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PRIEST LEYDON'S ,ASE
"Fthr" Cer.eSuh..
Whe mltitlm n4 tlr IW4 fr
M Ap t mr I llr (In sit tteol -IWIH
oilhr tYiM lll. ltimn1r hlU
tinling Aiialif-Mtif I'ttrMlj Mrvmti
Sn l In Anrr Very IHUt r.
When the story nf Stewd Cummin g'
ruin. Implicating Father Thomas P.
Leydon, pastor of the Roman Catholic
churrh In Aurora, III., ws mado pub
lie, we pubHi-hod oil the facts of the
raso in Thk Amk.kican of March 3rd.
Briefly, the story of Stessia Cum
tilings' ruin at the hands of her lecher
ous priest and guardian Is art follows:
In tho nrlstoeratlc portion of Aurora
stands tho handsome church of St.
Mary's, Next door to It Is tho pastoral
residence.
Here Father Leydon lived with an
intelligent and discreet housekeeper,
who has been with him for twenty odd
years.
Among his trusting parishioners was
Pearce Cuinmings, who had saved a
considerable sum of money. When this
man was dying, ho called his well
beloved priest to his bedside and gave
into his koeping his three beautiful
daughters, Stessln, aged 20; Elizabeth,
aged 18, and Margaret, aged 15 years.
"frotect them," said ho, "and save
them from all harm." The priest
ceased praying and said, "I will."
The man died and when his will was
read the priest was left 1200 and the re
malnder of the estate was given to his
widow and children.
A mohth or two rolled on and LizJo
began to notice in her sister that which
was unusual. With confidence in her
heart sbo went to Father Leydon, and
called his attention to her sister. The
priest told James Connolly, uncle of the
orphan girls,and the family thus learned
of Stessiu's misfortune. She was
closely questioned, and after rotieh
hesitation said Father Leydon had
ruined her.
This terrible declaration appalled
those who heard it. So firm wore they
in their confidence that they at first
refused to credit what they heard.
Mrs. dimming, an honest woman,
turned from her daughter. All the
family save (be honestold uncle turned
from StcsHla in her misery and despair,
At last, In despair, she sent for Father
Leydon, and at bis expense was brought
to tho hospital of Dr. B. F, Colwoll, at
3014 Calumet avenue in Chicago.
The uncle at last reconciled tho fam
ily to Stcssta and Lizzie came to see
her. The charge against tho priest
was more firmly mado and Lizzie ac
cused Father Leydon of the crime. Ho
denied it and hurriedly came to Chi
cago Bringing to bear allbllnflu-
e "3Ji!!r -i!i5L & ' rl!l J?V,p'rtJtfon and
taking advantage of her physical
weaknossjio securedfrom her a brief
statement exonerating him from all
blame for her condition, and charging
a wild young blado of Aurora, Joseph
English, with the authorship of her
ruin.
With this unattested paper he hur
ried back to Aurora and showed it to
tho family, They were Incredulous
and searched more thoroughly into the
matter with the result that Father
Leydon was arrested February 22 on a
warrant swore out by Stessia Cum
mings before Justice of the Peace
Frederick Brown, charging him with
the paternity her child.
At first the sympathies of Father
Ley don's parish loners wero strongly In
his favor and they declared It u case of
blackmail, but now it Is different. Tho
evidence of his victim leaven no room
for doubt of his guilt and the feeling
against him In Aurora is very bitter.
Aunoiu, May 17,-The preliminary
examination of Ilev. Thomas F. Ley
don, pastor of St. Mary's Catholic
church, charged with having betrayed
Miss Stessia Cummlngs, a member of
his church, began here yesterday. On
the death of her father, Rev. Mr. Ley-
f ; . I ,
H n s
t-' ' ii Trvrr-1 Tomb , j r ' j I
CTW f Q L- ' ' Si PhK
STESSIA
don had been appointed guardian of
Miss Cummlngs, and ho secured for
her a position in the government pork
Inspection office in Chicago, where he
visited her frequently. When it be
came known some time ago that she
was about to give birth to a child, she
caused the arrest of Rev. Mr. Leydon,
charging him with its patornlty, The
plaintiff told a very straightforward
itory on the stand, and on cross-examination
this afternoon her testi
mony could not be shaken. At
torney Alscbuler tried his best to
entangle the witness In some of her
statements, but always the answer
oume straight and in a clear, expres
sive voice, especially so when tho
answer was especially damaging to the
defendant.
Very much of the time was taken up
by the quibbling of opposing attorneys
over legal point. Miss Cummlngs had
a memoranda of certain dates to which
she referred once or twice and tho de
fendant's lawyers wanted to see them,
Her lawyers objected and were sus
tained by tho court.
The cross-examination also attempt
ed to draw out Miss Cummlngs' actions
when keeping company with Dodo En
glish, but an objection by her attorneys
was also sustained by tho court.
Miss Cummlngs Is a young woman
whose beauty, accomplishments and in
telligence is above tho average, and
she told the story of her wrongs from
the witness stand in a calm, forcible,
and convincing manner, Lines of care
and sadness, resulting from her sick
ness and brooding over her downfall,
are clearly depicted on her counte
nance, but tho flash is still in her largo
blue eyes, and she keeps them steadily
turned on the defendant, It is very
evident that she loved and trusted her
pastor with a rare devotion.
In her direct examination she told
how on divers dates, extending from
Thanksgiving 1801 to September 12th,
IWi.'i, she had sustained improper rela
tions with Rev. Leydon, She gave
those dates, as Thanksgiving day,
1801, Juno 27, August 1 1, and Septum
berl2, 1M!i,3, she resisting him unsuc
cessfully each time. At frequent in
tervals during these two years she
said ho had attempted but she
had successfully resisted his de
signs. She also swore that such rela
tions had never existed with anyone
except Rev. Leydon, and that the first
was at his mother's in Chicago, others
at the parsonage in Aurora,
CUMMINGS RECEIVES NEWS THE DEATH OF HEIt
She had been a frequent caller at the
parsonugo, but always on business con
nected with the Sunday school; of
which sho.was superintendent, or at
Rev. Leydon'g request.
She said when In September last she
discovered her condition sho went to a
doctor hi Aurora, nt Leydon's rcques!.
Ho told her there was nothing wrong
wllh her further than some slight
blood disorder, but gave her some
medicine to take, Sho tok the medi
cine a day or two but discontinued.
Leydon urged her to continue it and
urged her mother to compel her to
take it regularly. Then she went, at
hts request, to a Chicago doctor, with
the same result. After this sho went
to a doctor of her own choosing, and
was informed of her true condition.
She swore that he ackt d her several
times to have a criminal operation per
formed. Tho statement produced when the
scandal first became known, over her
signature, naming Ceo. (Dodo) English
as tho author of her trouble, she said
was obtained by force in the Chicago
"lylng-ln" hospital and was untrue,
She said: "Ho was my priest, and I
tried every way jsjsslble to shield
him." Attorneys for the plaintiff of
fered evidence to show that she had
boon besieged by member of both
sexes in efforts to get statements re
lieving defendant of all responsibility
for her condition, but tho court ruled
it out.
The cross-examination conducted by
Attorney Alschuler, though rigid and
severe, failed to shake her direct testi
mony to any Important extent, but
Inadvertently elicited tho details of a
meeting in Chicago, September 12, that
had not been brought out on the direct
examination, Sho swore that on Sep
tember 10, at Sunday school he asked
her to meet him at the Palmer House
In Chicago, on Tuesday. She did so,
They wont to a restaurant for dinner.
Later they went to a hotel on Jackson
street between State and Dearborn,
and ICov. Leydon registered as Choun-
cey Rhodes and sister, and wero as
signed adjoining rooms. After retiring
to her room Leydon came in and tboy
remained together until morning.
Aukoha, III., May 18, The cross-examination
of Miss Stessia Cummlngs
whs continued in Justice Van OsdulTs
court this morning, Her direct testl
mony has not been shaken or weakened,
but, Instead, tho cross-examination
brought out new facts that tighten the
colls about the licentious priest. An
effort mado to show the relations be
tween Stesola and "Dodo" English was
ruled out by tho court as having no
bearing on the case on trial.
On redirect examination Stessia
swore that Father Leydon's brother,
MIko visited her frequently at tho Chi
cago hospital - nd sought to turn her
against her parents and to place the
responsibility for her trouble on "Dole"
English. Sho said thot about a week
after sho had refused to marry English
Father Leydon called upon her at Dr.
Col well's hospital and said: "Stessia,
when I left you tho other day I never
expected to come back to see you, but
I love you so I cannot keep away from
you."
"Yes,1 I replied, 'you say you love
me, yet you went- me to marry a mitn
whom 1 hate and who Is innocent o! rny
trouble. We talked on and he put his
arm around me and said, 'When you
are out of your trouble and well again
we will spend the dsy together some
where, won't we.' I said, 'No, sir,
never,"'
The oros examination was finished
about II o'clock, when LlzJe, Stella's
sister took tho stand. Her testimony
up to the noon adjournment was mainly
corroborative of Stessla's, no new facts
being brought out.
Just as court adjourned a telegram
was handed Father McLaughlin, the
archbishop's representative at the trial,
announcing tho death of the baby born
March .'II. Stessia was greatly over
come and left the court room leaning
heavily on the arms of friends. An
Intense feeling Is developing against
the priest and all that Is lacking to In
augurate a violent wine Is a leader.
Aukoha, III., May 1!), This morn
ing Lizzie, under cross-examination by
Attorney Aldrlch, said that sho was
employed at the Park Date hotel, Chi
cago, as cashier, from June fith to
October 20, 18!)3. Father Ieydon did
not get her- tho position, but bo had
helped her to secure position before.
Her father and Father Leydon had
boon good friends and when the former
died on October 21, 1803, he asked of
Father Leydon to look after herself and
her sister. Father Ieydon had often
sought employment for both herself
and her sister,
It was on September 12th, 18i),'l, In
the parlor at her own home that sho
talked with Leydon of her sister's con
dition, she being the one that broached
tho subject. Soon after this she re
ceived a letter from him which began
with "Dearest Lizzie" and was signed,
"Your Love, Thomas," Her idea In
telling Father Leydon of her sister's
trouble, was to have him Investigate
the matter and ho said that he would.
Her father trusted Rev. Leydon's
lmplieity. When he died ho commend
ed Stessia and herself to his keeping,
saying ho would die happy. leydon
was present at tho time. "Little did
my father dream that that man bud
ruined hU daughter." Ilcr cros-ex-amination
was deferred until this
morning,
Joseph W. (Dode) Engllnh was put
on the stand yesterday about 4 o.clm-k.
He stated that his home was In Aurora,
but at present he was working In Chi
cago. Ho had been quite Intimately
acquainted with Stessia, and had been
in her company considerable up to a
period beginning about two years ago.
Her parents had objected to his calling
CHILD.
because he wns not a Catholic, and
these objections finally prevailed so
that they ceased to keep company,
He had met her once, May 1st, at the
C. B A, Q. depot, Ho did not sco her
again ur.tll June 2-'ld, when he hap
pened to meet her on tho train going
to Chleugo, Ho walked acioss town
with her and they parted at Wabash
flvenun, she going to the place where
sho was employed and ho to the fair.
He did not see her again until the
night her father died, when he met
her on the street and walked homo
with her.
On January 21st ho (English) re
ceived a letter from Father Itydon
asking him to call at the parsonage on
Important business. On arriving he
was confronted with Stessia' state
ment, wrung from her by Father I-y-don,
Incriminating him. This was the
first knowledge he had of her trouble,
For certain reasons ho did not deny
the charge and after a business talk
with Father Leydon ho agreed to
marry the girl, Tho two went Into
Chicago next day and secured a license
and a special dispensation from the
archbishop, the latter being necessary
Iss-aiiso ho was a Protestant. leydon
in irmged everything and treated him
several times to beer and cigars.
Talking matters over on their way
to the hospital English said: "Well If
I marry Htessla 1 will have to take her
back homo at once. I can't stand 10
a week board," "Oh! nevermind that"
answered Leydon. "I have paid that
up thn e or four week In advance and
when her trouble is over you can bring
her buck and I will see that you have a
house and lot and nice little homo all
your own, You'll be fixed In nice
shape," Ho asked mo If I knew of any
married men, or others, with whom
Stessia had kept company, and I told
him I did not.
H. F. H. Hoffman, the contractor,
who lives at 278 North avenue, next
door east of the Curnrnlng' home, was
next sworn. He had seen Father Ley
don frequently call at tho Cummlngs'
roNidonco, usually twice a we k. Ho
sometimes left after 10 o'clock, Often'
came through the alloy, After he en
tered the houso etti-h time ho hod
noticed the lights would lie turned
down and the curtain drawn. He had
boon coming to tho house alsnit two
years. One evening over a year ego
some mischievous boys played "th-k
tack" on Father Leydon while he was
at Cummlngs'. Wltnes was homo tho
day Pierce dimming died. On that
day tie saw a brother of Mr, Cummlngs
knock at both the front and back dsr
of the house, but there w as no response,
Ijcydon and Steia wero In the house
at the time.
He thought It was no nearer from
Fatbi r Leydon's house to tho Cum
mlngs' Douse through tho alley than by
tho street.
Aukoha, III., May 2i.-Tho cele
brated scandal suit of Father Leydon,
pastor of St. Mary's church here,
1 1. . i'h if ti- n ft M ptnt'n
t'ittii!ri h, tmf i t U.n j,iil M-.J
, m, git i in A !,. i ! tn
lr f Ins )! ( tn i snU,i m
IosIb V i'itji . , , ill I,. U ) Kit tlitj
dutvtl vldeiMf Ul w i m it.nlvn
tatiifct the J fit l Hut ii li e htr (
hi tttti j I hu i jsMiHiMion,
giving Isieds ,f f,-r hi nr
snot tn the Hindi coin I lint l Is the
iftirl eplnlnn Ihsl the ifij,'riH tl
priest will jnH'f appear In rmut, tut!
will (tee tin, wnttiry,
- -
ttlUM h MMJ Mil H
Anil ShiHip Itctlnrrtt His IWHIon hj
the Itmtnl f l ire ami I'elUe mil.
tnUslumrst
The Ismi-il of fire and jsdlce eomrtils
sinners met In tcclitl snstoti Friday
and Saturday of lust week to hcttf sml
Investigate the charges preferrtd
BgaliiMt Sergeant W, H, Sheep by Cap
tain and at that time acting Chief of
Police Thomas ('ormaek for wilful dis
obedience of orders and neglect of duty
In not remaining on duty until relieved
by tho proper officer, also the charge
preferred against Captain Cormack by
Sergeant SIicmiji for conduct unbecom
ing an officer, and for assault and bat
tory, Tho full board was In attend
ance, Mayor Bemls, Chrta. Httrtman,
Wm. Coburn, V. O. Stricter and II. V.
Smith, the latter being selected by tb
board to conduct the Investigation, and
It Is only proper here to state that tho
Investigation was conducted In a most
impartial manner with a due regard to
fairness on both sides, Judge Doano
appeared as counsel for Sergeant Shistp
and Attorney Frank Ransom for Cap
tain Cormack. After patiently listen
Ing to a great many witnesses on both
sides, the board retired to consider the
case and at f:!l5 Saturday afternoon
gave their decision which was to tho
effect that Captain Cormack' charge
against Sergeant Shoop wero not sus
tained hut that the charge preferred
by Shoop against Cormack were sus
tained and that Captain Cormack bo
suspended from duty pending further
action on the part of the board and
that Surge tnt Shoop bo restored to
his former posith n on the form The
decision as arrived at by the lsird wa
the of)Iyfcono possible under the cir
cumstances, and was fully sustained
by the evidence, It I a step in the
right direction and will give general
satisfaction to the citizen of iM'ifm.om
One Interesting and significant feature
of tho proceeding whs the nervoimand
hesitating manner in which some of
the witnesses, rnernlsirs of tho police
force, gave their evidence, as If afraid
of "the power that bo," Captain Cor
mack In the course of his evidence
ntfjore that he did not strike Shoop, but
In the charge to the board by hi at
torney at the closing, it was admitted
that he did strike Shoop. The evidence
In thl resp ect was too strong for fur
ther denial.
It I generally understood that tho
action of the board lo rnerrly suspend
ing Cormack tending further action on
their part Is so as to allow Cormack ft
chance to resign and thus avoid the
disgrace of dismissal, Both the fire and
police department of this city are to
receive an overhauling at tho hands of
tho hoard In the near future, when It
I generally expected that something
sharp, sudden, and decisive will drop,
and that several of tho officer at
present In charge In both department
will be seeking other employment It
Is the prevailing opinion that radical
measure will have to be resorted to In
order to restore both department to ft
proper degree of efficiency.
W ill llrtvr a Hag.
The flag presentation of the Thurston
Rifles, to bo held Monday evening,
May 28, at the Coliseum, fs the bltrgest
affair yet planned by the citizen
warrior The Omaha Ouard and
gatllng section, and Dodge Light
Ouard of Council Bluffs have b-n In
vited to take part, Hpcecho will bo
made by Governor Cronnw, General
Cowin, John M. Thurston, Itev, Dr. S.
Wright Butler, Mayor Beml and
others. The soldier will assemble at
7;1j at Fifteenth and Douglas, and
headed by the governor and hi staff In
carriages, will march to the music of
tho Second Infantry band to the Coll-
scum.
Funds for tho big American flag and
two guidons wero 'alsed by the Indies'
auxiliary. Embroidered upon the ling
are the words, "Thurston Rifles, or
ganized Sepu-mls r l.'l, I The
guidons are of blue silk, 1x20 Inches,
embroidered In raised whlu? slik let
ters. The program for the evening ts;
glrss with guard mount. Then there
will Is? an exhibition drill of each com
pany, Mr, risiier, prcsiueui or ino
auxiliary, will band the Hug to General
Cowln with a little speech and he in
turn will make tho formal presentation.
Dr. Butler, the chaplain, will respond.
After the program a military ball will
take place.