O'Connor, O.S.B., Father Bede, Vincennes, Indiana, to Archbishop John Baptist Purcell, Cincinnati, Ohio, 1868 June 10

O'Connor's Bishop Maurice de St. Palais desires O'Connor to inform Purcell of the observations made during O'Connor's visit to Aurora, Indiana . Under the guidance of Father Ignatius Klein, the congregation conducts itself in a truly Catholic manner, with but three families acting contrary of Catholic custom, and having certain emnity for Father Klein. The congregation is about two-thirds Irish, and the remainder are German. One of the families who dislike Klein is named Rudolph. While building his new church, Klein uncovered several fraudulent contracts and proved them to be the consequence of Rudolph's actions. Leagued with Rudolph is his brother-in-law, Staab, whose wife was injured during a brawl with an Irish woman. This injury was a result of German-Irish fights. The Staab woman brought suit against several Irish, among them listing Father Klein. Klein's innocence in the matter was testified to by all, and eventually by the Staabs themselves in the presence of Klein, O'Connor, and several witnesses. Yet they hate Klein enough to refuse a public withdrawl of the calumny. Staab behaved in a most outrageous manner, threatening Klein, which insults Klein bore with the dignity becoming a priest. The third party is one Specker, whose reputation as a law-breaker is notorious. The leader of them all, Sanford, is suspected of bigamy. He constantly attempts to draw the Irish into secret societies, stating that the Pope, Cardinals, and even Purcell are all Freemasons. O'Connor has stated the facts as told him by different highly respected citizens of Aurora, and leaves Purcell to judge for himself. :: II-5-d A.L.S. 4pp. 12mo.