brought
to light. Most of the parishioner:
had all their spare cash invested il
the priest, and are left utterly pen
niless. 1t is supposed the amount
of cash carried off will not fall be
low $4,000, and is the result of the
hard work of many poor persons fol
years. The Indignation of the con
gregation seems to know no bounds
and the house formerly occupied bJ
the Father has been besieged all day
long by the persons who had funds
intrusted to his keeping.


On Thursday. the day after Fathe
Gerdeman's disappearance, Righ
Rev. Bishop Wood received q lette